Consort kins can be seen as a manifestation of nepotism in Sinospheric imperial politics. While some were competent, only relying on their female relatives for their initial audiences with the emperor and then proving their worth at their positions (e.g. Wei Qing and Huo Qubing), many turned out to be corrupt and incompetent (e.g. Yang Guozhong). Corrupt and incompetent consort kins have been linked to the downward turn of fortunes for many dynasties.
Huo Qubing – a nephew of Wei Qing and Wei Zifu, also an important general in the war between Han China and Xiongnu.[3]
Huo Guang – a younger paternal half-brother of Huo Qubing, whose granddaughter became the empress of Emperor Zhao of Han, and daughter became an empress of Emperor Xuan of Han. He played an extremely important political role in the eras of Emperor Zhao and Emperor Xuan, sometimes overshadowing the power of the emperors.[3]
Shangguan Jie – Paternal grandfather of Emperor Zhao's wife (Huo Guang was the maternal grandfather). He was involved in a power struggle with Huo Guang, and killed in 80 BCE after being accused of plotting a rebellion.
Mi Fang, a brother of Lady Mi (Mi Furen) of Liu Bei, Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han. His betrayal of Shu Han partially led to its loss of Jing Province and the death of general Guan Yu.[5]
Further readings: Sekkan system [ja], in which the Hokke (Fujiwara) clan occupied the posts of Sesshō and Kampaku as maternal relatives of the emperors
Yeoheung Min clan — there is a Korean saying that "Joseon was founded with a Yeoheung Min clan member (Queen Wongyeong's family), and Joseon was destroyed by a Yeoheung Min clan member (Empress Myeongseong's family)"
^Hinsch, Bret (2006). "The Criticism of Powerful Women by Western Han Dynasty Portent Experts". Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient. Brill. 49 (1): 96–121. JSTOR25165130.
^Bielenstein, Hans (1986). "Wang Mang, the Restoration of the Han Dynasty, and Later Han". In Denis Twitchett; Michael Loewe (eds.). Volume I: the Ch'in and Han Empires, 221 B.C. – A.D. 220. The Cambridge History of China. Cambridge University Press. pp. 223–290. ISBN978-0-521-24327-8.
^Twitchett, Denis (1979). "Hsüan-tsung (reign 712–56)". In Denis Twitchett (ed.). Volume 3, Sui and T'ang China, 589–906 AD, Part 1. The Cambridge History of China. Cambridge University Press. pp. 333–463. doi:10.1017/CHOL9780521214469.008. ISBN978-0521214469.
^Murray, Lorraine; et al. (2009). "Jia Sidao". Encyclopædia Britannica. britannica.com. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
Further reading
Bennett Peterson, Barbara (2000). Notable Women of China: Shang Dynasty to the Early Twentieth Century. M.E. Sharpe, Inc. ISBN0-7656-0504-X.