Empress Xiaokangzhang (1638 – 20 March 1663), 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 ...

Bordered Yellow Banner Tunggiya clan, was the concubine of the

Shunzhi Emperor The Shunzhi Emperor (15 March 1638 – 5 February 1661) was the second Emperor of China, emperor of the Qing dynasty of China, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1644 to 1661. A Deliberative Council of Prince ...

and mother of the Kangxi Emperor during the Qing dynasty. She was honoured as Empress Dowager Cihe during the reign of her son and was posthumously honoured as empress, although she never held the rank during her lifetime.

Life

Family background

Empress Xiaokangzhang's personal name was not recorded in history. Her family originally belonged to the Han Chinese

Plain Blue Banner The Plain Blue Banner () was one of the Eight Banners of Manchu military and society during the Later Jin and Qing dynasty of China. Members * Li Yongfang * Abatai * Agui * Zhao Erfeng (Han) * Keying (official) * Imperial Noble Consort Gongsu ...

. * Father: Tulai (; 1606–1658), served as a first rank military official (), and held the title of a first class duke () ** Paternal grandfather:

Yangzhen Yangzhen Area () or Yang Town () is an area and a town located within Shunyi District, Beijing, China. It shares border with Mulin and Longwantun Towns to its north, Zhang Town to its east, Dasungezhuang and Beiwu Towns to its south, Beisui and Na ...

(; ? – 1621) * Mother: Lady Gioro (覺羅氏) * Three brothers ** First younger brother: Guoji () ** Second younger brother: Guogang (; ? – 1690), served as a first rank military official (都统), and held the title of first class duke (一等公) ** Third younger brother: Guowei (; ? – 1719), served as leader of the

Imperial Guards An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, in ...

(), and held the title of a first class duke (); the father of Empress Xiaoyiren (? – 1689) and

Imperial Noble Consort Quehui Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Quehui (1668 – 24 April 1743), of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Tunggiya clan, was a consort of the Kangxi Emperor. She was 14 years his junior. Life Family background Imperial Noble Consort Quehui's persona ...

(1668–1743) The Han Chinese Tong (佟) clan of Fushun in

Liaoning Liaoning () is a coastal province in Northeast China that is the smallest, southernmost, and most populous province in the region. With its capital at Shenyang, it is located on the northern shore of the Yellow Sea, and is the northernmost ...

falsely claimed to be related to the Manchu Tunggiya (佟佳) clan of Jilin, using this false claim to get themselves transferred to a Manchu banner in the reign of the Kangxi Emperor.

Shunzhi era

In 1653, Lady Tong entered the Forbidden City and became a concubine of the

. She never received any title or rank during his reign. On 4 May 1654, she gave birth to the emperor's third son,

Xuanye 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 ...

Kangxi era

When the Shunzhi Emperor died on 5 February 1661, Xuanye was chosen to be the new emperor and was enthroned as the Kangxi Emperor. As the biological mother of the reigning emperor, Lady Tong was honoured as "Holy Mother, Empress Dowager Cihe". Lady Tong died on 20 March 1663. Her death was reportedly due to an unknown illness but the circumstances surrounding her death were suspicious. Although she had never been empress during the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor, she was granted the posthumous title "Empress Xiaokangzhang". She was interred in the Xiao Mausoleum alongside the Shunzhi Emperor and Consort Donggo.

Titles

* During the reign of

Hong Taiji Hong Taiji (28 November 1592 – 21 September 1643), also rendered as Huang Taiji and sometimes referred to as Abahai in Western literature, also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizong of Qing, was the second khan of the Later Jin ...

(r. 1626–1643): ** Lady Tong (佟氏) * During the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (r. 1661–1722): ** Empress Dowager Cihe (; from 5 February 1661) ** ''Empress Xiaokang'' (; from June/July 1663) ** ''Empress Xiaokangzhang'' (; from June/July 1670)康熙九年五月

Issue

* As concubine: ** Xuanye (; 4 May 1654 – 20 December 1722), the Shunzhi Emperor's third son; enthroned on 5 February 1661 as the Kangxi Emperor

In popular culture

* Portrayed by Chen Farong in '' The Duke of Mount Deer'' (2000) * Portrayed by Zhu Yan in '' Kangxi Dynasty'' (2001) * Portrayed by Jia Yumeng in ''

Xiaozhuang Mishi ''Xiaozhuang Mishi'', also known as ''Xiaozhuang Epic'', () is a 2003 Chinese television series produced by You Xiaogang. The series is the first installment in a series of four television series about the early Qing dynasty. It was followed by '' ...

'' (2003)

Notes

References

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Xiaokangzhang, Empress 1638 births 1663 deaths Qing dynasty empresses Qing dynasty empresses dowager 17th-century Chinese women 17th-century Chinese people Kangxi Emperor Mothers of Chinese emperors