Đặng Thị Huệ

Đặng Thị Huệ
Consort of lord Trịnh Sâm
Portrait of Đặng Thị Huệ và the future lord Trịnh Cán
Born	? Bắc Ninh Province
Died	1784
Spouse	Trịnh Sâm
Issue	Trịnh Cán
Dynasty	Trịnh Lords
Religion	Buddhism

Đặng Thị Huệ (died 1784), was the favorite consort of Trịnh Sâm. She acted as a regent for one month after Trịnh Sâm died in 1782. According to histories she used to pick tea-leaves, but gained favour with Trịnh Sâm and was made senior concubine with the title Tuyên phi or Consort Tuyên, the highest rank of the Lord's wife.

Life

She is depicted by subsequent history as having used her influence, although in contrast a stele in Temple of Literature, Hanoi records the rector of the college refusing to pass her younger brother in Vietnam's Confucian exams.^[1]

As favourite concubine, she tried make her son Trịnh Cán heir. However, Trịnh Khải organized an army and fought against his half-brother and destroyed all her supporters. She was forced to commit suicide. Her birth and death day are unknown.^[2]

In 1782, Trịnh Sâm died after he had reigned for 15 years. His second son, Trịnh Cán, who was just 6 years old, succeeded the throne, the Royal Title is Điện Đô Vương, his mother is Consort Tuyên Đặng Thị Huệ became the one who control all the state affairs.

She is the subject of the 2010 historical novel Tuyên phi Đặng Thị Huệ by Văn Phú Ngô.^[3]

Modern depiction

• Portrayed by Lê Vân in the 1989 movie Đêm hội Long Trì.

References

1. Đình Hoà Nguyễn From the City Inside the Red River: A Cultural Memoir of Vietnam 1999 - Page 80 "informal group moved from one tall stone slab to the next with the professor translating the engraved Chinese characters. ... "This inscription mentions Dr. Tran Van Tru, who passed his exam in 1745 (the Year of the Pig) under Emperor Le Hien-tong, and served as Rector of the National College: He refused to pass Dang Mau Hi, the younger brother of Đặng Thị-Huệ (wife of Lord Trinh Sam, 1767-1782), because the candidate was incompetent and of questionable moral character."
2. Trần Mạnh Thường, Nguyễn Minh Tiến hiệu đính Việt Nam - Văn hóa và du lịch Page 59 "_ Năm 1782, Trịnh Sâm mất, ở ngôi chúa 15 năm, con thứ là Trịnh Cán mới 6 tuổi lên ngôi, tước hiệu Điện Đô vương, mẹ là Tuyên phi Đặng Thị Huệ trở thành người điều hành chính sự. _ Tháng 10 Nhâm Dần (1782), Trịnh Khải, con cả Trịnh
3. Văn Phú Ngô Tuyên phi Đặng Thị Huệ: tiểu thuyết lịch sử 2010