Wang Yuanji (217 – 20 April 268[4]) was a Chinese noble lady, aristocrat and later empress dowager of the Jin dynasty, who lived in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
She became the empress dowager during the reign of her son Sima Yan, who ended the Wei regime and founded the Jin dynasty.
She is known for her wisdom, good moral character, contributions to the origin and stabilization of the Jin dynasty, and for predicting Zhong Hui's rebellion in 264.
[6] When Wang Yuanji was eight years old (by East Asian reckoning), she already had a good memory and could recite the Confucian classics fluently.
Wang Yuanji's prediction came true later as Zhong Hui started a rebellion in March 264 after helping Wei conquer its rival state, Shu Han.
After ascending the throne, Sima Yan instated his mother as the empress dowager and gave her Chonghua Palace (崇化宮) as her residence.
Sima Yan personally wrote a eulogy praising his mother's moral character and ordered a court historian to have it published.
[11] Wang Yuanji is first introduced as a playable character in the seventh instalment of Koei's Dynasty Warriors video game series.