The title was created during the Western Jin dynasty for the stepmother of the Empress Wang Yuanji (wife of Sima Zhao), Lady Xiahou.
Henceforth, the title was considered as part of the lowest tier of Chinese noble ranks.
The title was reserved to the mothers or stepmothers of empresses and wives of eminent officials, e.g. wife of general Yang Hu, lady Xiahou.
The only granted title conveyed a honorifical name consisting of one character (慈乡君, "ci" meaning "benevolent").
The longest title consisted of 8 characters and was rendered to "Village Lady Pingle of Xingan county of Yuzhang commandery" (豫章郡新淦县平乐乡君).
The title could convey one character honorifical name and the names of territories being the matrimonium of the empress, e.g. mother of empress Wumu, lady Tan, received a title of Yuanjun (元君, meaning "primary lady").
[8] If the empress was born to a concubine, not to a primary wife, her biological mother received different title than her foster one.
After the establishment of the rank system, the mother or primary wife of the 4-rank official could be granted a title of xiangjun.
[16] Before marrying a xiangjun, the family of prince consort should sacrifice 3 camels, 4 horses and 56 sheep.