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Empress Shôken, later Empress Dowager Shôken, was the chief consort to the [[Meiji Emperor]].

Empress Shôken, later Empress Dowager Shôken, was the chief consort to the [[Meiji Emperor]].

A daughter of the [[Ichijo family|Ichijô]] [[kuge|court noble]] family, and named Haruko, she was married to the Meiji Emperor in [[1867]], the first year of his rule.

A daughter of [[kuge|court noble]] [[Ichijo Tadaka|Ichijô Tadaka]], and named Haruko, she was married to the Meiji Emperor in [[1867]], the first year of his rule.

During the [[Sino-Japanese War|Sino-Japanese]] and [[Russo-Japanese War]]s, she became known for her close association with the Japanese Red Cross, and her frequent visits to military hospitals, a symbol of the Imperial institution as caring about the people.

During the [[Sino-Japanese War|Sino-Japanese]] and [[Russo-Japanese War]]s, she became known for her close association with the Japanese Red Cross, and her frequent visits to military hospitals, a symbol of the Imperial institution as caring about the people.