Empress Xiaogongren

Empress Xiaogongren
Empress Dowager of the Qing dynasty
Tenure	1722–1723
Predecessor	Empress Xiaohuizhang Empress Xiaokangzhang
Successor	Empress Xiaoshengxian
Born	1660
Died	1723 (aged 62–63) Yonghe Palace, Beijing, China
Spouse	Kangxi Emperor
Issue	Yinzhen, Prince Yong Yinzhuo Gurun Princess Wenxian Yunti, Prince Xun two unnamed daughters
Posthumous name Empress Xiaogongxuanhuiwensudingyucichunqinmuzantianchengshengren (孝恭宣惠溫肅定裕慈純欽穆贊天承聖仁皇后)
House	Uya (by birth) Aisin Gioro (by marriage)
Father	Weiwu

Empress Xiaogongren (Manchu: Hiyoošungga Gungnecuke Gosin Hūwangheo; 1660–1723) was a consort of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty. Since she was the birth mother of the Kangxi Emperor's fourth son and successor, the Yongzheng Emperor, she was posthumously honoured as an Empress.

Life

Empress Xiaogongren was born in the Manchu Uya (烏雅) clan. Her personal name is unknown. Her father, Weiwu (威武), served as a commander of the guard (護軍參領) and held the title of a first class duke. She became a concubine of the Kangxi Emperor in an unknown year.

In 1678, Lady Uya gave birth to the Kangxi Emperor's fourth son, Yinzhen (Prince Yong). A year later, she was granted the rank of Imperial Concubine under the title "Imperial Concubine De" (德嬪). In 1681, she gave birth to another son, Yinzuo (1680–1685), who died before reaching adulthood. In 1682, she was promoted to "Consort De" (德妃). Between 1683 and 1688, Lady Uya bore the Kangxi Emperor another three daughters – Gurun Princess Wenxian (固倫溫憲公主; 1683–1702) and two unnamed daughters – and his 14th son, Yinti (Prince Xun).

The Kangxi Emperor died in 1722 and was succeeded by his fourth son, Yinzhen (Prince Yong), who was enthroned as the Yongzheng Emperor. As the mother of the reigning emperor, Lady Uya was honoured as Empress Dowager under the title "Empress Dowager Renshou" (仁壽皇太后).

Empress Dowager Renshou died of illness in 1723, a year after the death of the Kangxi Emperor. Some sources claimed that she wished to commit suicide to join her husband but her son refused to let her do so. She fell ill shortly afterwards and died after refusing medical treatment.^[1] She was interred in the Jingling Mausoleum (景陵) in the Eastern Qing tombs in Zunhua. She was posthumously honoured as "Empress Xiaogongren" by the Yongzheng Emperor.

See also

• Ranks of imperial consorts in China#Qing
• Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty

Notes

References

• Hummel, Arthur W. (1943). Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period (1644-1912). United States Government Printing Office. 
• Ropp, Paul Stanley; Zamperini, Paola; Zurndorfer, Harriet Thelma (2001). Passionate Women: Female Suicide in Late Imperial China (Reprint ed.). BRILL. ISBN 9004120181. 
• 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. 
• Wu, Silas H. L. (1979). Passage to power: K'ang-hsi and his heir apparent, 1661-1722 (Illustrated ed.). Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674656253. 
• Zhao, Erxun (1928). Draft History of Qing (Qing Shi Gao) (in Chinese).