Empress Xiaochengren (3 February 1654 – 6 June 1674), of 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) and ...

Plain Yellow Banner Hešeri clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and first empress consort of Xuanye, the Kangxi Emperor. She was Empress consort of Qing from 1665 until her death in 1674. Although her marriage was a purely political one, the Kangxi Emperor was very fond of her and left the position of empress vacant for about three years after her death.

Life

Family background

Empress Xiaochengren's personal name was not recorded in history. * Father: Gabula (d.1681), served as a first rank military official (), and held the title of a first class duke () ** Paternal grandfather: Sonin (1601–1667), served as one of the

Four Regents of the Kangxi Emperor The Four Regents of the Kangxi Emperor were nominated by the Shunzhi Emperor to oversee the government of the Qing dynasty during the early reign of the Kangxi Emperor before he came of age. The four were Sonin, Ebilun, Suksaha, and Oboi. Backgrou ...

, and held the title of a first class duke () ** Third paternal uncle:

Songgotu Songgotu (Manchu: ; ; 1636 – 1703) was a minister during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty. He was an uncle of the emperor's primary spouse, Empress Xiaochengren of the Hešeri clan, who died during childbirth. He was als ...

(1636–1703) ** Fifth paternal uncle: Xinyu, held the title of a first class earl () ** Sixth paternal uncle: Fabao, held the title of a first class duke () * Two younger brothers ** Second younger brother: Changtai, served as a first rank military official, and held the title of a first class duke. * Three sisters ** younger sister: Consort Ping (d.1696) Lady Hešeri's grandfather, Sonin (索尼; 1601–1667), served as one of the Four Regents of the Kangxi Emperor, and held the title of first class duke. Her father, Gabula (噶布喇; d.1681), served as a military general and also held a title of duke. One of her aunts married with the grandson of

Nurhaci Nurhaci (14 May 1559 – 30 September 1626), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Qing (), was a Jurchen chieftain who rose to prominence in the late 16th century in Manchuria. A member of the House of Aisin-Gioro, he reigned ...

, Yolo (岳樂; 1625–1689), Prince of the first rank (和碩安親王); another aunt married with the grandson of

, the son of

Dodo The dodo (''Raphus cucullatus'') is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius, which is east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The dodo's closest genetic relative was the also-extinct Rodrigues solitaire. The ...

(多鐸), Cani (察尼; 1640–1688), Prince of the third rank (多羅貝勒).

Shunzhi era

The future Empress Xiaochengren was born on the 17th day of the 12th

lunar Lunar most commonly means "of or relating to the Moon". Lunar may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Lunar'' (series), a series of video games * "Lunar" (song), by David Guetta * "Lunar", a song by Priestess from the 2009 album ''Prior t ...

month in the tenth year of the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor, which translates to 3 February 1654 in the

Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar. The principal change was to space leap years dif ...

Kangxi era

In October or November 1665, Lady Hešeri married the

Kangxi Emperor The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 1654– 20 December 1722), also known by his temple name Emperor Shengzu of Qing, born Xuanye, was the third emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1661 to 1 ...

and became empress consort because her powerful family could help the emperor on his rules. Although it was a purely political marriage, the Kangxi Emperor was very fond of the Empress. On 4 January 1670, she gave birth to a son, Chenghu, who would die prematurely on 3 March 1672. The death of Prince Chenghu hit the Empress very much, and she became very sick. The Emperor who was staying in Chicheng heard that Lady Hešeri was seriously ill, and he set off for Beijing immediately to take care of Lady Hešeri. After the Empress recovered, she became pregnant again. The Empress died on 6 June 1674 shortly after giving birth to the emperor's second son,

Yunreng Yunreng (6 June 1674 – 27 January 1725), born Yinreng, was a Manchu prince of the Qing dynasty. He was the second among the Kangxi Emperor's sons to survive into adulthood and was designated as Crown Prince for two terms between 1675 and ...

. The emperor was extremely sad about the Empress's death, so he made her son the

crown prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title is crown princess, which may refer either to an heiress apparent or, especially in earlier times, to the wif ...

. After her death, the Kangxi Emperor left the position of empress vacant for about three years before instating one of his consorts, Lady Niohuru, as Empress, on 18 September 1677.

Titles

* During the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor (r. 1643–1661): ** Lady Hešeri (from 3 February 1654) * During the reign of the

(r. 1661–1722): ** Empress (; from October/November 1665) ** ''Empress Renxiao'' (; from 1674) * During the reign of the

Yongzheng Emperor , regnal name = , posthumous name = Emperor Jingtian Changyun Jianzhong Biaozhen Wenwu Yingming Kuanren Xinyi Ruisheng Daxiao Zhicheng Xian()Manchu: Temgetulehe hūwangdi () , temple name = Shizong()Manchu: Šidzung () , house = Aisin Gioro ...

(r. 1722–1735): ** ''Empress Renxiaoren'' (; from June 1723) ** ''Empress Xiaochengren'' (; from July 1723雍正元年六月)

Issue

* As Empress: ** Chenghu ( (嫡长子); 4 January 1670 – 3 March 1672), the Kangxi Emperor's second son **

( (嫡次子); 6 June 1674 – 27 January 1725), the Kangxi Emperor's seventh (second) son, Crown Prince for his lifetime, posthumously honoured as Prince Limi of the First Rank

In fiction and popular culture

* Portrayed by Li Chentao in ''

Kangxi Dynasty ''Kangxi Dynasty'' is a 2001 Chinese television series based on the novel ''Kangxi Da Di'' (康熙大帝; ''The Great Kangxi Emperor'') by Eryue He. The series is a prequel to the 1997 television series '' Yongzheng Dynasty'', and was followed by ' ...

'' (2001) * Portrayed by Zhou Jia in ''

Huang Taizi Mishi ''Huang Taizi Mishi'' is a 2004 Chinese television series produced by You Xiaogang. The series is the second instalment in a series of four television series about the history of the early Qing dynasty. It was preceded by '' Xiaozhuang Mishi'' (200 ...

'' (2004) * Portrayed by

Chae Rim Park Chae-rim (; born March 28, 1979), known by the mononym Chae Rim, is a South Korean actress who debuted in 1994. She has starred in Korean dramas including '' All About Eve'' (2000), '' Dal-ja's Spring'' (2007), and '' Oh! My Lady'' (2010). ...

in ''

Secret History of Kangxi ''Secret History of Kangxi'' is a 2006 Chinese television series produced by You Xiaogang. The series is the fourth instalment in a series of four television series about the history of the early Qing dynasty. It was preceded by ''Xiaozhuang Mishi' ...

'' (2006) * Portrayed by

Maggie Shiu Maggie Shiu (born February 27, 1965) is a prominent Hong Kong actress. Career Her career began in 1985 when she joined Hong Kong TVB. As her career developed, she took on variety of roles in TV series and movies. Hong Kong audiences still remember ...

in ''

Palace A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...

'' (2011) * Portrayed by Zhang Weina in ''

Legend of Dragon Pearl ''The Legend of Dragon Pearl'' ( Chinese: 龙珠传奇) is a 2017 Chinese television series starring Yang Zi, Qin Junjie, Shu Chang and Mao Zijun. The series premiered on Anhui TV and Beijing TV on 8 May 2017. It aired airing two episodes pe ...

'' (2017)

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Xiaochengren, Empress 1654 births 1674 deaths Deaths in childbirth Qing dynasty empresses Manchu people 17th-century Chinese women 17th-century Chinese people Consorts of the Kangxi Emperor Hešeri clan