Prince Xian of the First Rank, or simply Prince Xian, was the title of a
princely peerage used in China during 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 ...
-led
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 ...
(1636–1912). As the Prince Xian peerage was not awarded
"iron-cap" status, this meant that each successive bearer of the title would normally start off with a title downgraded by one rank ''vis-à-vis'' that held by his predecessor. However, the title would generally not be downgraded to any lower than a
''feng'en fuguo gong'' except under special circumstances.
The first bearer of the title was Yunbi (允祕; 1716–1773), the 24th son of 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 ...
. In 1733, he was awarded the title "Prince Xian of the First Rank" by his fourth brother, the
Yongzheng Emperor
The Yongzheng Emperor (13 December 1678 – 8 October 1735), also known by his temple name Emperor Shizong of Qing, born Yinzhen, was the fourth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the third Qing emperor to rule over China proper. He reigned from ...
, who succeeded their father. The title was passed down over seven generations and was held by six persons.
Members of the Prince Xian peerage
*
Yunbi
Aisin Gioro Yunbi (允秘; 5 July 1716 – 3 December 1773), born Yinbi , formally known by his title as Prince Xian (𫍯王) , was an imperial prince of the Qing Dynasty and the 24th surviving son of the Kangxi Emperor.
Life
Yinbi was born o ...
(允祕; 1716–1773), the Kangxi Emperor's 24th son, held the title Prince Xian of the First Rank from 1733 to 1773, posthumously honoured as Prince Xianke of the First Rank (諴恪親王)
**Hongchang (弘暢; 1741–1795), Yunbi's eldest son, initially a
''buru bafen zhenguo gong'' from 1757 to 1774, held the title Prince Xian of the Second Rank from 1774 to 1795, posthumously honoured as Prince Xianmi of the Second Rank (諴密郡王)
*** Yongzhu (永珠; 1759–1837), Hongchang's eldest son, initially a
third class ''zhenguo jiangjun'' from 1784 to 1788, held the title of a
''beile'' from 1795 to 1836, stripped of his title in 1836
** Hongwu (弘旿; 1743–1811), Yunbi's second son, held the title of a
second class ''zhenguo jiangjun'' from 1753 to 1774, promoted to
''beizi'' in 1774, stripped of his title in 1778, reinstated as a
''feng'en jiangjun'' in 1794, stripped of his title in 1799 but restored in 1809
***Yongsong (永松; 1782–1827), Hongwu's fifth son, held the title of a
''feng'en jiangjun'' from 1811 to 1827, posthumously honoured as a
''beizi'' in 1837
**** Mianxun (綿勳; 1817–1893), Yongsong's second son, held the title of a
''feng'en jiangjun'' from 1827 to 1836, promoted to
''beizi'' in 1836
***** Yijun (奕均; 1836–1871), Mianxun's second son, held the title of a
''zhenguo jiangjun'' from 1868 to 1871
****** Zaixin (載信; 1855–1900), Yijun's eldest son, held the title of a
''zhenguo jiangjun'' from 1872 to 1894, promoted to
''feng'en zhenguo gong'' in 1894
******* Puyu (溥霱; 1879–1934), Zaixin's eldest son, held the title of a
''feng'en zhenguo gong'' from 1902 to 1934
******* Puji (溥霽), Zaixin's second son, held the title of a
first class ''fuguo jiangjun'' from 1904 to 1933
******* Pubin (溥霦), Zaixin's third son, held the title of a
first class ''fuguo jiangjun'' from 1904
******* Pumu (溥霂), Zaixin's fourth son, held the title of a
first class ''fuguo jiangjun'' from 1904
*** Yongxiang (永祥), Hongchang's second son, held the title of a
third class ''zhenguo jiangjun'' from 1784 to 1811
**** Mianjie (綿傑), Yongxiang's eldest son, held the title of a
''fuguo jiangjun'' from 1826 to 1829, had no male heir
*** Yongqin (永芩), Hongchang's third son, held the title of a
third class ''zhenguo jiangjun'' from 1791 to 1826, stripped of his title in 1826
**** Mianhuan (綿煥), Yongqin's eldest son, held the title of a
''feng'en jiangjun'' from 1826 to 1852, had no male heir
**** Mianxing (綿𠻖), Yongqin's third son, initially held the title of a
''fuguo jiangjun'', demoted to
''feng'en jiangjun'' in 1825, succeeded Yongyu in 1840
*** Yongyu (永裕), Hongchang's fourth son, held the title of a
third class ''zhenguo jiangjun'' from 1791 to 1825
**** Miandan (綿丹), Yongyu's eldest son, held the title of a
''fuguo jiangjun'' from 1825 to 1845, had no male heir
** Hongkang (弘康; 1747–1814), Yunbi's third son, initially a
second class ''zhenguo jiangjun'' from 1770 to 1809, became an acting
''buru bafen fuguo gong'' from 1809 to 1814
*** Yongchun (永純), Hongkang's eldest son, held the title of a
''fengguo jiangjun'' from 1811 to 1814, became a
''fuguo jiangjun'' from 1814 to 1841, stripped of his title in 1841
** Hongchao (弘超; 1755–1808), Yunbi's fourth son, held the title of a
third class ''fuguo jiangjun'' from 1775 to 1777, stripped of his title in 1777
Family tree
See also
*
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 ...
References
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xian, Prince
Qing dynasty princely peerages