Sumalagu

Sumalagu

Sumalagu (Chinese: 苏麻喇姑; pinyin: Sūmálàgū; originally Sumal, in Manchu Chinese: 苏麻喇; pinyin: Sumala; 1615 – 24 October 1705) was a palace attendant of the Qing dynasty. She was a close confidante of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang during the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang called her "Gege", a title reserved for only imperial princesses.[1]

She acted as the messenger between prince Shizu and his mother during the reign of Dorgon.[2]

Upon the wish of the empress dowager, she escorted empress Borjigit incognito to receive medical treatment by the Jesuit Adam Schall von Bell.[3]

Sumalagu taught the young Kangxi Emperor the Manchu language while he was under her care. She was a supporter of the Kangxi Emperor when he asserted his power against the power base of Oboi in 1667–69.[4]

In 1687, she was given the responsibility of looking after Yuntao, one of Kangxi's sons.

References

1. 孝莊文太后身邊最神秘的女人:蘇麻喇姑 (in Chinese). 2009-02-27. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
2. Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Sue Wiles: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: v. 1: The Qing Period, 1644-1911
3. Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Sue Wiles: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: v. 1: The Qing Period, 1644-1911
4. Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Sue Wiles: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: v. 1: The Qing Period, 1644-1911