The story of Empress Chen Jiao from China’s Han dynasty is a dramatic tale of love, jealousy, and a desperate turn to forbidden magic. Born in 165 BCE, she was married to the future Emperor Wu, Liu Che, who famously promised to ‘build a golden house for her’. However, their marriage, which began with such promise, soured over time, leading the empress down a dangerous path that would result in her downfall and disgrace.
💔 An Emperor’s Betrayal
After Liu Che ascended the throne as Emperor Wu, the pressure on Empress Chen Jiao to produce a son and heir was immense. When she was unable to conceive, the Emperor began relationships with other women, leaving Chen Jiao heartbroken and desperate. In her sorrow, she sought to regain her husband’s affection through any means necessary, which led her to the illegal practice of witchcraft. This decision marked the beginning of a scandal that would rock the entire empire.
🧙♀️ Magic, Scandal, and Exile
Empress Chen Jiao enlisted the help of a powerful sorceress named Chu Fu. The two women were said to have performed magical rituals day and night, drinking potions in an effort to win back the Emperor’s love. However, their activities were discovered, and the consequences were severe. Chu Fu was executed for practicing dark magic, along with around three hundred others suspected of sorcery. Empress Chen Jiao herself was stripped of her title and sent into exile, forced to live out the rest of her days under house arrest at Long Gate Palace.
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