and daughter of Chen Wu and Liu Piao, the relationship between the two families was close and would remain so for the ensuing centuries. Empress Chen was Liu Che's first wife, and Liu Che is often considered one of the greatest emperors in the Han dynasty and Chinese history in general. During Liu Che and Chen Jiao's reign, the Han dynasty of China would begin to greatly expand in territory in all directions and subjugate the northern Xiongnu nomads, thereby ushering in a golden age for China. For her role as the first empress during this golden era, Empress Chen would become the subject of much writing, poetry, odes, and idioms in historical texts written on the Han dynasty, including Ode of Long Gate, Hanwu Stories, etc. Age difference As there are no reliable historical records of Empress Chen's birth year, it is almost impossible to accurately calculate her age difference to Emperor Wu. However, Chen Jiao was originally intended to marry Liu Rong, Emperor Wu's eldest brother. Though Liu Rong's birth year was also omitted in historical records, it was possible to estimate his age by looking at historical records. One of Emperor Wu's older brothers, Liu Fei (劉非, Emperor Jing's fifth son), was recorded to be 12 years older than Emperor Wu; he was about 15 years old during the Rebellion of the Seven States, while the young Liu Che was only 3. Between Liu Rong and Liu Fei, there were two brothers born to Lady Li (Liu Rong's mother) and one brother born to Liu Fei's mother, meaning Liu Rong was at least 2 years older than Liu Fei and hence at least 14 years older than Emperor Wu. At the time of Princess Guantao's proposal, Liu Rong would have been around the age of 20, meaning that Chen Jiao would have to be at least in the mid-teens (otherwise she would be too young for marriage). Considering Liu Che was only 5 years old at the time of arranged marriage, the age difference between him and his cousin fiancée would be at least 8–9 years. Poetry The Ode of Long Gate (長門賦 Changmenfu) is part of the Fu (poetry) genre and was written by Sima Xiangru on the love between Empress Chen and Emperor Liu. The original text is:夫何一佳人兮，步逍遥以自虞。魂逾佚而不反兮，形枯槁而独居。言我朝往而暮来兮，饮食乐而忘人。心慊移而不省故兮，交得意而相亲。 伊予志之慢愚兮，怀真悫之欢心。愿赐问而自进兮，得尚君之玉音。奉虚言而望诚兮，期城南之离宫。修薄具而自设兮，君曾不肯乎幸临。A rough English translation is:What a beautiful woman, free, unfettered, and full of joy. The soul is