Jia Wu
| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 贾午 |
| Courtesy name | 氏 (Shi) |
| INFORMATION | |
| Born | c. 260 AD |
| Birth Place | Xiangling, Pingyang (modern Xiangfen, Shanxi) |
| Died | 300 AD |
| Death Reason | Executed / Implicated in coup |
| FAMILY | |
| Father | |
| Mother | |
| Relatives | |
Biography & Historical Record
Jia Wu (Giả Ngọ, 贾午; c. 260–300 AD) was a noblewoman of the Western Jin dynasty, younger daughter of paramount minister Jia Chong (贾充) and Lady Guo Huai, and younger sister of Empress Jia Nanfeng.
Jia Wu is celebrated in Chinese classical literature as the protagonist of the famous romance “Han Shou Steals Incense” (Han Shou touxiang; 韓壽偷香). Her father Jia Chong had hired the exceptionally handsome scholar Han Shou as an assistant secretary. Jia Wu fell deeply in love with him upon catching sight of him through a palace lattice and sent her maid to arrange a secret meeting, giving Han Shou rare imperial foreign tribute incense that had been gifted to Jia Chong by Emperor Wu.
When Jia Chong noticed the rare fragrance emanating from Han Shou, he discovered the secret courtship. Impressed by Han Shou’s literary talents and mindful of his family’s honor, Jia Chong consented and officially arranged their marriage. Their son Han Mi was later adopted into the Jia family as Jia Mi, who served as Empress Jia’s primary confidant and patronized the illustrious literary circle known as the “Twenty-Four Friends of Jingu” (金谷二十四友). Jia Wu was executed alongside her family following Sima Lun’s coup in 300 AD.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Her romantic story with Han Shou became one of China’s most cherished romantic allusions, exemplifying the lavish lifestyle and private passions of the late Three Kingdoms and Jin aristocracy.
Jia Wu — Historical Timeline
c. 260 AD
Birth into the Jia Lineage
Born in Pingyang as the younger daughter of Jia Chong and Guo Huai.
c. 278 AD
Han Shou Steals Incense
Gifts the exotic western tribute incense to Han Shou; formalizes their celebrated marriage with her father’s blessing.
291–300 AD
Influence at the Imperial Court
Enjoys high noble status during Empress Jia’s regency while her son Jia Mi leads the cultural elite of Luoyang.
300 AD
Fall with the Jia Clan
Implicated in the collapse of Empress Jia’s faction and executed during Sima Lun’s palace coup.
Key Relationships
Family
- Father Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Xung): Supreme minister under Sima Zhao and founding elder of the Western Jin.
- Mother Lady Guo Huai (郭槐, Quách Hoài): Matriarch of the Jia family.
- Sister Jia Nanfeng (贾南风, Giả Nam Phong): Empress of Emperor Hui of Jin.
- Sister Jia Bao (贾葆, Giả Bao): Sibling, wife of Sima Dan.
- Spouse Han Shou (韩寿, Hàn Thọ): Handsome scholar and minister; protagonist of the incense allusion.
- Son Jia Mi (贾谧, Giả Mật): Adopted heir to the Jia lineage and leader of the Jingu literary circle.
Friends
- Pan Yue (潘岳, Phan Nhạc): Famed poet and ally within the Twenty-Four Friends of Jingu.
Enemies
- Sima Lun: Prince of Zhao who purged the entire Jia family in the coup of 300 AD.
Other
- Sima Yan (司马炎, Tư Mã Viêm): Emperor Wu of Jin, who originally gifted the exotic tribute perfume to Jia Chong.
In Novel
Literary & Cultural Allusions
- Jia Wu (贾午, Giả Ngọ): Daughter of Jia Chong celebrated for the classical romance "Han Shou steals incense," uniting noble families in the post-unification era.
In History
Summary
- Jia Wu (贾午, Giả Ngọ) (c. 260–300 AD) was a Jin noblewoman whose marriage to Han Shou produced Jia Mi, the preeminent political and literary patron of late 3rd-century Luoyang.
Historical Record
- Book of Jin (晋书), Volume 40 (Biography of Jia Chong): Recounts the complete narrative of Han Shou, the tribute incense, and Jia Mi's adoption.
- Shishuo Xinyu (世说新语), Chapter "Precepts on Romance" (惑溺): Classical record of the incense romance.
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