Consorts of the Daoguang Emperor

Daoguang Emperor had fifteen consorts, including four empresses, one imperial noble consort, three noble consorts, three consorts and four concubines.

Empresses

  1. Empress Xiaomucheng, of the Niohuru clan (1807 - 17 February 1808), fifth cousin eight times removed. She was a primary consort of the future Emperor, Prince Zhi of the First Rank. She died in 1808, 12 years before enthronement and was posthumously honoured as empress.
  2. Empress Xiaoshencheng, of the Tunggiya clan (1820 - 16 June 1833)
  3. Empress Xiaoquancheng, of the Niohuru clan (17 June 1833 - 13 February 1840)
  4. Empress Xiaojingcheng, of the Khorchin Borjigit clan (14 February 1840 - 1850), fifth cousin.She was de facto empress as imperial noble consort. She became Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Kangci and was later promoted to Mother Empress, Empress Dowager Kangci.

Imperial Noble Consort

  1. Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangshun

Noble Consorts

  1. Consort Chang, Noble Consort Cheng and Consort Xiang
    Noble Consort Tong
  2. Noble Consort Jia
  3. Noble Consort Cheng

Consorts

  1. Consort He, of the Hoifa Nara clan (和妃 輝發那拉氏; died 18 May 1836)
  2. Consort Xiang, of the Niohuru clan (祥妃 鈕祜祿氏; 9 February 1808 – 15 February 1861)
  3. Consort Chang, of the Hešeri clan (常妃 赫舍里氏; 31 December 1808 – 10 May 1860)

Concubines

Concubine Tian

Concubine Tian was a member of the prominent Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Fuca clan.Her personal name was not recorded in history.

Father: Chaqing'a (查清阿), served as a magistrate of Guangdong

  • Paternal grandfather: Mujing'an (穆靖安), served as fifth rank literary official (员外郎), Maci's grandson

Mother: Lady Aisin-Gioro

  • Maternal grandfather: Keling'a (科灵阿), served as second class body guard (二等侍卫)[1]

One younger sister: primary wife of Gioro Chunpei, Master Commandant of Cavalry

Two younger brothers:

  • First younger brother: Chengduan (诚端), served as a fourth rank literary official in the Ministry of Works (侍郎)
  • Second younger brother: Chengchun (诚春), a secretary of Inner Court (内阁中书)[2]

Qianlong era

Concubine Tian was born on 15 April 1789.

Jiaqing era

Lady Fuca entered the residence of Prince Zhi of the First Rank in 1806 as a secondary consort (侧福晋). At that time, she didn't birth any child.

Daoguang era

In 1820, after the coronation of the Daoguang Emperor, lady Fuca was granted a title "Concubine Tian" (恬嫔, "tian" meaning "peaceful" in Chinese, but ”composed" in Manchu).[3] Concubine Tian initially resided in Chengqian Palace. She moved to Yanxi palace in 1825 which was under the jurisdiction of Consort Chang.

She was described as a benevolent and virtuous person and praised by palace staff. When her head palace maid fell ill, concubine Tian sent her to recuperate. In 1843, she participated in banquet after a court session by Empress Dowager Gongci in Cining palace together with another imperial consorts.[4] Every New Year's Day, she burned incenses in the back hall of Chuxiu palace for Empress Xiaoshencheng.[5] However, lady Fuca never rose above the rank of concubine despite her earlier status of secondary consort. On 21 August 1845, when Yanxi palace was set on fire, Concubine Tian failed to escape from raging flame and died at the age of 58. Her head eunuch was beaten 100 times and exiled into Amur region.[6] Her coffin was interred at Mu Mausoleum of the Western Qing tombs.

Concubine Shun (順嬪 那拉氏; 28 February 1811 – 11 April 1868)

Concubine Shun was a member of main lineage of the Nara clan.

Jiaqing era

Concubine Shun was born on 28 February 1811.

Daoguang era

Lady Nara entered the Forbidden City in 1824 at the age of 13 as “First Class Female Attendant Shun" (顺常在, "shun" meaning "delicate"). In October 1824, she was promoted to Noble Lady Shun (顺贵人). In 1829, she was demoted to First Class Female Attendant Shun and didn't recover previous title. Lady Nara remained childless during Daoguang era.[7]

Xianfeng era

In 1851, Lady Nara was restored as "Noble Lady Shun".[8] On 5 January 1861, she was rewarded together with Concubine Jia, Concubine Cheng, Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangshun and other concubines of the previous emperor during the celebrations of Chinese New Year. Noble Lady Shun left in the Forbidden city when Xianfeng Emperor fled with 5 dowager concubines to Chengde Mountain Resort.[9]

Tongzhi era

In 1861, Noble Lady Shun was promoted to Concubine Shun . Concubine Shun died in 1868. Her coffin was interred at the Mu Mausoleum of the Western Qing tombs.

Concubine Yu, of the Shang clan (豫嬪 尚氏; 20 December 1816 – 24 September 1897)

Concubine Yu was a member of Han Chinese Plain White Banner Shang clan.

Father:

One younger brother:Yingqi (英启)

Jiaqing era.

Concubine Yu was born on 20 December 1816.[10]

Daoguang era

Lady Shang entered the Forbidden City in 1834 as First Class Female Attendant Ling (玲常在)[11] She lived in Yanxi palace together with Noble Consort Cheng and Concubine Tian.[12] In 1839, her palace maid Daniu was beaten 40 times for stealing white silk satin.[13] The palace maid also received a corporal punishment from her mistress for killing her cat. Later, Daniu was punished for stepping into a plate in 1840.[14] That same year, lady Shang was demoted to "Second Class Female Attendant Shang" (尚答应). On 21 August 1845, the Palace of Prolonging Happiness burnt down, causing her to move out to Chuxiu palace.[15]

Xianfeng era

In 1850, Lady Shang was restored as First Attendant . In 1860, she was rewarded during the celebration of Chinese New Year together with dowager concubines. Unlike Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangshun, Noble Consort Cheng, Noble Consort Jia, Consort Xiang and First Attendant Cai, she left in the Forbidden City.

Tongzhi era

In 1861, Lady Shang was promoted to Noble Lady.

Guangxu era

In 1874, Noble Lady Shang was promoted to Concubine Yu (豫嫔, "yu" meaning “comfortable"). Concubine Yu died on 24 September 1897 at the age of 81. She was longest living consort of the Daoguang Emperor. Her coffin was interred at Mu Mausoleum of the Western Qing tombs.

Titles

玲常在→答應..常在→貴人→豫嬪

Concubine Heng, of the Cai clan (恆嬪 蔡氏; died 28 May 1876)

宜貴人→宜常在→答應..常在→貴人→恆嬪

Occupation of the palaces

Year Imperial consort Palace Notes
1821-1833 Empress Xiaoshencheng Chuxiu palace
1845-1850 Concubine Yu
1821-1840 Empress Xiaoquancheng Zhongcui palace
1835-1836 Noble Consort Jia
1840-1850 Empress Xiaojingcheng
1821-1840 Yonghe palace
1821-1836 Consort He Yanxi palace
1825-1845 Concubine Tian Yanxi palace burnt down in August 1845
1828-1845 Noble Consort Cheng
1834-1845 Concubine Yu
1822-1825 Consort Chang She lived there under supervision and moved out to Chengqian palace
1825-1827 Chengqian palace
1836-1850 Noble Consort Jia
1842-1850 Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangshun
1827-1850 Consort Chang Xianfu palace
1845-1850 Noble Consort Cheng
1831-1850 Noble Consort Tong
1837-1842 Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangshun
1821-1850 Consort Xiang Yikun palace

References

  1. ^ 《查清阿碑文》.
  2. ^ 《愛新覺羅宗譜》/"Genealogy of Aisin-GIoro clan", volume 18, part 1. p. 620.
  3. ^ "爱新觉罗家族全书: 世系源流". 吉林人民出版社. 1997. p. 393.
  4. ^ Tang / 唐, Haoming / 浩明. "唐浩明评点曾国藩作品系列合集" / "Collection of commentaries on Zeng Guofan's works compiled by Tang Haoming".
  5. ^ 《翁心存日记》.
  6. ^ 《奏为延禧宫失火率领官员兵丁扑救事折》.
  7. ^ 徐/Xu, 鑫/Xin. "道光帝陵历史之谜"/"History of the tomb of Daogunag emperor".
  8. ^ 晏/Yan, 子有/Ziyou. 清东西陵.
  9. ^ Zhao, Erxun. 《清史稿·列传一·后妃》/"Draft History of Qing. Biographies of imperial concubines".
  10. ^ 《八旗滿洲氏族通譜》.
  11. ^ Zhao/赵, Yumin/玉敏. 《道光帝"玲常在"出身与名号考补》. 历史档案/"Biography and titles of Daoguang Emperor's Concubine Yu". Historical Archives.
  12. ^ 《奏为查验延禧宫交出女子一名情形事》.
  13. ^ 《奏为宫内交出偷窃女子一名验得有伤情形事》.
  14. ^ "奏為查驗延禧宮交出女子一名情形事".
  15. ^ "奏为延禧宫失火率领官员兵丁扑救事折".