Imperial Noble Consort Xianzhe (2 July 1856 – 3 February 1932), of the Manchu

Bordered Blue Banner The Bordered Blue Banner () was one of the Eight Banners of Manchu military and society during the Later Jin and Qing dynasty of China. It was one of the lower five banners. According to the general annals of the Eight Banners, the Bordered Blue B ...

Hešeri clan, was a consort of 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 laste ...

Life

Family background

Imperial Noble Consort Xianzhe's personal name was not recorded in history. * Father: Chongling (), served as the Prefect of Chaozhou ** Paternal grandfather: Shuxingga (舒興阿)， general of Ili * One sister: wife of Zaiying who is the second son of

Prince Gong Yixin (11January 1833– 29May 1898), better known in English as PrinceKung or Gong, was an imperial prince of the Aisin Gioro clan and an important statesman of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty in China. He was a regent of the empire from 1861 to 18 ...

Xianfeng era

The future Imperial Noble Consort Xianzhe was born on the first day of the sixth

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 sixth year of the reign of the

Xianfeng Emperor The Xianfeng Emperor (17 July 1831 – 22 August 1861), or by temple name Emperor Wenzong of Qing (), given name Yizhu (), was the eighth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the seventh Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigned from 1850 t ...

, which translates to 2 July 1856 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 ...

. Lady Hešeri was gifted with beautiful looks and literary skills.

Tongzhi era

In November 1872, Lady Hešeri entered the Forbidden City was granted the title "Concubine Yu" by the

. She was deeply favoured by the emperor's mother,

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 ...

. On 23 December 1874, Lady Hešeri was elevated to "Consort Yu". Due to her skills, she enjoyed Empress Dowager's Cixi favour. Her residence in the

Forbidden City The Forbidden City () is a palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples including the Zhongshan Park, the sacrifi ...

was Palace of Great Benevolence (景仁宮).

Guangxu era

The Tongzhi Emperor died on 12 January 1875 and was succeeded by his cousin

Zaitian The Guangxu Emperor (14 August 1871 – 14 November 1908), personal name Zaitian, was the tenth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, wi ...

, who was enthroned as the Guangxu Emperor. On 29 May 1895, Lady Hešeri was elevated to "Noble Consort Yu". In 1900, when the forces of the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, Empress Dowager Cixi and the Guangxu Emperor fled from Beijing and left Lady Hešeri and other consorts behind. As Imperial Noble Consort Dunyi Rongqing, the most senior among the Tongzhi Emperor's surviving consorts, was in poor health, Lady Hešeri covered her duties for her and took charge of the imperial palace in the Guangxu Emperor's absence.

Xuantong era

The Guangxu Emperor died on 14 November 1908 and was succeeded by his nephew

Puyi Aisin-Gioro Puyi (; 7 February 1906 – 17 October 1967), courtesy name Yaozhi (曜之), was the last emperor of China as the eleventh and final Qing dynasty monarch. He became emperor at the age of two in 1908, but was forced to abdicate on 1 ...

, who was enthroned as the Xuantong Emperor. On 18 November 1908, Lady Hešeri was elevated to "Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Yu".

Republican era

After the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912, Puyi and members of the imperial clan were allowed to retain their noble titles and continue living in the Forbidden City. On 12 March 1913, Puyi honoured Lady Hešeri with the title "Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Jingyi". Lady Hešeri was known for her assertive character and fiery temperament, and she did not get along well with the Guangxu Emperor's empress consort,

Empress Dowager Longyu Jingfen (; 28 January 1868 – 22 February 1913), of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Yehe Nara clan, was the wife and empress consort of Zaitian, the Guangxu Emperor. She was Empress consort of Qing from 1889 until her husband's death in ...

. After Empress Dowager Longyu's death, she raised Puyi, who was still a child then, and attempted to take the position of Empress Dowager on the grounds that she was now Puyi's legal mother. However, she was denied permission by

Yuan Shikai Yuan Shikai (; 16 September 1859 – 6 June 1916) was a Chinese military and government official who rose to power during the late Qing dynasty and eventually ended the Qing dynasty rule of China in 1912, later becoming the Emperor of China. H ...

. After Puyi was forced to leave the Forbidden City on 21 November 1924, Lady Hešeri also followed suit. Lady Hešeri died of illness on 3 February 1932. A grand funeral was held for her on 23 February 1932, with thousands of people attending. The

Beiyang government The Beiyang government (), officially the Republic of China (), sometimes spelled Peiyang Government, refers to the government of the Republic of China which sat in its capital Peking ( Beijing) between 1912 and 1928. It was internationally ...

even had to send police and security forces to maintain order and crowd control. Puyi granted her the posthumous title "Imperial Noble Consort Xianzhe". On 14 March 1935, she was interred in the Hui Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs.

Titles

* During the reign of the

(r. 1850–1861): ** Lady

Hešeri Hešeri ( Chinese: 赫舍里; Pinyin: Hesheli; Manchu: ''Hešeri''), is a clan of Manchu nobility with Jianzhou Jurchens roots, originally hailing from the area which is now the modern Chinese provinces of Jilin and Liaoning. It was once one of ...

(赫舍裡施; from 2 July 1856) * During the reign of the

(r. 1861–1875): ** Concubine Yu (; from November 1872), fifth rank consort ** Consort Yu (; from 23 December 1874), fourth rank consort * During the reign of the

Guangxu Emperor The Guangxu Emperor (14 August 1871 – 14 November 1908), personal name Zaitian, was the tenth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, w ...

(r. 1875–1908): ** Noble Consort Yu (; from 29 May 1895), third rank consort * During the reign of the

Xuantong Emperor Aisin-Gioro Puyi (; 7 February 1906 – 17 October 1967), courtesy name Yaozhi (曜之), was the last emperor of China as the eleventh and final Qing dynasty monarch. He became emperor at the age of two in 1908, but was forced to abdicate on 1 ...

(r. 1908–1912): ** Imperial Noble Consort Yu (; from 18 November 1908光緒三十四年十月二十五日), second rank consort * During the years of the

Republic of China (1912–1949) The Republic of China (ROC), between 1912 and 1949, was a sovereign state recognised as the official designation of China when it was based on Mainland China, prior to the relocation of its central government to Taiwan as a result of the C ...

: ** Imperial Noble Consort Jingyi (; from 12 March 1913) ** ''Imperial Noble Consort Xianzhe'' (; from 1932)

In fiction and popular culture

* Portrayed by Xing Jun in ''

Princess Der Ling Lizzie Yu Der Ling ( zh, t=裕德齡, w=Yü Tê-ling, p=Yù Délíng; 8 June 188122 November 1944), better known as "Princess" Der Ling, and also known as Elisabeth Antoinette White after her marriage to Thaddeus C. White, was a Hanjun bannerwom ...

'' (2006) * Portrayed by Amy Fan in ''

The Last Healer in Forbidden City ''The Last Healer in Forbidden City'' (; literally "The Last Imperial Physician") is a 2016 Hong Kong historical fiction television drama produced by TVB, starring Roger Kwok and Tavia Yeung as the main leads, produced by Nelson Cheung. It pre ...

'' (2016)

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Xianzhe, Imperial Noble Consort 1856 births 1932 deaths Qing dynasty imperial consorts Manchu people Consorts of the Tongzhi Emperor