《金縷衣》

勸君莫惜金縷衣，勸君惜取少年時；花開堪折直須折，莫待無花空折枝。

《唐朝 杜秋娘》

This week's poem from my grandfather is a Tang Poem - The Clothes of a Golden Cloth. It is quite well known and is sometimes still taught in schools. Roughly translated it urges us not to be too caught up in chasing after ephemeral enjoyments (such as beautiful clothes) and for us to make the most of our youth. For a flower should be plucked when it is in full bloom, for when if you wait if then only the stem will remain. Although the message is straightforward, what for me is more interesting is the the story behind the author - Du Qiu Niang - or Autumn Maiden Du. 

She was born in Zhenjiang 鎮江 in modern day Jiangsu Province to a poor family, but was very beautiful and was able to sing and dance, and was educated enough to compose her own songs and lyrics. As a courtesan she was famous throughout Jiangnan. When she was 15, she caught the attention of the 鎮海節度使 (a very senior military governor who controlled the military and finances in his given region) who ransomed her and brought her into his palace to serve as an entertainer. By composing the song  《金縷衣》 herself and performing it at a family banquet she so impressed 李錡 that he took her as his concubine.

When the Tang Emperor Xuanzong (778-820) he made a point of trying to curb the powers of the local officials, and 李錡 was extremely displeased at this, so he took up arms to rebel against the court and was killed during combat with government troops. 

Du Qiu Niang was taken into the back palace as a slave, but was promoted to the status of consort not long after and was greatly loved by Xuanzong and was very influential behind the scenes in helping the Emperor rule the country and pacify the borders. When he died in 820, the crown prince was crowned Tang Muzong (with suspicions of foul play along with the influence of the eunuchs). 

After this Du was assigned to be the nursemaid for the Emperor's young son Li Zou 李湊 and was responsible for his education. His father, the Emperor Tang Muzong was a depraved and dissolute Emperor and died before the age of 30. The 15 year old crown prince 李湛 Li Zhan took the throne as Tang Jingzong. He was not fit to govern and like to play. After returning form hunting one day he went to his room to change, and the lights suddenly went out. After they were re-lit he was found murdered in his bed. The senior officials conspired to bring his other brother to the throne and because his brother was not of age, all the power was controlled by the senior officials.

Seeing the Li family being murdered one after the other Du Qiu Liang was very unhappy and her ward has just be promoted to 漳王. She did her best to raise him to be a good king with the best interests of the country at heart. She secretly liased with the Prime Minister 宋申錫 to rid the court of evil officials and rid the court of the Emperor Wenzong. Unfortunately the court had eyes and ears everywhere and found out about the plot. But because there was no smoking gun, the best they could do was demote her ward to a commoner and send Du Qiu Liang back to live out the rest of her life in her hometown. 

The poet Du Mu 杜牧 had also been inspired to write a poem about her when he traveled through Zhenjiang 鎮江 and there is now a statue commemorating her there. Although there have not been many Empresses in Chinese history, many Chinese women have contributed in a  positive way to China's history and am hoping that my daughter can learn from them in her own way.