Imperial Concubine Zhen

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Imperial Consort Zhen (Chinese: 珍妃) (February 27, 1876 - August 15, 1900), popularly known as the "Pearl Concubine", was an Imperial Consort of the Guangxu Emperor (b.1871-d.1908) of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China.

Named Lady Tatala (他他拉), she was the daughter of H.E. Chang-Tsu of the Tatala clan and younger sister of the Imperial Consort Jin (瑾妃) (1874 - 1924) who also was married to the Emperor. Thus, both sisters were married to the same husband.

Consort Zhen was the favourite concubine of the Guang Xu Emperor. She entered the Forbidden City in 1888. Soon after that, she married the Emperor on February 25, 1889 and was granted the title of "Zhen Fei" (Pearl Concubine).

At the beginning, the Ci Xi Dowager Empress very much appreciated Consort Zhen's talents, and hired China's top artisans to teach her painting and playing musical instruments. However, Consort Zhen urged the Emperor to be "strong and independent", and encouraged his attempts to reform and learn foreign languages. It was also said that the Zhen Concubine liked photography, and invited European people into the Forbidden City to learn more about it. This explains the extant photographs of Consort Zhen, an unusual occurrence for an Imperial Consort. Her association with foreign customs, in addition to her peculiar habit of dressing in men's clothes, inspired even more disdain from Cixi. Once, in response to her arrogant attitude, Cixi teased Consort Zhen by calling her "Grandma Zhen". However, after her cooperation with Emperor Guangxu to stage a military coup attempting to force Cixi giving up her power, Consort Zhen was imprisoned.

During the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900, the Imperial Court fled from the Forbidden City to Xi'an. Cixi ordered Consort Zhen to be taken out of the prison and brought in front of her. Cixi said: "I originally planned to bring you along with us. But you are young and pretty, and are likely be raped by the foreign soldiers on the way. I trust you know what you should do." Realizing Cixi meant to order her commit suicide, Consort Zhen begged the Ci Xi Dowager Empress to let the Emperor stay in Beijing to negotiate with the foreign powers. Cixi was infuriated with her, and ordered Consort Zhen to be thrown in a well behind the Ning-Shiu Palace in the northeastern part of the Forbidden City.

[edit] See also

• The Ci Xi Dowager Empress
• The Guang Xu Emperor
• The Long Yu Empress
• The Imperial Concubine Jin