Yuan Cha (Chinese: 元叉) (486 - 17 April 526[1]), courtesy name Bojun (伯雋), nickname Yecha (夜叉),[2] was an official of the Xianbei-led Northern Wei dynasty of China, who initially came to power as the brother-in-law of Emperor Xiaoming's mother and regent Empress Dowager Hu.
In 525, a countercoup by Empress Dowager Hu restored her, and bowing to public pressure, she forced him to commit suicide.
Empress Dowager Hu forced Emperor Xuanwu's brother Yuan Yi the Prince of Qinghe, who was popular among the people and the officials for his humility and abilities, to have an affair with her.
On 18 April 521,[6] the general Xi Kangsheng (奚康生) made an attempt to restore Empress Dowager Hu, but failed.
By this point, Yuan Cha's precautions against Empress Dowager Hu had been greatly relaxed, particularly after Liu Teng's death on 24 March 523,[7] as he no longer saw her as a threat.
Eventually, however, he and his brother Yuan Zhua (元爪)[9] were accused of treason, and popular opinion (including Emperor Xiaoming) favored their deaths.
As such, Empress Dowager Hu agreed that the two should be forced to commit suicide,[10] but still awarded Yuan Cha much posthumous honor.