ABSTRACT
Wang Wengxu (ca. 110-91 B.C.), an imperial court dancer, be came the wife of Emperor Wudi’s grandson, Shi, during the Western (Former) Han dynasty and the mother of Liu Xun, Em peror Xuandi. She was bom in Guangwang county, Zhao pre fecture (modern-day Wangdou county, Hebei province). Her mother, Wang Ren, came from a long line of farmers; at fourteen she married Wang Gende, her fellow villager. Several years later, he died of disease and her mother was remarried, to Wang Naishi; Wengxu was their daughter. Wengxu’s parents had two sons, but their ages are unknown.
