87:), who were known for their learning, literary talent and respected position in the imperial palace. Their father, Song Tingfen, was a Confucian scholar and the progeny of the famous poet Song Zhiwen (c. 656-c. 712) of the early Tang Dynasty. The father taught the five daughters literature, poetry and Confucian classics since they were young, and taught them well. Later, all of the five sisters aspired to devote their life to learning and to bring honor to the family with their knowledge and accomplishment, and all expressed their will not to marry. Among them, the eldest Song Ruoshen and second eldest Song Ruozhao were particularly known for their simple yet elegant writing as well as personality.
100:(742-805) to praise and recommend the extremely talented Five Sisters. The Emperor, having read the letter from Li Baozhen, immediately asked the five sisters to be presented to the imperial palace to be tested by the Emperor himself. The Emperor asked about poetry, literature, Confucian classics and history, and was also much impressed by the learning of the five girls. As such, the Emperor brought the five girls to the imperial palace. However, he never made them his concubines. Instead, he titled them
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and respected their learning, elegance and aspiration. The
Emperor was keen on poetry and whenever he discussed poetry with his mandarins, he would also invite the five sisters to join. The respect and favor that the sisters earned from the Emperor also earned their grandfather, father and brother a
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Song
Ruozhao died in 828 in the imperial palace and was given a grand funeral. Many features of the funeral were features only entitled to funerals of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, another indication of her importance to the imperial court of the Tang Dynasty.
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In 788, the five sisters and their father Song
Tingfen travelled to Shangdang County, where they met Li Baozhen (733-794), a famous general and high-ranking mandarin of the mid-Tang Dynasty. Li was impressed by the learning of the daughters and wrote to the
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Zhao, Liguang and Wang, Qingwei, 新见唐代内学士尚宫宋若昭墓志考释, Study on the Newly
Discovered Epitaph of Internal Academician and Shanggong, Song Ruozhao, 考古与文物, Chinese Journal of Archaeology and Antiques, Vol. 5 (2014), pp. 102-108, accessed April 10,
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in Tang
Dynasty could directly influence and participate in political decision making and the appointment of high-ranking officials and could work as ambassadors of the Emperor , which implies the possible political clout of Song Ruozhao.
129:), in charge of managing the general palace service. When Muzong was the crown prince, Song Ruozhao had alone instructed him about the Confucian classics, an unusual task for female officials. Moreover, recent research reveals that
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Guo, Haiwen, 依附于背离：宋若昭诗文探幽, Obedience and
Rebellion: An Analysis on the Poet and Articles by Song Ruozhao, Journal of South China Normal University (Social Science Edition), Vol. 4, No. 4 (2013), pp. 142-148
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Liu, Qinli, 唐代宫人的政治参与途径, Means of
Political Participation of Females in the Imperial Court of Tang Dynasty, 文史知识, Chinese Journal of Literature and History, Vol. 7, pp. 23 (2010), pp.18-24.
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Song
Ruozhao was particularly good with her interpersonal skills. Having served in the imperial palace for over four decades with six Emperors, Song Ruozhao was called
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The eldest sister Song
Ruoshen was in charge of managing records and accounts of the private quarters of the imperial palace. After she died in 820, the
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300:, Wang, Limei, 唐内学士宋若昭墓志铭考释, Study on the Epitaph of Song Ruozhao, 唐史论丛, Journal of History of Tang Dynasty, Vol. 20 (2015), pp. 31-39
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by the empresses, concubines, imperial princes and princesses. She was later given the honorable title Lady of Liang.
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51:(618–906). Her extant works include one poem, a short fiction story and her annotation to her sister's work:
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Liu, Xu, 旧唐书, The Old Book of Tang
Dynasty, Vol. 52 (945). accessed April 10, 2019
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Liu, Xu, 旧唐书, The Old Book of Tang Dynasty, Vol. 52 (945). accessed April 10, 2019
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Liu, Xu, 旧唐书, The Old Book of Tang Dynasty, Vol. 16 (945). accessed April 10, 2019
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Liu, Xu, 旧唐书, The Old Book of Tang Dynasty, Vol. 52 (945). accessed April 10, 2019
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Liu, Xu, 旧唐书, The Old Book of Tang Dynasty, Vol.52 (945). accessed April 10, 2019
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Liu, Xu, 旧唐书, The Old Book of Tang Dynasty, Vol.52 (945). accessed April 10, 2019
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47:; 761–828) was a Chinese Confucian scholar, poet and imperial official of the
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Chinese Confucian scholar, poet and imperial official of the Tang dynasty
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Fables for the Patriarchs: Gender Politics in Tang Discourse
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193:. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 182–.
67:Song Ruozhao was the second eldest of the
371:9th-century Chinese government officials
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105:position in the imperial state.
69:Five Sisters of the Song Family
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91:Entering the Imperial Palace
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361:8th-century Chinese people
109:Becoming a female official
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366:9th-century Chinese women
356:8th-century Chinese women
351:Chinese women in politics
331:9th-century Chinese poets
326:8th-century Chinese poets
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187:Tung, Jowen R. (2000).
376:9th-century scholars
341:Chinese women poets
75:, the third eldest
346:Tang dynasty poets
53:Analects for Women
336:Chinese courtiers
200:978-0-8476-9513-3
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21:Chinese name
85:Song Ruoxun
81:Song Ruolun
25:family name
321:828 deaths
316:761 births
310:Categories
166:References
131:Shanggong
119:Shanggong
147:Jingzong
143:Xianzong
19:In this
151:Teacher
139:Teacher
123:Chinese
41:Chinese
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23:, the
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