During the Tang Dynasty (China), despite their stunning beauty and noble status, princesses faced extreme difficulty in finding suitable husbands. Most noble families were wary of marrying into the royal family.
The lavish and wealthy lifestyle of the royal family was always admired and desired by many. Consequently, many people aspired to marry a princess and become royalty, freeing themselves from the worries of everyday life. However, it is strange that during the Tang Dynasty, even the most beautiful princesses often remained single and found it extremely difficult to marry. Why was that?
Many Tang princesses disregarded social norms. (Illustrative image).
According to historians, there are four main reasons why Tang princesses encountered difficulties in marriage.
First, many of them suffered from a severe case of “princess syndrome.” Relying on their status as precious jewels, many Tang princesses disregarded social norms. They were fierce, stubborn, did as they pleased, and looked down on others. A potential son-in-law had to uphold the duties of a loyal subject while tolerating the princess’s arrogance, often leading to a situation where he lost more than he gained.
During the reign of Emperor Xuantong, Princess Wanshou, his daughter, married Lang Zhenghao. In 848, when Zhenghao’s younger brother fell seriously ill, Xuantong was genuinely concerned and sent trusted people to visit. Upon arrival, they found Princess Wanshou unconcerned about her husband’s family’s troubles, instead laughing and throwing lavish parties. Emperor Xuantong was extremely angry, exclaiming: “I used to blame the scholars for not wanting to marry into the royal family, but it turns out they had good reasons!”.
Many Tang princesses struggled to marry due to power struggles and family influence. (Illustrative image).
The second reason is that many Tang princesses were extremely liberal in matters of romance. Historical records show that Princess Gaoyang, the daughter of Emperor Taizong, openly had affairs with many men, including Taoists and monks. Princess Taiping, daughter of Wu Zetian, brazenly kept male favorites (young male companions). This not only embarrassed and humiliated the potential son-in-law but also brought disgrace to his entire family. As a result, most noble families tried to steer clear of these princesses, unwilling to become in-laws.
The third reason contributing to the princesses’ difficulty in marrying is the competition for status and family power. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it was a point of pride to marry into the aristocracy of Shandong, as it conferred a certain social status. Most scholars who achieved fame through the civil service examinations hoped to marry daughters of prominent families such as the Choi, Luo, and Li clans to enhance their own value. However, marrying into the royal family posed risks as it could threaten royal interests. Furthermore, by the late Tang period, the imperial power weakened, and scholars became indifferent to political marriages.
The fourth reason is the chaotic situation at the end of the Tang Dynasty. In the early years of the dynasty, political stability prevailed, the court’s power was solid, and imperial authority was supreme. Moreover, the number of princesses was limited, and despite their difficult personalities, they could still comfortably choose suitable husbands for marriage. However, after the reign of Emperor Xianzong, the imperial power diminished, eunuchs controlled the court, leading to numerous court coups, and the reigns of emperors became relatively short. The emperors themselves found it difficult to ensure their safety, leaving little time to manage the lifelong affairs of the princesses.
