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Xiang Li Traditional Chinese Watercolor

The signature collection · 2012 — present

The Chinese Empresses

Two thousand years of women who shaped an empire. Xiang Li has painted more than 200 empresses — each researched, reimagined and rendered by hand in gemstone mineral pigments on 100% silk. Three to six months of work go into a single portrait.

153 portrait chapters 12 dynasties Gemstone pigments on silk

202 BC – 220 AD

Han Dynasty

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Empress Bo and Empress Wang Zhi — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Bo and Empress Wang Zhi
Empress Chen Jiao and Empress Wei Zifu — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Chen Jiao and Empress Wei Zifu
Empress Dou (Empress Xiaowen) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Dou (Empress Xiaowen)
Empress Dou (Zhangde) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Dou (Zhangde)
Empress Fu — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Fu
Empress Guanglie (Yin Lihua) and Guo Shengtong — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Guanglie (Yin Lihua) and Guo Shengtong
Empress Lü Zhi — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Lü Zhi

“The First Woman in Power”
Empress Ma (Empress Mingde) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Ma (Empress Mingde)
Empress Shangguan — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Shangguan

“The Youngest Empress”
Empress Song and Empress Ling — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Song and Empress Ling
Empress Xianmu (Cao Jie) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xianmu (Cao Jie)

“The last empress of the Eastern Han dynasty of China”
Empress Xiao Hui (Zhang Yan) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiao Hui (Zhang Yan)

“Depicted as cunning and ambitious”
Empress Xiaoping (Empress Wang) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaoping (Empress Wang)
Empress Xiaoyuan — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaoyuan

“Commonly known as Grand Empress Dowager Wang (who lived to the age of 83)”
Empress Xu — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xu
Empress Yan Ji (Empress Ansi) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Yan Ji (Empress Ansi)
Empress Yin and Deng Sui (Empress Hexi) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Yin and Deng Sui (Empress Hexi)
Empress Yixian (Liang Nüying), Empress Deng (Deng Mengnü), Empress Huansi (Dou Miao) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Yixian (Liang Nüying), Empress Deng (Deng Mengnü), Empress Huansi (Dou Miao)
Empress Zhao Feiyan — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhao Feiyan

“From poverty to prominence”
Emperor Huan of Han — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Emperor Huan of Han
Emperor Ling of Han — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Emperor Ling of Han
Liang Na (Empress Shunlie) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Liang Na (Empress Shunlie)
Xu Pingjun, Huo Chengjun and Empress Wang Zhengjun — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Xu Pingjun, Huo Chengjun and Empress Wang Zhengjun

“Empresses of Emperor Xuan”

9 – 23 AD

Xin Dynasty

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Empress Wang (Xin) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wang (Xin)
Wang Mang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Wang Mang

220 – 280

Three Kingdoms

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Empress Luo Shen (Three Kingdoms Cao Wei) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Luo Shen (Three Kingdoms Cao Wei)
Empress Mao and Empress Guo (Cao Wei) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Mao and Empress Guo (Cao Wei)
Empress Zhang, Empress Wang, Empress Bian (Cao Wei) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhang, Empress Wang, Empress Bian (Cao Wei)
Cao Fang (Emperor of Cao Wei) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Cao Fang (Emperor of Cao Wei)
Cao Rui – Emperor Ming of Wei — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Cao Rui – Emperor Ming of Wei
Guo Nüwang – Empress Wende (Cao Wei) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Guo Nüwang – Empress Wende (Cao Wei)
The Three Kingdoms (Eastern Wu) Empresses — silk portrait by Xiang Li

The Three Kingdoms (Eastern Wu) Empresses
The Three Kingdoms Empresses (Shu Han) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

The Three Kingdoms Empresses (Shu Han)

266 – 420

Jin Dynasty

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Empress Song Fujin — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Song Fujin
Empress Wang Fahui — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wang Fahui
Empress Wang Muzhi — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wang Muzhi
Chu Suanzi (Empress Kangxian) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Chu Suanzi (Empress Kangxian)
Du Lingyang (Empress Chengong) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Du Lingyang (Empress Chengong)
He Fani (Empress Muzhang) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

He Fani (Empress Muzhang)
The Four Empresses of the Western Jin Dynasty — silk portrait by Xiang Li

The Four Empresses of the Western Jin Dynasty
Yu Daolian (Empress Xiao) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Yu Daolian (Empress Xiao)
Yu Wenjun (Empress Mingmu) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Yu Wenjun (Empress Mingmu)

420 – 589

Southern & Northern Dynasties

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He Jingying — silk portrait by Xiang Li

He Jingying
He Lingwan — silk portrait by Xiang Li

He Lingwan
Jiang Jiankui — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Jiang Jiankui
Liu Huiduan — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Liu Huiduan
Liu Jingyan — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Liu Jingyan
Liu Zhirong — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Liu Zhirong
Northern Dynasties (Qi, Zhou)Chinese Empresses — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Northern Dynasties (Qi, Zhou)Chinese Empresses
Northern Dynasties (Wei)Chinese Empresses — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Northern Dynasties (Wei)Chinese Empresses
Pei Huizhao — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Pei Huizhao
Shen Miaorong — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Shen Miaorong
Sima Maoying — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Sima Maoying
Wang Linbin — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Wang Linbin
Wang Shunhua — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Wang Shunhua
Wang Xianyuan — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Wang Xianyuan
Wang Zhenfeng — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Wang Zhenfeng
Xi Hui — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Xi Hui
Xie Fanjing — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Xie Fanjing
Xu Zhaopei — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Xu Zhaopei
Yuan Qigui — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Yuan Qigui
Zang Aiqin — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Zang Aiqin
Zhang Yao’er — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Zhang Yao’er
Zhu Lingyu — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Zhu Lingyu

581 – 618

Sui Dynasty

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Empress Wenxian — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wenxian
Empress Xiao — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiao

618 – 907

Tang Dynasty

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Empress Dowager Guo — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Dowager Guo
Empress Dowager Wang (Xianzong) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Dowager Wang (Xianzong)
Empress He — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress He
Empress Liu and Empress Dou — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Liu and Empress Dou
Empress Taimu — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Taimu
Empress Wang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wang
Empress Wang (Dezong) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wang (Dezong)
Empress Wang (Gaozong) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wang (Gaozong)
Empress Wei — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wei
Empress Wu Zetian — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wu Zetian

“The first and only woman emperor of China”
Empress Zhang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhang
Empress Zhangsun — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhangsun
Empress Zhenyi and Empress Ruizhen — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhenyi and Empress Ruizhen
Emperor Gaozong of Tang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozu of Tang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor Ruizong of Tang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Emperor Ruizong of Tang
Emperor Suzong of Tang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Emperor Suzong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji)
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
The Last 7 Known Empresses of the Tang Dynasty — silk portrait by Xiang Li

The Last 7 Known Empresses of the Tang Dynasty

907 – 979

Five Dynasties & Ten Kingdoms

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Empress Fu the Elder (Later Zhou) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Fu the Elder (Later Zhou)
Empress Li (Later Han) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Li (Later Han)
Empress Li (Later Jin) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Li (Later Jin)
Empress Liu (Later Tang) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Liu (Later Tang)
Empress Zhang Hui (Later Liang) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhang Hui (Later Liang)
Empress Zhou the Elder, Empress Zhou the Younger (Southern Tang) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhou the Elder, Empress Zhou the Younger (Southern Tang)

960 – 1279

Song Dynasty

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Empress Cao — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Cao
Empress Gao — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Gao
Empress Guo — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Guo
Empress Guo, Empress Xia, Empress Xie — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Guo, Empress Xia, Empress Xie
Empress Han, Empress Yang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Han, Empress Yang
Empress Li, Princess Fu, Empress Song, Empress Wang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Li, Princess Fu, Empress Song, Empress Wang
Empress Liu, Empress Guo, Princess Pan, Consort Li — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Liu, Empress Guo, Princess Pan, Consort Li
Empress Meng, Empress Liu — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Meng, Empress Liu
Empress Quan — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Quan
Empress Wang, Empress Zheng — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wang, Empress Zheng
Empress Xiang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiang
Empress Xiaohui (Lady He) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaohui (Lady He)
Empress Xing, Empress Wu — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xing, Empress Wu
Empress Zhu — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhu
Li Fengxiang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Li Fengxiang
Xie Daoqing — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Xie Daoqing

1271 – 1368

Yuan Dynasty

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Babukhan — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Babukhan
Babusha — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Babusha
Budashiri — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Budashiri
Chabi, Nambui — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Chabi, Nambui
Daliyetemishi — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Daliyetemishi
Danashri, Bayan Khutugh, Empress Gi — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Danashri, Bayan Khutugh, Empress Gi
Radnashiri — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Radnashiri
Shirindari, Bulugan — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Shirindari, Bulugan
Sugabala — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Sugabala
Zhengde — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Zhengde

1368 – 1644

Ming Dynasty

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Empress Chen (Longqi) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Chen (Longqi)
Empress Chen, Empress Zhang, Empress Fang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Chen, Empress Zhang, Empress Fang
Empress Hu and Empress Sun — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Hu and Empress Sun
Empress Ma — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Ma
Empress Ma (Empress Xiaocigao) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Ma (Empress Xiaocigao)
Empress Qian — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Qian
Empress Wang (Jingtai) and Empress Hang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wang (Jingtai) and Empress Hang
Empress Wu and Empress Wang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wu and Empress Wang
Empress Xia — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xia
Empress Xiaoduanxian (Wang Xijie) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaoduanxian (Wang Xijie)
Empress Xiaoyizhuang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaoyizhuang
Empress Xiaoyuanzhen — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaoyuanzhen
Empress Xu — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xu
Empress Zhang (Hongxi) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhang (Hongxi)
Empress Zhang (Hongzhi) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhang (Hongzhi)
Empress Zhang (Tianqi) — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhang (Tianqi)
Empress Zhou — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Zhou

1636 – 1912

Qing Dynasty

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Empress Dowager Cixi — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Longyu — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Dowager Longyu
Empress Wanrong — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Wanrong
Empress Xiaochengren — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaochengren
Empress Xiaodexian — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaodexian
Empress Xiaoduanwen — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaoduanwen
Empress Xiaohuizhang — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaohuizhang
Empress Xiaojingxian — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaojingxian
Empress Xiaomucheng — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaomucheng
Empress Xiaoquancheng — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaoquancheng
Empress Xiaoshencheng — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaoshencheng
Empress Xiaoxianchun — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaoxianchun
Empress Xiaoyiren — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaoyiren
Empress Xiaozhaoren — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaozhaoren
Empress Xiaozheyi — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Empress Xiaozheyi
Consort Donggo — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Consort Donggo
Erdeni Bumba — silk portrait by Xiang Li

Erdeni Bumba

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The Book

200+ empresses in a 188-page full-color volume.

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Commissions

A one-of-a-kind portrait on silk, from $5,000.

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Questions? Write to [email protected]