The Empress and the Dragon Throne: Imperial Women of the Early Ming Dynasty

How empresses and consorts were indispensable to the Ming dynasty and its politics and governance.

The Ming dynasty is often remembered for its rigid hierarchies and patriarchal order, yet the women of the imperial court played vital roles in shaping the empire’s political and social landscape. The Empress and the Dragon Throne challenges the prevailing narrative that renders these women invisible, uncovering their agency in court politics and family networks.

Ellen Soulliere draws on rich material evidence and reads historical texts ＂against the grain＂ to reveal how imperial women navigated the multigenerational Ming court from the dynasty’s founding in 1368 to the end of the Tianshun reign in 1465. Through intricate family alliances and strategic influence, they contributed to the very structures that defined Ming rule.

Lavishly illustrated and deeply researched, this book offers a fresh perspective on the often-overlooked power of women at the heart of one of China’s most formidable dynasties.

Ellen Soulliere is an honorary research associate at Massey University in New Zealand.