Т. 2. Азия и Африка: Наследие и современность

62 Азия и Африка: наследие и современность. Т. 2 СЕКЦИЯ XIV. ИСТОЧНИКОВЕДЕНИЕ И ИСТОРИОГРАФИЯ КИТАЯ HISTORIOGRAPHY OF CHINA Alexander G. Storojuk (FAAS, St Petersurg State University, St Petersburg) Qi-furen: Historic Figure and Goddess of Chinese Folksy Religion Qi-furen ( 戚夫人 , 224–194 B. C.) or “Spouse Qi” is well-known to Chinese historians as one of the most tragic and woeful figures of the Empire building period. The beloved and most beautiful concubine of Liu Bang ( 劉邦 , 256–195 B. C.), the founder of the Han dynasty, shared all the hardships of war her husband fought and gave a birth to their son Liu Ru-yi ( 劉如意 , 208–194), the prince of Zhao and a possible heir to the throne. Charming, educated and bestowed with plentiful talents, Qi-furen has been cherished by Liu Bang, especially after Liu Ru-yi grew up and proved to inherit the best of his father. Liu Bang loved his son devotedly, actually casting away his other offspring — Liu Ying ( 劉盈 , 211–188 B. C.), the child of the Ruling Empress Lü Zhi ( 呂雉 , 呂太后 , 241–180 B. C.). Having gained the most powerful position at the court, Qi-furen even tried to impair Liu Ying and his elder sister — Princess Lu-Yuan ( 魯元公主 , ?–187 B. C.), causing Lü Zhi’s persistent hatred. Everything changed in 195 B. C., after Liu Bang’s death. Liu Ying ascended the throne, and no official Liu Bang’s proclamations about Liu Ru-yi’s faith had ever been publicized. Lü Zhi, now the Empress Dowager, prevailed at the court and started recompensing her old fears and wounds. Qi-furen was arrested, shackled, dressed in the prisoner’s garb, had her head shaved and forced to husk rice and undergo other labor cervices. In 194 B. C. Liu Ru-yi was murdered, and Qi-furen subjected to the most fearful and hellish execution: her eyes were dug out, her ears burnt, her vocal cords destroyed with some dumbing potion, her legs and arms cut away, and her crippled torso thrown in the latrine. Lü Zhi did it openly and even invited guests to