Throughout ancient Chinese history, there have been peculiar cases of emperors meeting bizarre and unexpected deaths.
Died Due to Wife’s Infidelity
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Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, Tuoba Huang (467-499), was a politician and military reformer from a minority ethnic group. While Emperor Xiaowen was busy with state affairs, his empress was secretly having an affair with a eunuch. Everyone in the palace knew, except for Emperor Xiaowen. One day, a princess, forced by the empress to marry, revealed everything to him. The shock of being betrayed for so many years took a toll on this powerful emperor. Soon after, he fell gravely ill and passed away.
Died from Starvation and Thirst due to Alcohol Addiction
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Throughout Chinese history, many emperors struggled with alcoholism, but only Emperor Wenzhuan of Northern Qi, Gao Yang, met a bizarre end due to it. He was the founding emperor of the Northern Qi dynasty. Before ascending the throne, Gao Yang was strict and rarely smiled, but after becoming emperor, he became an alcoholic. When drunk, he would become overly exuberant, climbing rooftops and hanging from beams. His excessive drinking led to anorexia; he could neither eat nor drink, ultimately resulting in his death from starvation and thirst.
Died After Falling into a Latrine
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Duke Jing of Jin, Ji Gu (599 BC – 582 BC), was the ruler of Jin, a vassal state during the Spring and Autumn period. In 582 BC, after a sorcerer claimed that Duke Jing had not eaten new wheat, he ordered his servants to prepare a large pot of porridge and summoned the sorcerer to scold him, saying, “You said I haven’t eaten new wheat, look, isn’t this new wheat?” Following this, he ordered the sorcerer to be executed. At that moment, Duke Jing was eager to eat the porridge but felt a sudden stomach ache and rushed to the restroom. In his haste, he fell into a latrine and died.
Died Drowning After Falling from a Boat
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Emperor Huitong, Zhu Zhihao (1605-1672), was disinterested in state affairs and preferred wood carving. One day, he crafted a wooden boat and paddled it out into the lake of the Imperial Garden. Unfortunately, the boat capsized, leading to his drowning.
Died from Being Suffocated by a Pillow
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Emperor Xiaowu of Eastern Jin, Ma Sijiao (361-396), was the ninth emperor of the Eastern Jin dynasty. Like many emperors, he enjoyed drinking. In 396, after drinking with Consort Zhang in the summer palace, the two had a drunken argument. Unable to outsmart Consort Zhang, Emperor Xiaowu declared, “Don’t think that I favor you and can be disrespected; I have many women in my harem, and one day I will depose you for a younger and prettier one!” He then went to bed. The saying goes, “What the speaker says is mindless, but the listener takes it to heart,” Consort Zhang, enraged, instructed a few palace maids to suffocate Ma Sijiao with a pillow, causing him to suffocate to death.
Died from a Bronze Cauldron Falling on Him
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Duke Wu of Qin, Ying Dang (year of birth unknown – died in 688 BC), was the emperor of the Qin state during the Spring and Autumn period. He was strong and robust, known for his eccentricities, and lived during the prosperous Qin dynasty, which promised him a bright future. However, while in Luoyang, he saw a large bronze cauldron and heard tales of a warrior named Meng who had once lifted it. Duke Wu insisted on lifting the cauldron himself; as he tried to raise it, his hands trembled, and the heavy cauldron fell, crushing his leg. Due to the poor medical conditions of the time, he passed away a few days later.
Died After His Son Cut Off His Nose
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Emperor Jingzong of Xia, Li Yuanhao (1003-1048), was the founding emperor of the Western Xia dynasty. Like many rulers in history, Li Yuanhao became obsessed with his military achievements and neglected state affairs, becoming cruel and extremely lustful. He fell for the wife of his son, Crown Prince Ning Ling, and took her as his “new empress.” After using the pretext of murdering the loyal minister Ye Liwu, he began an affair with the minister’s concubine. Crown Prince Ning Ling, filled with hatred after his father took his wife, plotted to assassinate him. On the night of the Lantern Festival in 1048, Ning Ling entered the palace to assassinate Li Yuanhao. In his fright, Li Yuanhao died after his son cut off his nose.
