Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangjing (2 April 1837 – 26 December 1890), 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 Red Banner The Plain Red Banner () was one of the Eight Banners (lower five Banners) of Manchu military and society organization during the Later Jin and Qing dynasty of China. Famous members included: * Daišan * Wenxiang * Heshen, Clan Niohuru, considered ...

Tatara clan, was a consort 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 ...

. She was six years his junior.

Life

Family background

Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangjing's personal name was not recorded in history. * Father: Qinghai (), served as a sixth rank literary official ()

Daoguang era

The future Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangjing was born on the 27th day of the second

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

Daoguang Emperor The Daoguang Emperor (; 16 September 1782 – 26 February 1850), also known by his temple name Emperor Xuanxong of Qing, born Mianning, was the seventh Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the sixth Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning ...

, which translates to 2 April 1837 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 ...

Xianfeng era

On 26 June 1852, Lady Tatara entered the Forbidden City and was granted the title "Noble Lady Li" by the

. During Lady Tatara's time as a consort of the Xianfeng Emperor, she was said to be the most beautiful woman in the

Imperial City In the Holy Roman Empire, the collective term free and imperial cities (german: Freie und Reichsstädte), briefly worded free imperial city (', la, urbs imperialis libera), was used from the fifteenth century to denote a self-ruling city that ...

and was bestowed with a natural grace and allure. Written descriptions about the beauty of Lady Tatara are among the most illustrious and elaborate of Qing dynasty historical texts; they somewhat differ from the passive mentions of beauty and virtue in descriptions of other Qing dynasty imperial consorts and better resemble vivid descriptions of beauties in the historical records of earlier

Han Chinese The Han Chinese () or Han people (), are an East Asian ethnic group native to China. They constitute the world's largest ethnic group, making up about 18% of the global population and consisting of various subgroups speaking distinctive va ...

-led dynasties. On 10 February 1855, Lady Tatara was elevated to "Concubine Li". On 20 June 1855, she gave birth to the emperor's only daughter, Princess Rong'an of the First Rank. Due to the emperor's intense and near monopolic love for her, their daughter was made a first rank princess against tradition. According to Qing dynasty imperial regulations, only the daughters of empresses were qualified to be first rank princesses; all other daughters of the emperor were to be second rank princesses. On 4 February 1856, Lady Tatara was elevated to "Consort Li". It is said that Lady Tatara was the Xianfeng Emperor's favourite and most charming consort, and that he spent most of his nights with her. On the other hand, Lady Yehe Nara, another of the emperor's consorts, only caught the emperor's attention during and after Lady Tatara's pregnancy. This was because the emperor was not allowed to have sexual relations with Lady Tatara in the 100 days after she gave birth. In 1860, Lady Tatara fled with the Xianfeng Emperor, his empress consort, and other consorts to

Rehe Province 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 ...

when Anglo-French forces closed in on

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

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 and the French Emp ...

Tongzhi era

The Xianfeng Emperor died on 22 August 1861 and was succeeded by Lady Yehe Nara's son, Zaichun, who was enthroned as the Tongzhi Emperor. Because Lady Tatara had served the Xianfeng Emperor for many years, and was widely acknowledged as the emperor's favourite consort, she was elevated to "Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Li". During this time, she lived in the Palace of Eternal Harmony (永和宮) in the eastern part of the Forbidden City.

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. Lady Tatara's daughter died on 5 February 1875 after suffering a miscarriage upon hearing news of the death of her brother (the Tongzhi Emperor). Official histories recorded that Lady Tatara was often sick and she died from illness on 26 December 1890. The Guangxu Emperor ordered members of the imperial clan and officials to wear mourning garments for a day. In 1893, Lady Tatara was buried in the Ding Mausoleum of the

Eastern Qing tombs The Eastern Qing tombs (; ) are an imperial mausoleum complex of the Qing dynasty located in Zunhua, northeast of Beijing. They are the largest, most complete, and best preserved extant mausoleum complex in China. Altogether, five emperors (Shun ...

, alongside Noble Consort Wen, who died seven days before her. She was granted the posthumous title "Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangjing".

Titles

* During the reign of the

(r. 1820–1850): ** Lady Tatara (from 2 April 1837) * During the reign of the

(r. 1850–1861): ** Noble Lady Li (; from 26 June 1852), sixth rank consort ** Imperial Concubine Li (; from 10 February 1855), fifth rank consort ** Consort Li (; from 4 February 1856), fourth rank consort * During the reign of the

Tongzhi Emperor The Tongzhi Emperor (27 April 1856 – 12 January 1875), born Zaichun of the Aisin Gioro clan, was the ninth List of emperors of the Qing dynasty, Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the eighth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign, from 1 ...

(r. 1861–1875): ** Imperial Noble Consort Li (; from 12 November 1861咸豐十一年十月十一日), second 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, wi ...

(r. 1875–1908): ** ''Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangjing'' (; from 1890)

Issue

* As Concubine Li: ** Princess Rong'an of the First Rank (; 20 June 1855 – 5 February 1875), the Xianfeng Emperor's first daughter *** Married

Fuzhen Fuzhen (符珍; died 1909), also known as Ruiyu, born of the Manchu Guwalgiya clan, was a noble of the Qing dynasty. He was a member of the Bordered Yellow Banner of the Qing dynasty's Eight Banners, and a direct descendant of Fiongdon (費� ...

(d. 1909) of the Manchu

Gūwalgiya Gūwalgiya (Manchu Chinese: ; ) was one of the most powerful Manchu clans. It is often listed by historians as the first of the eight prominent Manchu clans of the Qing dynasty. After the demise of the dynasty, some of its descendants sinicized ...

clan in September/October 1873

In fiction and popular culture

* Portrayed by Chow Kit in ''

The Burning of Imperial Palace ''The Burning of Imperial Palace'' ( is a 1983 historical drama film directed by Li Han-hsiang. Based on the events in China during the Second Opium War which culminated in the burning of the Old Summer Palace (aka. Yuanming Garden), the film ...

'' (1983) and ''

Reign Behind a Curtain ''Reign Behind a Curtain'' () is a 1983 historical drama film directed by Li Han-hsiang. Sequel to ''The Burning of Imperial Palace'', this film tells the story of Cixi's consolidation of power. It stars Liu Xiaoqing as Empress Dowager Cixi, ...

'' (1983) * Portrayed by Bai Qinglin in ''

Sigh of His Highness ''Sigh of His Highness'' is a Chinese historical television series based on the life of Prince Gong, an influential Manchu prince and statesman of the late Qing dynasty. The series was directed by Li Wenlong and starred Chen Baoguo as Prince Gong. ...

'' (2006)

Notes

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Zhuangjing, Imperial Noble Consort 1837 births 1890 deaths Consorts of the Xianfeng Emperor Manchu people