The consort kin were the kin or a group of people related to an empress dowager or a consort of a monarch or a warlord in the Sinosphere. The leading figure of the clan was either a (usually male) sibling, cousin, or parent of the empress dowager or consort. Consort kins can be seen as a manifestation of nepotism in Sinospheric imperial politics. While some were competent, only relying on their female relatives for their initial audiences with the emperor and then proving their worth at their positions (e.g. Wei Qing and Huo Qubing), many turned out to be corrupt and incompetent (e.g. Yang Guozhong). Corrupt and incompetent consort kins have been linked to the downward turn of fortunes for many dynasties.

Historical examples

China

Zhou dynasty

Han dynasty

Three Kingdoms

Jin dynasty (266–420)

Sixteen Kingdoms

Northern and Southern dynasties

Tang dynasty

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Song dynasty

Yuan dynasty

Qing dynasty

Ancient Japan

Asuka period

Heian period

Ancient Korea

Ancient Vietnam