Míng’s Yuán “Pure” Empress Guō was a Xīpíng woman. At the time she was from a great clan west of the [Yellow] River. During Huángchū [220-226] her home prefecture rebelled, and thereafter she was sent to enter the Palace [harem]. When Míng-dì ascended [226], she was greatly favored and appointed Lady. Her father’s younger brother Lì was appointed Cavalry Commandant and her father’s cousin Zhī was appointed Tiger Elite Internal Cadet-General.

明元郭皇后，西平人也，世河右大族。黃初中，本郡反叛，遂沒入宮。明帝即位，甚見愛幸，拜為夫人。叔父立為騎都尉，從父芝為虎賁中郎將。

When the Emperor was gravely ill [239], he then installed her as empress. The King of Qí ascended, and the empress became Dowager-Empress, called Yǒngníng Palace. Posthumous title was bestowed on the dowager-empress’s father Mǎn as Dìng-hóu “Determined Marquis” of Xīdū, and his son Jiàn was installed to continue the succession line. Fief was given to the dowager-empress’s mother Lady Dù as Ruler of Héyáng. Zhī was promoted to Cavalier Regular Attendant and Cháng River Colonel, (1) and with Lì the General Declaring Virtue both were given fief as full Marquis. Jiàn’s elder brother Dé supported Lady Zhēn. Dé and Jiàn both became General Protectors, and both were given fief as full Marquis, and together controlled the Night Guard.

帝疾困，遂立為皇后。齊王即位，尊后為皇太后，稱永寧宮，追封諡太后父滿為西都定侯，以立子建紹其爵。封太后母杜為郃陽君。芝遷散騎常侍、長水校尉，〔一〕立，宣德將軍，皆封列侯。建兄德，出養甄氏。德及建俱為鎮護將軍，皆封列侯，並掌宿衛。

• (1) Wèilüè states: Among all the Guō, Zhī was the most robust and upright. At first he was for other achievements titled Marquis.
• Jìnzhūgōngzàn states: Jiàn appellation Shūshǐ. He was capable and strong. During Tàishǐ he fell ill and died. His son Jiǎ succeeded, and became Internal Assistant.

〔一〕　魏略曰：諸郭之中，芝最壯直。先時自以他功封侯。晉諸公贊曰：建安叔始，有器局而彊問，泰始中疾薨。子嘏嗣，為給事中。

The installed three rulers were all young, so the chief ministers dominated the government, and seized control of all great affairs, but all first consulted and informed the dowager-empress and only then acted. When Guànqiū Jiǎn, Zhōng Huì, and others revolted, they all forged her orders to justify their actions. Jǐngyuán fourth year [264] twelfth day she died. Fifth year, second moon, she was buried west of Gāopínglíng “High Peaceful Tomb.”

值三主幼弱，宰輔統政，與奪大事，皆先咨啟於太后而後施行。毌丘儉、鍾會等作亂，咸假其命而以為辭焉。景元四年十二日崩，五年二月，葬高平陵西。