Empress Xiaojingcheng (19 June 1812 – 21 August 1855), 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) an ...

Plain Yellow Banner The Plain Yellow Banner () was one of the Eight Banners of Manchu military and society during the Later Jin and Qing dynasty of China. The Plain Yellow Banner was one of three "upper" banner armies under the direct command of the emperor himsel ...

Borjigit clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to a

consort __NOTOC__ Consort may refer to: Music * "The Consort" (Rufus Wainwright song), from the 2000 album ''Poses'' * Consort of instruments, term for instrumental ensembles * Consort song (musical), a characteristic English song form, late 16th–earl ...

of Mianning, the Daoguang Emperor. She was honoured as Empress Dowager Kangci during the reign of her step-son, Yizhu, the Xianfeng Emperor. She was the only Qing empress dowager who was neither her husband's empress consort nor emperor's mother.

Life

Family background

Empress Xiaojingcheng's personal name was not recorded in history. She was a

Khorchin Mongol The Khorchin ( mn, Хорчин, ''Horçin''; ''Qorčin''; ) are a subgroup of the Mongols that speak the Khorchin dialect of Mongolian and predominantly live in northeastern Inner Mongolia of China. History The Ming dynasty gave Borjigin pr ...

of the Plain Blue Banner by birth. * Father: Hualiang'a (), served as a fifth rank literary official () in the

Ministry of Justice A Ministry of Justice is a common type of government department that serves as a justice ministry. Lists of current ministries of justice Named "Ministry" * Ministry of Justice (Abkhazia) * Ministry of Justice (Afghanistan) * Ministry of Justi ...

, and held the title of a first class duke () ** Paternal grandfather: Kunshan () * Mother: Lady

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 ...

** Maternal grandfather: Yongxi (; d. 1821), held the title Prince Su of the First Rank from 1778–1821, Hooge's great great grandson ** Maternal grandmother: Lady Namdulu (那木都鲁氏), Yongxi's primary consort * One brother * One sister

Jiaqing era

The future Empress Xiaojingcheng was born on the 11th day of the fifth

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 17th year of the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor, which translates to 19 June 1812 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 d ...

Daoguang era

In 1825, Lady Borjigit entered the Forbidden City and was granted the title "Noble Lady Jing" by the Daoguang Emperor. On 22 November 1826, she gave birth to the emperor's second son, Yigang, who would die prematurely on 5 March 1827. Noble Lady Jing was elevated on 29 December 1826 to "Concubine Jing", and on 15 May 1827 to "Consort Jing". She gave birth on 2 December 1829 to the emperor's third son, Yiji, who would die prematurely on 22 January 1830, on 20 January 1831 to his sixth daughter, Princess Shou'en of the First Rank, and on 11 January 1833 to his sixth son, Yixin. On 17 September 1834, she was elevated to "Noble Consort Jing". The Daoguang Emperor's second empress consort,

Empress Xiaoquancheng Empress Xiaoquancheng (24 March 1808 – 13 February 1840), of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Niohuru clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and second empress consort of Mianning, the Daoguang Emperor. She was Empress consort of ...

, died on 13 February 1840, and Noble Consort Jing was placed in charge of the emperor's harem. On 9 January 1841, she was elevated to "Imperial Noble Consort".

Xianfeng era

When the Daoguang Emperor died on 26 February 1850, his fourth son, Yizhu, who was enthroned as the Xianfeng Emperor, refused to make Lady Borjigit the

empress dowager Empress dowager (also dowager empress or empress mother) () is the English language translation of the title given to the mother or widow of a Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese emperor in the Chinese cultural sphere. The title was a ...

. Instead, the Xianfeng Emperor honoured her with the title "Imperial Noble Consort Dowager Kangci". She and her only surviving son, Yixin, were not satisfied with this arrangement. According to imperial customs, Imperial Noble Consort Dowager Kangci had no right to claim the position of empress dowager because she was neither the birth mother of the Xianfeng Emperor, nor did she hold the rank of Empress while the Daoguang Emperor was still living. Although the Xianfeng Emperor ignored her appeals to become empress dowager, he treated her respectfully like a stepmother. In 1852, Imperial Noble Consort Dowager Kangci, as the highest ranked living consort of the previous emperor, was allowed to exercise her privilege to select potential candidates to be the Xianfeng Emperor's consorts. Among those she chose were the future

Empress Dowager Ci'an Empress Xiaozhenxian (12 August 1837 – 8 April 1881), of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Niohuru clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and empress consort of Yizhu, the Xianfeng Emperor. She was Empress consort of Qing from 1 ...

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 ...

. Imperial Noble Consort Dowager Kangci became critically ill in August 1855. Fearing that she had little time left, she conspired with her son, Yixin, to earn her the title of empress dowager before she died. Yixin then issued an imperial edict to honor his mother without full consent of the Xianfeng Emperor. In order to save himself from public embarrassment, the Emperor, although being displeased, reluctantly acknowledged the title later. She became Empress Dowager Kangci on 13 August 1855 and died eight days later. The Xianfeng Emperor appointed two princes, one of whom was Yixin, to take charge of the funeral arrangements, and announced that he would spend the mourning period in the

Hall of Mental Cultivation The Hall of Mental Cultivation (, Manchu: ''yang sin diyan'') is a building in the inner courtyard of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. The hall is a wooden structure with dome coffered ceilings, and was first built during the Ming dynasty ...

. In 1857, Empress Dowager Kangci was interred in the Mu Mausoleum of the

Western Qing tombs The Western Qing tombs (; ) are located some southwest of Beijing in Yi County, Hebei Province. They constitute a necropolis that incorporates four royal mausoleums where seventy-eight royal members are buried. These include four emperors of th ...

. She was also granted the posthumous title "Empress Xiaojing". The Xianfeng Emperor did not add the character ''cheng'' – indicating her status as an empress consort of the Daoguang Emperor, as were Empresses Xiaomu''cheng'', Xiaoshen''cheng'' and Xiaoquan''cheng'' – to her posthumous title because he wanted to highlight his belief that Empress Dowager Kangci never qualified as an empress consort. He also did not give her a place in the

Imperial Ancestral Temple The Imperial Ancestral Temple, or Taimiao () of Beijing, is a historic site in the Imperial City, just outside the Forbidden City, where during both the Ming and Qing Dynasties, sacrificial ceremonies were held on the most important festival o ...

, which meant that she would not be included in ancestral worship rites.

Tongzhi era

When the Xianfeng Emperor died on 22 August 1861, his first son and successor, the

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 ...

, was still too young to rule. 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 ...

that followed, the Empresses Dowager Ci'an and Cixi collaborated with Yixin to overthrow and seize power from a group of eight regents appointed by the Xianfeng Emperor on his deathbed. The two empresses dowager thus became the regents for the Tongzhi Emperor, with Yixin assisting as Prince-Regent. On 6 May 1862, in order to secure Yixin's allegiance towards the Tongzhi Emperor, the two empresses dowager issued an imperial decree that added the character ''cheng'' to Empress Dowager Kangci's posthumous title. Empress Dowager Kangci was also given a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and included in ancestral worship rites.

Titles

* During the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor (r. 1796–1820): ** Lady Borjigit (from 19 June 1812) * During the reign of the Daoguang Emperor (r. 1820–1850): ** Noble Lady Jing (; from 1825), sixth rank consort ** Imperial Concubine Jing (; from 29 December 1826), fifth rank consort ** Consort Jing (; from 15 May 1827), fourth rank consort ** Noble Consort Jing (; from 17 September 1834), third rank consort ** Imperial Noble Consort (; from 9 January 1841), second rank consort * During the reign of the Xianfeng Emperor (r. 1850–1861): ** Imperial Noble Consort Kangci (; from April 1851) ** Empress Dowager Kangci (; from 13 August 1855) ** ''Empress Xiao Jing'' (; from 20 September 1855) * During the reign of the

(r. 1861–1875): ** ''Empress Xiao Jing Cheng'' (; from 6 May 1862同治元年四月八日)

Issue

* As Noble Lady Jing: ** Yigang (; 22 November 1826 – 5 March 1827), the Daoguang Emperor's second son * As Consort Jing: ** Miscarriage at four months (28 June 1828) ** Yiji (; 2 December 1829 – 22 January 1830), the Daoguang Emperor's third son ** Princess Shou'en of the First Rank (; 20 January 1831 – 15 May 1859), the Daoguang Emperor's sixth daughter *** Married Jingshou (; 1829–1889) of the Manchu Fuca clan in May/June 1845 ** Yixin (; 11 January 1833 – 29 May 1898), the Daoguang Emperor's sixth son, granted the title Prince Gong of the First Rank in 1850, posthumously honoured as Prince Gongzhong of the First Rank

Gallery

File:《雍宫式范》静妃部分.jpg, In ceremonial dress File:《喜溢秋庭图》静贵妃部分.jpg, In daily dress, with Yixin

In fiction and popular culture

* Portrayed by Wan Suet-kei in ''

The Rise and Fall of Qing Dynasty ''The Rise and Fall of Qing Dynasty'' is a long-running four part television series about the history of the Qing dynasty. The series was produced by Hong Kong's ATV and was aired on ATV Home from September 1987 to May 1992.Yesasia.com.Yesasia.co ...

'' (1988) * Portrayed by Fung So-bor in ''

'' (1990) * Portrayed by

Nancy Wu Nancy may refer to: Places France * Nancy, France, a city in the northeastern French department of Meurthe-et-Moselle and formerly the capital of the duchy of Lorraine ** Arrondissement of Nancy, surrounding and including the city of Nancy ...

in ''

Curse of the Royal Harem ''Curse of the Royal Harem'' (Traditional Chinese: 萬凰之王; literally "The King Among Ten Thousand Phoenixes") is a 2011 Hong Kong period drama produced by TVB under executive producer Chong Wai-kin. The 45-minute episodes aired from 31 ...

'' (2011)

Notes

References

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Xiaojingcheng, Empress 1812 births 1855 deaths Qing dynasty empresses Consorts of the Daoguang Emperor Qing dynasty empresses dowager Xiaojingcheng 19th-century Chinese women 19th-century Chinese people 19th-century Mongolian women