She was ethnically Xianbei, and she was a concubine of the Western Wei paramount general Yuwen Tai.
After Yuwen Yong became emperor of Northern Zhou in May 560, he did not immediately honor her as empress dowager, but did so on 3 July 567.
He further gave Yuwen Hu the text of the Jiu Gao (酒誥) – an anti-alcoholism declaration written by King Cheng of Zhou – and suggested that he read the Jiu Gao to Empress Dowager Chinu.
Once they reached her palace, Yuwen Hu, pursuant to Emperor Wu's request, started reading the Jiu Gao.
Before he could finish it, Emperor Wu stepped behind him and used a jade tablet to strike the back of his head.