Empress Dowager Yang Huiyu
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Empress Dowager Yang Huiyu (羊徽瑜) (214-278), formally Empress Jingxian (景獻皇后, literally "the decisive and wise empress"), semi-formally Empress Dowager Hongxun (弘訓太后) was an empress dowager during the Jin Dynasty (265-420). She was the powerful Cao Wei regent Sima Shi's third wife. Her father Yang Chai (羊茝) was a commandery governor, and her mother was a daughter of the well-known Han Dynasty historian and musician Cai Yong. Her brother was the famous general Yang Hu.
She did not have any sons with Sima Shi -- who did not have any sons with his prior wives or concubines, either. As a result, his brother Sima Zhao became the regent after his death. After Sima Zhao's death, his son Sima Yan forced the Cao Wei emperor Cao Huan to abdicate to him, ending Cao Wei and establishing the Jin Dynasty (as Emperor Wu). In recognition of his uncle's contribution, he honored Lady Yang as an empress dowager in 266 and housed her in Hongxun Palace (therefore leading to her semi-formal title as Empress Dowager Hongxun). It was said that it was at her insistence that Emperor Wu also posthumously honored Sima Shi's first wife, Lady Xiahou Hui, as Empress Jinghuai. She died in 278 and was buried with honors due an empress, with her husband Sima Shi.
