Guo Ai

Guo Ai (郭曖) (died 797 CE), courtesy name Lingzhi (令之), was a Tang Dynasty general and consort. He was the son of the prominent general Guo Ziyi and Princess Shengping, a daughter of Emperor Daizong.

Guo Ai is most known for his impetuous personality and for an incident involving his wife, Princess Shengping. According to historical accounts, during a family gathering, Guo Ai and the princess had a heated argument regarding their respective family's contributions to the Tang dynasty. Guo Ai reportedly exclaimed that his father, Guo Ziyi, was instrumental in saving the empire, while the princess retorted that she was a daughter of the emperor. Guo Ai allegedly struck her during the argument.

This incident reached Emperor Daizong, who, instead of punishing Guo Ai, reportedly acknowledged Guo Ziyi's immense contributions to the dynasty and defused the situation. The emperor is said to have told Princess Shengping that Guo Ai's statement, though disrespectful, was not entirely untrue, given Guo Ziyi's crucial role in suppressing the An Lushan Rebellion and securing the Tang dynasty's stability. This incident became a well-known anecdote illustrating the complex relationship between imperial power and powerful military families in the Tang dynasty.

Guo Ai also held military positions and contributed to the dynasty's defenses. He is often portrayed in historical dramas and literature, often with a focus on his marriage to Princess Shengping and the tensions it created.