1993年(nian)8月,位于咸(xian)陽(yang)市渭城區(qu)底張(zhang)鄉的北周武帝孝陵被(bei)盜(dao),1996年(nian)6月,渭城公安分局(ju)文物派出所完整地繳獲了被(bei)盜(dao)珍貴文物——金(jin)“天元皇太(tai)后璽”。
天元皇(huang)太(tai)后璽(xi)(xi)(xi)是用純金制成(cheng)(cheng),重802.56克(ke),璽(xi)(xi)(xi)與紐(niu)分模(mo)合鑄(zhu),榫(sun)卯鑲嵌而成(cheng)(cheng),工藝十分精美,璽(xi)(xi)(xi)為獬紐(niu),璽(xi)(xi)(xi)面(mian)方(fang)形(xing),長4.45厘米(mi),寬(kuan)4.55 厘米(mi),厚(hou)1.95厘米(mi),合紐(niu)通高(gao)4.7厘米(mi),璽(xi)(xi)(xi)面(mian)篆書陽刻“天元皇(huang)太(tai)后璽(xi)(xi)(xi)”大小不一的(de)六字,屬國家一級文物。
“天(tian)元(yuan)皇(huang)(huang)太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou)”是北周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)宇文(wen)邕的(de)(de)皇(huang)(huang)后(hou)(hou)阿(a)史(shi)那氏(shi),周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)為迎(ying)(ying)(ying)娶這位(wei)皇(huang)(huang)后(hou)(hou)頗(po)費了一(yi)(yi)番周(zhou)折。阿(a)史(shi)那氏(shi)是當時突厥可(ke)(ke)汗(han)(han)的(de)(de)女兒(er),周(zhou)文(wen)帝(di)(di)(di)與可(ke)(ke)汗(han)(han)結盟,以對付北齊,可(ke)(ke)汗(han)(han)將女兒(er)許配給周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di),后(hou)(hou)來又后(hou)(hou)悔了。周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)即(ji)位(wei)(公元(yuan)560年(nian))以后(hou)(hou),多次派(pai)人(ren)前(qian)去迎(ying)(ying)(ying)親,都無果而返。公元(yuan)565 年(nian),周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)派(pai)大(da)臣率120人(ren)的(de)(de)迎(ying)(ying)(ying)親隊伍(wu)浩浩蕩(dang)蕩(dang)再(zai)次迎(ying)(ying)(ying)親,可(ke)(ke)汗(han)(han)一(yi)(yi)拖再(zai)拖,遲(chi)遲(chi)不肯答應(ying),迎(ying)(ying)(ying)親隊伍(wu)苦苦等了三年(nian),直(zhi)到公元(yuan)568年(nian),因(yin)為有一(yi)(yi)次天(tian)氣(qi)突變,雷電交(jiao)加(jia),大(da)風(feng)吹壞突厥人(ren)居住的(de)(de)帳篷,可(ke)(ke)汗(han)(han)以為是遭到天(tian)遣(qian),感(gan)到十分害怕,才以禮(li)送女兒(er)隨使者歸周(zhou)。從(cong)周(zhou)武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)即(ji)位(wei)迎(ying)(ying)(ying)親算(suan)起,為娶阿(a)史(shi)那氏(shi)整整花了八年(nian)時間,當然武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)是為了加(jia)強聯(lian)盟,統一(yi)(yi)北方,史(shi)書對她評(ping)價曰(yue):后(hou)(hou)有姿(zi)貌,善容(rong)止,帝(di)(di)(di)深敬(jing)焉(yan)。被封(feng)為武(wu)(wu)德皇(huang)(huang)后(hou)(hou)。公元(yuan)578年(nian),武(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)駕崩,周(zhou)宣(xuan)帝(di)(di)(di)即(ji)位(wei),尊武(wu)(wu)德皇(huang)(huang)后(hou)(hou)為皇(huang)(huang)太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou),不久,宣(xuan)帝(di)(di)(di)不堪隋國(guo)公楊堅威逼,傳位(wei)于(yu)太(tai)(tai)子,即(ji)周(zhou)靜帝(di)(di)(di),宣(xuan)帝(di)(di)(di)自稱“天(tian)元(yuan)皇(huang)(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)”,尊皇(huang)(huang)太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou)為“天(tian)元(yuan)皇(huang)(huang)太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou)”。