1993年8月(yue),位于(yu)咸陽(yang)市(shi)渭(wei)城(cheng)區底張(zhang)鄉(xiang)的北周武帝孝陵被(bei)盜,1996年6月(yue),渭(wei)城(cheng)公安分局文物派出(chu)所完整(zheng)地繳獲(huo)了被(bei)盜珍貴(gui)文物——金“天(tian)元(yuan)皇(huang)太后(hou)璽”。
天(tian)元皇太后(hou)璽(xi)(xi)(xi)是用純金制成(cheng),重802.56克(ke),璽(xi)(xi)(xi)與(yu)紐分模合(he)鑄,榫卯鑲嵌而(er)成(cheng),工藝十分精美,璽(xi)(xi)(xi)為獬(xie)紐,璽(xi)(xi)(xi)面方(fang)形,長(chang)4.45厘米(mi),寬4.55 厘米(mi),厚1.95厘米(mi),合(he)紐通高4.7厘米(mi),璽(xi)(xi)(xi)面篆書陽刻(ke)“天(tian)元皇太后(hou)璽(xi)(xi)(xi)”大小不一(yi)的六字,屬國家一(yi)級文物。
“天元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)皇(huang)(huang)太后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou)”是北(bei)(bei)周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)宇文邕的皇(huang)(huang)后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou)阿史那氏,周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)為迎(ying)娶(qu)(qu)這(zhe)位(wei)皇(huang)(huang)后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou)頗費了一(yi)番周(zhou)折。阿史那氏是當時(shi)突厥可(ke)(ke)汗的女兒(er),周(zhou)文帝(di)(di)(di)與可(ke)(ke)汗結(jie)盟(meng),以對付北(bei)(bei)齊(qi),可(ke)(ke)汗將(jiang)女兒(er)許配(pei)給周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di),后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou)來又(you)后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou)悔了。周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)即位(wei)(公(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)560年(nian)(nian)(nian))以后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou),多次(ci)派人前去迎(ying)親,都(dou)無果而返。公(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)565 年(nian)(nian)(nian),周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)派大(da)臣(chen)率120人的迎(ying)親隊伍浩(hao)(hao)浩(hao)(hao)蕩(dang)蕩(dang)再次(ci)迎(ying)親,可(ke)(ke)汗一(yi)拖再拖,遲遲不(bu)肯答應,迎(ying)親隊伍苦苦等了三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian),直到公(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)568年(nian)(nian)(nian),因(yin)為有一(yi)次(ci)天氣(qi)突變,雷電交加(jia),大(da)風吹壞突厥人居住的帳(zhang)篷,可(ke)(ke)汗以為是遭(zao)到天遣,感(gan)到十分害怕,才以禮送女兒(er)隨(sui)使(shi)者歸周(zhou)。從周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)即位(wei)迎(ying)親算起,為娶(qu)(qu)阿史那氏整(zheng)整(zheng)花了八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)時(shi)間,當然武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)是為了加(jia)強聯盟(meng),統一(yi)北(bei)(bei)方(fang),史書對她評價曰:后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou)有姿(zi)貌,善容(rong)止,帝(di)(di)(di)深敬焉。被封為武(wu)(wu)德皇(huang)(huang)后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou)。公(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)578年(nian)(nian)(nian),武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)駕崩,周(zhou)宣帝(di)(di)(di)即位(wei),尊(zun)武(wu)(wu)德皇(huang)(huang)后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou)為皇(huang)(huang)太后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou),不(bu)久,宣帝(di)(di)(di)不(bu)堪隋國公(gong)楊堅威(wei)逼,傳位(wei)于太子,即周(zhou)靜帝(di)(di)(di),宣帝(di)(di)(di)自稱(cheng)“天元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)皇(huang)(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)”,尊(zun)皇(huang)(huang)太后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou)為“天元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)皇(huang)(huang)太后(hou)(hou)(hou)(hou)”。