Saišangga

In this Manchu name, the given name is Saišangga, but is often simplified to Saisangga in English-language text. In accordance with Manchu custom, it should be used alone or with titles but not with the clan name Alut.

Saišangga
Chief Grand Councillor
In office 1851–1852
Preceded by	Qi Junzao
Succeeded by	Qi Junzao
Grand Councillor
In office 9 September 1835 – 7 August 1837
In office 31 January 1841 – 14 October 1852
Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall
In office 21 February 1851 – 14 October 1852
Minister of Revenue
In office 29 March 1845 – 1 February 1851 Serving with Qi Junzao (until 1850), Sun Ruizhen (since 1850)
Preceded by	Jingzheng
Succeeded by	Yucheng
Minister of Works
In office 14 July 1841 – 29 March 1845 Serving with Liao Hongquan (until 1844), Chen Guanjun (1844–1845), Du Shoutian (since 1845)
Preceded by	Jingzheng
Succeeded by	Yucheng
Minister of Lifan Yuan
In office 8 October 1838 – 14 July 1841
Preceded by	Ujungge
Succeeded by	Engui
lieutenant-general of Chahars
In office 7 August 1837 – 8 October 1838
Preceded by	Leshan
Succeeded by	Buyantai
Personal details
Born	Saišangga 1798
Died	1875 (aged 76–77) Beijing
Spouse	Lady Fuca
Relations	Imperial Noble Consort Gongsu (daughter) Chongqi (son)
Parents	Jinghui (景煇) (father) Lady Janggiya (mother)
Education	juren degree in the Mongolian Translation Examination (1816)
Occupation	politician
Clan name	Alut (阿魯特)
Courtesy name	Heting (鶴汀)
Military service
Allegiance	Qing dynasty
Branch/service	Mongolian Plain Blue Banner
Battles/wars	Taiping Rebellion

Saišangga (Manchu: ᠰᠠᡳ᠌ᡧᠠᠩᡤᠠ, Chinese: 賽尚阿, 1798–1875[1]), courtesy name Heting (鶴汀), was a Qing dynasty official and linguist from the Mongolian Alut clan and the Mongolian Plain Blue Banner. He was the father of Imperial Noble Consort Gongsu. His third son was Chongqi.

Saišangga obtained juren degree in the Mongolian Translation Examination (蒙古繙譯) in 1816.[1][2] The Translation Examination (繙譯科) was an imperial examination subject that only young Bannermen can participate in; the Mongolian Translation Examination required translating from Mongolian to Manchu.[3][4] Influenced by his father Jinghui (景煇), whom was also a linguist, Saišangga was proficient in Manchu, Mongolian and Chinese. Therefore, he was highly valued by Daoguang and Xianfeng.[5] He had served as Grand Councillor, Minister of Lifan Yuan, Minister of War, Minister of Works, Minister of Revenue, Minister of Personnel, Grand Secretary and other positions.[6] During the First Opium War, he was twice sent to Tianjin to supervise the defense of the coast.[7][2]

In the year 1851, Taiping Rebellion broke out in Guangxi. The provincial governor Zhou Tianjue (周天爵) and provincial military commander Xiang Rong were unable to suppress the rebellion. Saišangga was made the Imperial Commissioner in charge of military affairs in Guangxi to fight against the Taiping rebels. Accused of allowing the rebels to move from Guangxi to Hunan, he was dismissed and escorted to Beijing for trial.[7][2]

In 1853, Saišangga was stripped of official position, imprisoned and waited for execution. However, Xianfeng Emperor pardoned him and exiled him to Zhili. In 1855, he was sent to serve at frontier military outposts (軍台效力). Soon after the Second Opium War broke out, he was recalled to the capital and ordered to train Chahar Mongolian soldiers. he was appointed the deputy lieutenant-general of the Mongolian Plain Red Banner (正紅旗蒙古副都統) in 1860. He died in 1875.[7]

Publications

• Huijiang zeli (回疆則例)[8]
• Mengwen zhiyao (蒙文旨要)[9]

References

1. "(阿魯特)賽尚阿".
2. Hummel, Arthur W. Sr., ed. (1943). "Ch'ung-ch'i" . Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period. United States Government Printing Office.
3. "清代的科舉制度".
4. "The Chinese Imperial Examination System". chinaknowledge.de.
5. "赛尚阿". The Palace Museum (in Chinese).
6. "賽尚阿（1798~1875）".
7. Works related to 清史稿/卷392 at Wikisource (Draft History of Qing Volume 392)
8. "Huijiang zeli 回疆則例". chinaknowledge.de.
9. "Mengwen zhiyao 蒙文旨要". chinaknowledge.de.