Empress Xiaochengren

Empress Xiaochengren (Manchu: Hiyoošungga Unenggi Gosin Hūwanghu; 26 November 1653 – 16 June 1674) was the first Empress Consort of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. She died at the age of 20, and is therefore considered to be the most short-lived Empress of the Qing Dynasty.

Biography

Empress Xiaochengren was born in the Manchu Hešeri clan. She was the daughter of Gabula, a duke and general. Her grandfather Sonin served as one of the Four Regents for the Kangxi Emperor from 1661 to 1667 when the emperor was still a child. Lady Hešeri's great-grandfather Shuose and great-granduncle Xifu were both fluent in the Chinese, Mongol and Manchu languages, and served as Grand Councilors. One of her uncles was Songgotu, a diplomat and minister.

Lady Hešeri married the Kangxi Emperor in 1665 when she was 12 and he was 11, thus becoming Empress.

Lady Hešeri died on 16 June 1674 in the Forbidden City shortly after giving birth to her second son Yinreng. After her death the Kangxi Emperor left the position of Empress vacant for several years. One of Lady Hešeri's younger sisters later became Kangxi's Consort Ping (平妃).

Issue

Lady Hešeri bore the Kangxi Emperor two sons:

Chenghu (承祜) (4 January 1670 – 3 March 1672)
Yinreng (6 June 1674 – 27 January 1725)

Posthumous title

Empress Xiaochengren's full posthumous title is:

Empress Xiaochenggongsuzhenghui'anheshuyikeminlitianxiangshengren
(孝誠恭肅正惠安和淑懿恪敏儷天襄聖仁皇后)

References

Jonathan D. Spence. Emperor of China: Self Portrait of K'ang-Hsi. Pimlico, London, 1992.

Succession