Empress Xiaogongren (28 April 1660 – 25 June 1723), of the ManchuPlain Yellow Banner Uya clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the consort of Xuanye, the Kangxi Emperor and mother of Yinzhen, the Yongzheng Emperor. She was honoured as Empress Dowager Renshou during the reign of her son and posthumously honoured as empress, although she never held the rank of empress consort during her lifetime.
Life
Family background
Empress Xiaogongren's personal name was Malu (瑪琭).[1] She was a Booi Aha of the Plain Yellow Banner by birth.
Father: Weiwu (威武), served as a third rank military official (護軍參領), and held the title of a first class duke (一等公)
Brother: Boqi (博啟), served as a sula amban (散秩大臣), and held the title of a first class duke.
Shunzhi era
The future Empress Xiaogongren was born on the 19th day of the third lunar month in the 17th year of the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor, which translates to 28 April 1660 in the Gregorian calendar.
Kangxi era
In February or March 1673, Lady Uya entered the Forbidden City and became a lady-in-waiting of the Kangxi Emperor. On 13 December 1678, she gave birth to the emperor's fourth son, Yinzhen. On 15 November 1679, she was granted the title "Concubine De". On 5 March 1680, she gave birth to the emperor's sixth son, Yinzuo, who would die prematurely on 15 June 1685.
Empress Xiaogongren at the time being Consort De
On 28 January 1682, she was elevated to "Consort De". She gave birth on 5 July 1682 to the emperor's seventh daughter, who would die prematurely in September 1682, on 10 November 1683 to his ninth daughter, Princess Wenxian of the First Rank, on 14 June 1686 to his 12th daughter, who would die prematurely in February or March 1697, and on 10 February 1688 to his 14th son, Yunti.
Yongzheng era
The Kangxi Emperor died on 20 December 1722 and was succeeded by Yinzhen, who was enthroned as the Yongzheng Emperor. As the mother of the reigning emperor, Consort De was honoured as "Empress Dowager Renshou".
Empress Dowager Renshou died of illness on 25 June 1723. Some sources claimed that she wished to commit suicide to join her husband but her son refused to let her do so. She fell ill shortly afterwards and died after refusing medical treatment.[2] She was interred in the Jing Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs. She was granted the posthumous title "Empress Xiaogongren" by the Yongzheng Emperor.
Empress Dowager Renshou (仁壽皇太后; from 20 December 1722[5])
Empress Xiaogongren (孝恭仁皇后; from August/September 1723[6])
Issue
As a mistress:
Yinzhen (胤禛; 13 December 1678 – 8 October 1735), the Kangxi Emperor's 11th (fourth) son, enthroned on 27 December 1722 as the Yongzheng Emperor
As Concubine De:
Yinzuo (胤祚; 5 March 1680 – 15 June 1685), the Kangxi Emperor's 14th (sixth) son
As Consort De:
The Kangxi Emperor's seventh daughter (5 July 1682 – September 1682)
Princess Wenxian of the First Rank (固倫溫憲公主; 10 November 1683 – August/September 1702), the Kangxi Emperor's ninth daughter
Married Shun'anyan (舜安顏; d. 1724) of the Manchu Tunggiya clan in October/November 1700
The Kangxi Emperor's 12th daughter (14 June 1686 – February/March 1697)
Yunti (允禵; 10 February 1688 – 16 February 1755), the Kangxi Emperor's 23rd (14th) son, granted the title Prince Xun of the Second Rank in 1748, posthumously honoured as Prince Xunqin of the Second Rank
Wang, Miansen (2022). 清代后妃雜識 (in Chinese). Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Press. ISBN9787552038200.
Ropp, Paul Stanley; Zamperini, Paola; Zurndorfer, Harriet Thelma (2001). Passionate Women: Female Suicide in Late Imperial China (Reprint ed.). BRILL. ISBN9004120181.
Wan, Yi; Shuqing, Wang; Yanzhen, Lu; Scott, Rosemary E. (1988). Daily Life in the Forbidden City: The Qing Dynasty, 1644-1912 (Illustrated ed.). Viking. ISBN0670811645.
Wu, Silas H. L. (1979). Passage to power: K'ang-hsi and his heir apparent, 1661-1722 (Illustrated ed.). Harvard University Press. ISBN0674656253.
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