Princess Duan

Who was Princess Duan?

Princess Duan, formally Empress Chengzhao was the first wife of the Former Yan general Murong Chui, who would later become the founder of Later Yan. She was the mother of his sons Murong Ling and Murong Bao.

Princess Duan was the daughter of Duan Mopei, one in a line of Duan chiefs carrying the title of Duke of Liaoxi. Because she came from an honored lineage, she did not respect Murong Jun's wife Empress Kezuhun, and Empress Kezuhun despised her greatly. In 358, perhaps at her instigation, the eunuch Nie Hao falsely accused Princess Duan of witchcraft. Murong Jun had her and her alleged coconspirator, Murong Chui's assistant Gao Bi, arrested.

Princess Duan and Gao were tortured, but they refused to admit the charges of witchcraft, and because of this the torture was intensified. Murong Chui was saddened by his wife's suffering, and he sent her a message trying to persuade her to end her suffering by admitting to the charge. Princess Duan remarked: