Duanhua (
Manchu
The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchuria derives its name. The Later Jin (1616–1636) an ...
: ''Duwanhūwa''; 1807 – 1861) was a
Manchu
The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchuria derives its name. The Later Jin (1616–1636) an ...
prince and regent of the
Qing dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...
.
Life
Duanhua was born in the
Manchu
The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchuria derives its name. The Later Jin (1616–1636) an ...
Aisin Gioro
The House of Aisin-Gioro was a Manchu clan that ruled the Later Jin dynasty (1616–1636), the Qing dynasty (1636–1912), and Manchukuo (1932–1945) in the history of China. Under the Ming dynasty, members of the Aisin Gioro clan served as ch ...
clan as the third son of Ulgungga (烏爾恭阿), a descendant of
Jirgalang, a nephew of
Nurhaci (the founder of the Qing dynasty). He descended from the
Prince Zheng
Prince Zheng of the First Rank (Manchu: ; ''hošoi ujen cin wang''), or simply Prince Zheng, was the title of a princely peerage used in China during the Manchu-led Qing dynasty (1644–1912). It was also one of the 12 "iron-cap" princely peerage ...
line, one of the
"iron-cap" princely peerages of the Qing dynasty. In 1846, he inherited the title "Prince Zheng of the First Rank" from his father. His family was under the Bordered Blue Banner of the
Eight Banners
The Eight Banners (in Manchu: ''jakūn gūsa'', ) were administrative and military divisions under the Later Jin and Qing dynasties of China into which all Manchu households were placed. In war, the Eight Banners functioned as armies, but the ...
.
Duanhua rose to prominence during the reign of the
Xianfeng Emperor. Because of a scandal involving Grand Councilor
Mujangga
Mujangga (; ; 1782–1856) was a Manchu statesman of the late Qing dynasty, belonging to the Gogiya (郭佳) clan. He belonged under the Bordered Blue Banner in the Eight Banners. In 1805, he was awarded the jinshi degree, the highest level in th ...
, Duanhua gained the Xianfeng Emperor's trust as a loyal confidant, and became one of the emperor's closest advisors. Duanhua also recommended his brother,
Sushun, to serve in the Qing imperial court. During the
Second Opium War
The Second Opium War (), also known as the Second Anglo-Sino War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a colonial war lasting from 1856 to 1860, which pitted the British Empire#Britain's imperial ...
, Duanhua accompanied the ailing Xianfeng Emperor to
Rehe
Rehe (), also romanized as Jehol, was a former Chinese special administrative region and province.
Administration
Rehe was north of the Great Wall, west of Manchuria, and east of Mongolia. Its capital and largest city was Chengde. The second ...
to escape from the foreign invaders.
In 1861, before the Xianfeng Emperor died, he appointed eight regents to assist his successor, the young
Tongzhi Emperor
The Tongzhi Emperor (27 April 1856 – 12 January 1875), born Zaichun of the Aisin Gioro clan, was the ninth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the eighth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign, from 1861 to 1875, which effectively lasted ...
, in administrating state affairs. Duanhua and Sushun were among the eight. Later that year, Duanhua and the other seven regents were ousted from power in the
Xinyou Coup
Xinyou Coup () was a palace coup instigated by Empress Dowagers Cixi and Ci'an, and Prince Gong to seize power after the death of the Xianfeng Emperor. Before he died the previous emperor had appointed group of eight regents, led by Sushun, who ...
(辛酉政變) orchestrated by
Prince Gong and
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi ( ; mnc, Tsysi taiheo; formerly romanised as Empress Dowager T'zu-hsi; 29 November 1835 – 15 November 1908), of the Manchu Yehe Nara clan, was a Chinese noblewoman, concubine and later regent who effectively controlled ...
. Duanhua was arrested, imprisoned, and eventually forced to commit suicide.
Family
Father: Ulgungga (乌尔恭阿; 1778-1846)
* Paternal grandfather: Zhihana (枳哈纳), a great great great grandson of Jirgalang
* Paternal grandmother:Lady Zheng, a mistress
Mother: Lady Hugiya (瑚佳氏), Ulgungga's secondary consort
----
* Primary consort, of the
Niohuru
The Niohuru (Manchu: ; in Manchu) were a prominent Manchu clan during the Qing dynasty. The clan had inhabited the Changbai Mountains since as early as the Liao dynasty. The clan was well known during the Qing dynasty for producing a variety o ...
clan, daughter of Fukejing'a (福克京阿), a minister of Western Territories (原任西宁办事处大臣, pinyin:yuanren xining banshi wai dachen)
** Lady
***Married Chongqi of the Alute clan and had issue (
1 daughter and 1 son)
* Secondary consort, of the Chen clan (陈佳氏), daughter of Sele, a defender general (护军 色勒)
* Secondary consort, of the Gaogiya clan, daughter of defender general Gaofu (高福 护军)
* Secondary consort, of the Baigiya clan, daughter of defender general Jiaohexing (校和兴 护军)
Ancestry
See also
*
Prince Zheng
Prince Zheng of the First Rank (Manchu: ; ''hošoi ujen cin wang''), or simply Prince Zheng, was the title of a princely peerage used in China during the Manchu-led Qing dynasty (1644–1912). It was also one of the 12 "iron-cap" princely peerage ...
*
Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty
The Qing dynasty (1636–1912) of China developed a complicated peerage system for royal and noble ranks.
Rule of inheritance
In principle, titles were downgraded one grade for each generation of inheritance.
* Direct imperial princes wit ...
*
Ranks of imperial consorts in China#Qing
References
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duanhua
1807 births
1861 deaths
19th-century Chinese people
19th-century viceregal rulers
Qing dynasty imperial princes
Prince Zheng
Qing dynasty politicians
Manchu Bordered Blue Bannermen
Forced suicides of Chinese people
Executed Qing dynasty people
People executed by the Qing dynasty
19th-century executions by China