Empress Xiaohuizhang
Empress Xiao Hui Zhang (5 November 1641 – 7 January 1718), of the Khorchin Mongol Borjigit clan, personal name Alatan Qiqige, was a consort of the Shunzhi Emperor. She was three years his junior.
| Empress Xiaohuizhang | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Dowager Renxian | |||||||||
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| Empress of Qing Dynasty | |||||||||
| Tenure | July/August 1654 – 5 February 1661 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Erdeni Bumba | ||||||||
| Successor | Empress Xiao Cheng Ren | ||||||||
| Empress Dowager of Qing Dynasty | |||||||||
| Tenure | 5 February 1661 – 7 January 1718 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Empress Xiaoduanwen Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang | ||||||||
| Successor | Empress Xiao Gong Ren | ||||||||
| Born | Borjigit Alatan Qiqige (博爾濟吉特 阿拉坦琪琪格 博尔济吉特 阿拉坦琪琪格) 5 November 1641 (崇德六年 十月 三日) | ||||||||
| Died | 7 January 1718 (aged 76) (康熙五十六年 十二月 六日) Ningshou Palace, Forbidden City | ||||||||
| Burial | Xiao Mausoleum, Eastern Qing tombs | ||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||
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| House | Borjigit (博爾濟吉特; by birth) Aisin Gioro (by marriage) | ||||||||
| Empress Xiaohuizhang | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 孝惠章皇后 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 孝惠章皇后 | ||||||
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| Manchu name | |||||||
| Manchu script | ᡥᡳᠶᠣᠣᡧᡠᠩᡤᠠ ᡶᡠᠯᡝᡥᡠᠨ ᡝᠯᡩᡝᠮᠪᡠᡥᡝ ᡥᡡᠸᠠᠩᡥᡝᠣ | ||||||
| Romanization | hiyoošungga fulehun eldembuhe hūwangheo | ||||||
Life
Family background
- Father: Chuo'erji (綽爾濟; d. 1670), held the title of a third rank prince (貝勒)
- Paternal grandfather: Manzhuxili (滿珠習禮; d. 1665), held the title of a first rank prince (親王)
- Paternal great uncle: Wukeshan (吳克善; d. 1666), held the title of a first rank prince (親王), the father of Consort Jing
- Paternal great aunt: Primary consort Minhui (1609–1641)
- Paternal great aunt: Empress Xiaozhuangwen (1613–1688), the mother of the Shunzhi Emperor (1638–1661)
- Mother: Lady Aisin Gioro
- Maternal grandfather: Abatai (1589–1646)
- Seven brothers
- Two elder sisters and two younger sisters
- Fourth younger sister: Consort Shuhui (1642–1713)
Chongde era
The future Empress Xiaohuizhang was born on the third day of the tenth lunar month in the 16th year of the reign of Hong Taiji, which translates to 5 November 1641 in the Gregorian calendar.
Shunzhi era
On 25 October 1653, the Shunzhi Emperor deposed his first empress consort, who was also from the Borjigit clan. In June or July 1654, the Lady Borjigit that would become Empress Xiaohuizhang entered the Forbidden City and became a concubine of the Shunzhi Emperor. In July or August 1654, she was officially designated as the Empress to replace the deposed Lady Borjigit.
However, the Shunzhi Emperor showed little interest in his new empress consort because he favoured Consort Donggo more than any other consort of his. Some historians believe that the Shunzhi Emperor made Empress Xiaohuizhang his new empress consort because he wanted to reduce tensions between the Aisin Gioro and Borjigit clans after demoting his first empress consort. The Aisin Gioro and Borjigit clans had a long history of political marriages, so the emperor had to choose a Borjigit woman to be his empress consort in order to keep up with tradition.
Kangxi era
The Shunzhi Emperor died on 5 February 1661 and was succeeded by his third son, Xuanye, who was born to Lady Tunggiya. Xuanye was enthroned as the Kangxi Emperor, while Lady Borjigit, as the empress consort of the previous emperor, was granted the title "Empress Dowager Renxian". She died on 7 January 1718 and was interred in a separate tomb in the Xiao Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs.
Titles
- During the reign of Hong Taiji (r. 1626–1643):
- Lady Borjigit (from 5 November 1641)
- During the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor (r. 1643–1661):
- Empress (皇后; from July/August 1654[1])
- During the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (r. 1661–1722):
- Empress Dowager Renxian (仁憲皇太后; from 5 February 1661[2])
- Empress Xiaohuizhang (孝惠章皇后; from 1718)
In fiction and popular culture
- Portrayed by Wang Ge in Xiaozhuang Mishi (2003)
- Portrayed by Yang Mingna in Chronicle of Life (2016)
See also
- Ranks of imperial consorts in China#Qing
- Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty
Notes
- 順治十一年 六月
- 順治十八年 正月 七日
References
- Wan, Yi; Shuqing, Wang; Yanzhen, Lu; Scott, Rosemary E. (1988). Daily Life in the Forbidden City: The Qing Dynasty, 1644-1912 (Illustrated ed.). Viking. ISBN 0670811645.
- Zhao, Erxun (1928). Draft History of Qing (Qing Shi Gao) (in Chinese).
Empress Xiaohuizhang House of Borjigin (Боржигин) (1641-1718) | ||
| Chinese royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Erdeni Bumba |
Empress of China 1654–1661 |
Succeeded by Empress Xiaokangzhang (Empress Xiaochengren actual living successor) |
| Preceded by Empress Xiaokangzhang |
Empress Dowager of China 1661–1718 |
Succeeded by Empress Xiaogongren |