Princess Jinxiang (simplified: 金乡公主, traditional: 金鄉公主, pinyin: Jīnxiāng Gōngzhǔ) was a daughter of Cao Cao, the founder of the Cao Wei state. She married He Yan, one of the most prominent philosophers of the Wei period and a leading figure of the Xuanxue (玄學) or “Neo-Daoist” movement.
Biography
Princess Jinxiang was born as one of Cao Cao’s many daughters. Her title “Princess of Jinxiang” (金乡公主) indicates she was enfeoffed with the Jinxiang fief, a mark of imperial favour.
She married He Yan, whose mother Lady Yin had been the widow of He Xian (son of He Jin). After He Xian’s early death, Lady Yin became Cao Cao’s concubine, bringing young He Yan into the Cao household. He Yan was raised alongside Cao Cao’s sons and eventually married Princess Jinxiang, connecting him to the Cao family through marriage.
He Yan went on to become one of the most important intellectuals of the Wei dynasty, but was executed in 249 CE during Sima Yi’s political purge. Princess Jinxiang’s fate after her husband’s execution is not recorded in the sources.