#  Chinese Empresses - Watercolor Paintings on Silk by Xiang Li 

 



##  Chinese Empresses by Xiang Li 

 Watercolor Paintings on Silk 

 

 

       ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empresses Liu and Dou of the Tang Dynasty riding large birds or dragons](/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-10/Empresses%20Liu%20and%20Dou%20Tang%20Dynasty.png?itok=SR11fmKw) 

 

 



 

 



 

September 25 - November 30, 2025

Informed by decades of research, study, and practice, Xiang Li’s portrayal of each Chinese empress incorporates elements of nature, in particular floral forms, conveying the rich sense of symbolism woven into traditional Chinese culture and honoring the unsung women who shaped dynasties.

Learn more about the artist and her work on [her personal website](https://www.xiangliart.com/about-xiang-li/).



 

    ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Lu Zhi of the Han Dynasty, surrounded by dragons and birds ](/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_2_3__480x720/public/2025-10/Empress%20Lu%20Zhi%20-%20Han%20Dynasty.png?itok=0lBUQIzg) 

 



 

 Empress Lü Zhi, Han Dynasty



   

 

    ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Dowager Cixi of Qing Dynasty, pointing at the viewer of the painting](/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_2_3__480x720/public/2025-10/Empress%20Dowager%20Cixi%20of%20Qing%20Dynasty%20.png?itok=ZFzKrGn4) 

 



 

 Empress Dowager Cixi, Qing Dynasty



   

 

    ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Li Lingrong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty ](/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_2_3__480x720/public/2025-10/Empress%20Li%20Lingrong.png?itok=QIWlHKzS) 

 



 

 Empress Li Lingrong, Eastern Jin Dynasty



   

 

 

 

 

 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of empresses in the Ming Dynasty End Period, with a large pair of eyes in the background](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Ming%20Dynasty%20End%20Period.png?itok=URVDocpb) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Ming Dynasty Empresses (End Period)</p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Ming%20Dynasty%20End%20Period.png)Ming Dynasty Empresses (End Period)

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empresses Liu and Dou of the Tang Dynasty riding large birds or dragons](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empresses%20Liu%20and%20Dou%20Tang%20Dynasty.png?itok=JkqJbPDY) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Liu and Empress Dou, <span>Tang Dynasty</span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empresses%20Liu%20and%20Dou%20Tang%20Dynasty.png)Empress Liu and Empress Dou, Tang Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Primary Consort Minhui of the Qing Dynasty, riding a horse and carrying arrows and a whip](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Primary%20Consort%20Minhui%20Qing%20Dynasty%20.png?itok=1k5lMW-Q) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><span>Primary Consort Minhui, Qing Dynasty</span></p><p><br> </p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Primary%20Consort%20Minhui%20Qing%20Dynasty%20.png)Primary Consort Minhui, Qing Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of empresses of the Ming Dynasty Early Period, surrounded by books, birds, and writing instruments](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Ming%20Dynasty%20Early%20Period.png?itok=QCb4wtqO) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Ming Dynasty (Early Period)</p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Ming%20Dynasty%20Early%20Period.png)Ming Dynasty (Early Period)

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of the empresses of the Northern Wei, Northern Dynasties with horses and dragons](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Northern%20Wei%20-%20Northern%20Dynasties.png?itok=Q43x_5t0) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Northern Wei Dynasty</p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Northern%20Wei%20-%20Northern%20Dynasties.png)Northern Wei Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of the empresses of the Northern Song Dynasty, End Period with large bird and flowers in the background](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Northern%20Song%20Dynasty%20-%20End%20Period.png?itok=7C3sU75n) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Northern Song Dynasty, End Period</p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Northern%20Song%20Dynasty%20-%20End%20Period.png)Northern Song Dynasty, End Period

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Wang Tang Dynasty, with other women all riding horses](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Wang%20Tang%20Dynasty2.png?itok=3GC316na) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Wang, <span>Tang Dynasty</span></p><p><br> </p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Wang%20Tang%20Dynasty2.png)Empress Wang, Tang Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty, with her village in the background](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Wu%20Zetian%20Tang%20Dynasty.png?itok=utfq_1pw) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Wu Zetian , <span>Tang Dynasty </span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Wu%20Zetian%20Tang%20Dynasty.png)Empress Wu Zetian , Tang Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Wang of the Tang Dynasty, surrounded by other women working with silk and cats on the floor playing with balls of yarn](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Wang%20Tang%20Dynasty.png?itok=ybvFZoZ5) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Wang, <span>Tang Dynasty</span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Wang%20Tang%20Dynasty.png)Empress Wang, Tang Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Zhang Sun of the Tang Dynasty, surrounded by birds](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Zhang%20Sun.png?itok=B1mMtKnv) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Zhang Sun, <span>Tang Dynasty </span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Zhang%20Sun.png)Empress Zhang Sun, Tang Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Dou of the Tang Dynasty, wearing a large crown with a huge peacock behind her](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Dou%20-%20Tang%20Dynasty.png?itok=asb3q2zN) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Dou, <span>Tang Dynasty</span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Dou%20-%20Tang%20Dynasty.png)Empress Dou, Tang Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Southern Dynasties Lui Song Empresses, with a large dragon](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Southern%20Dynasty%20Lui%20Song%20Empresses.png?itok=kjR-cnUl) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Lui Song, Southern Dynasty</p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Southern%20Dynasty%20Lui%20Song%20Empresses.png)Lui Song, Southern Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of 13 empresses of the Northern Qi, Northern Dynasties , each posing with either a dragon, a horses, or a cat](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Northern%20Qi%20-%20Northern%20Dyansties%20Empresses%20.png?itok=udMRTBeR) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Northern Qi, Northern Dynasty</p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Northern%20Qi%20-%20Northern%20Dyansties%20Empresses%20.png)Northern Qi, Northern Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Yu Daolian of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, embraced by a large peacock and holding a flower](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Yu%20Daolian.png?itok=DunlbxLD) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Yu Daolian, <span>Eastern Jin Dynasty</span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Yu%20Daolian.png)Empress Yu Daolian, Eastern Jin Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress He Fani of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, surrounded by butterflies and silk scarves](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20He%20Fani.png?itok=d2AJO3JV) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress He Fani, <span>Eastern Jin Dynasty</span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20He%20Fani.png)Empress He Fani, Eastern Jin Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of the five Empresses of the Western Jin Dynasty, all wearing beautiful crowns](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Western%20Jin%20Dynasty%20Empresses.png?itok=83HyRtC9) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Western Jin Dynasty Empresses</p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Western%20Jin%20Dynasty%20Empresses.png)Western Jin Dynasty Empresses

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of the five empresses of the Eastern Wu, Three Kingdoms period](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empresses%20of%20Eastern%20Wu%20-%20Three%20Kingdoms%20period.png?itok=LT_Wughy) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Three Kingdoms Period, Eastern Wu</p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empresses%20of%20Eastern%20Wu%20-%20Three%20Kingdoms%20period.png)Three Kingdoms Period, Eastern Wu

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empresses Wu, Da Zhang, and Xiao Zhang of the Three Kingdoms period](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empresses%20Wu%20Da%20Zhang%20and%20Xiao%20Zhang.png?itok=bAC2BCx4) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><span>Three Kingdoms Period, Shu Han</span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empresses%20Wu%20Da%20Zhang%20and%20Xiao%20Zhang.png)Three Kingdoms Period, Shu Han

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empresses Zhang, Wang, and Bian of the Three Kingdoms period, with swans](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empresses%20Zhang%20Wang%20and%20Bian.png?itok=4bPCxIT9) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Zhang, Empress Wang, and Empress Bian, <span>Three Kingdoms</span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empresses%20Zhang%20Wang%20and%20Bian.png)Empress Zhang, Empress Wang, and Empress Bian, Three Kingdoms

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Grand Empress Zhen of the the Three Kingdoms period, posing with large flowers and dragons](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Zhen.png?itok=jE63YOYa) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Zhen (Luo Shen), <span>Three Kingdoms </span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Zhen.png)Empress Zhen (Luo Shen), Three Kingdoms

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Guo Nüwang of the Three Kingdom period with a fierce looking animal at her feet](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Guo%20N%C3%BCwang.png?itok=HnbvE-SW) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Guo Nüwang, <span>Three Kingdoms </span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Guo%20N%C3%BCwang.png)Empress Guo Nüwang, Three Kingdoms

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empresses Fushou (back) and Cajoie (front) of the Han Dynasty, with a dragon in the background](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empresses%20Fushou%20and%20Cajoie.png?itok=pE9hAAse) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Fushou and Empress Caojie, <span>Han Dynasty </span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empresses%20Fushou%20and%20Cajoie.png)Empress Fushou and Empress Caojie, Han Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Dou of the Han Dynasty, with a tiger and a peacock in the foreground ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Dou%20-%20Han%20Dyansty.png?itok=klF1_sBa) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Dou, <span>Han Dynasty</span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Dou%20-%20Han%20Dyansty.png)Empress Dou, Han Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Ma of Han Dynasty, with a dragon flying in the background](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Ma.png?itok=QD98QkhO) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Ma, <span>Han Dynasty </span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Ma.png)Empress Ma, Han Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Zhao Feiyan of the Han Dynasty, surrounded by birds and embraced by a dragon](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Zhao%20Feiyan.png?itok=FhV5uX71) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Zhao Feiyan, <span>Han Dynasty</span></p><p><br> </p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Zhao%20Feiyan.png)Empress Zhao Feiyan, Han Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Grand Empress Dowager Shanguang of Han Dynasty, surrounded by several dragons](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Grand%20Empress.png?itok=NyJKkvJ6) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Grand Empress Dowager Shangguan, <span>Han Dynasty </span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Grand%20Empress.png)Grand Empress Dowager Shangguan, Han Dynasty

 

 



 [   ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Lu Zhi of the Han Dynasty, surrounded by dragons and birds ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-10/Empress%20Lu%20Zhi%20-%20Han%20Dynasty.png?itok=RgsYjxxr) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><div class="hwp-text-block"><p>Empress Lü Zhi, <span>Han Dynasty </span></p></div></div>   

 ](https://gutmangalleryarchive.gse.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/2025-10/Empress%20Lu%20Zhi%20-%20Han%20Dynasty.png)Empress Lü Zhi, Han Dynasty

 

 



 

 



    ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empresses Wu, Da Zhang, and Xiao Zhang of the Three Kingdoms period](/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2025-10/Empresses%20Wu%20Da%20Zhang%20and%20Xiao%20Zhang.png?itok=MbVzuEu3) 

 



 

 Three Kingdoms period (Shu Han)



   

 

    ![Watercolor on silk painting of the five empresses of the Eastern Wu, Three Kingdoms period](/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2026-05/Three%20Kingdoms%20period%20-%20Eastern%20Wu.png?itok=TLiBJjtU) 

 



 

 Three Kingdoms period, Eastern Wu



   

 

    ![Watercolor on silk painting of Empress Yu Daolian of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, embraced by a large peacock and holding a flower](/sites/g/files/omnuum12231/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2025-10/Empress%20Yu%20Daolian.png?itok=S5ICdMHw) 

 



 

 Empress Yu Daolian, Eastern Jin Dynasty