Noble Consort Cheng (; 10 March 1813 – 10 May 1888), of the

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 The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial ...

Niohuru The Niohuru (Manchu: ; in Manchu) were a prominent Manchu clan during the Qing dynasty. The clan had inhabited the Changbai Mountains since as early as the Liao dynasty. The clan was well known during the Qing dynasty for producing a variety o ...

clan, was 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 ...

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, reigni ...

Life

Family background

Noble Consort Cheng's personal name wasn't recorded in history. Her family belonged to the

. Most Qing dynasty sources doesn't ponder her family background.

Jiaqing era

Lady Niohuru was born on the 21st day of the 2nd lunar month of the 17th year, which translates to 10 March 1813 in the Gregorian calendar.

Daoguang era

Lady Niohuru entered the Forbidden City at the age of sixteen in 1828 and was bestowed a title "Noble Lady Cheng" (成贵人; "Cheng" meaning "virtuous, perfect"). She lived in the side hall of the Palace of Prolonging Happiness (延禧宫). At that time, she was rather naïve and did not adjust well to the imperial life. Noble Lady Cheng offended the

and was demoted to "First Class Female Attendant Yu" (余常在; "Yu" meaning "balanced") shortly after the entry. Her previous title was restored in 1837. In 1845, a fire burnt down Yanxigong so Lady Niohuru moved to the Palace of Universal Happiness (Xianfugong) in the Forbidden City. In 1846, she was promoted to "Concubine Cheng" (成嬪). One time, Concubine Cheng failed to show respect to Imperial Noble Consort Jing and this greatly infuriated Daoguang. Thus, she was demoted to "Noble Lady Cheng" (成貴人) in 1849. Noble Lady Cheng remained childless. In 1850, Daoguang Emperor passed away. ConsortsDaoguang4

Xianfeng era

According to the tradition, every new emperor was supposed to confer a higher title to the predecessor’s concubines. Lady Niohuru was elevated to "Concubine Cheng" (成嬪), and moved to the Eastern Longevity Palace. She was one of the five dowager consorts who fled to Rehe.

Tongzhi era

Concubine Cheng was promoted to "Consort Cheng" (成妃). Her former residence in the Forbidden City, Yanxi Palace, was not restored because of tight budget in 1872. She moved to Shou'an palace and lived there together with Noble Consort Jia.

Guangxu era

Consort Cheng was promoted to "Noble Consort Cheng" (成貴妃) in 1875. Lady Niohuru died in 1888 in Shou'an Palace on the western side of the Forbidden City. She was interred at Mu Mausoleum at

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 ...

in 1891.

Titles

* During the reign of the

Jiaqing Emperor The Jiaqing Emperor (13 November 1760 – 2 September 1820), also known by his temple name Emperor Renzong of Qing, born Yongyan, was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and the fifth Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from ...

(r. 1796–1820): ** Lady Niohuru (from 10 March 1813) * During the reign of the

(r. 1820–1850): ** Noble Lady Cheng (; from 1828), sixth rank consort ** First Class Female Attendant Yu (; from 1829), seventh rank consort ** Noble Lady Cheng (; from 1837), sixth rank consort ** Concubine Cheng (; from 1846), fifth rank consort ** Noble Lady Cheng (; from 1849), sixth rank consort * During 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 ...

(r. 1850–1861): ** Concubine Cheng (; from unknown date), fifth 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 Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the eighth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign, from 1861 to 1875, which effectively lasted ...

(r. 1861–1875): ** Consort Cheng (; from unknown date), 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 Cheng (; from 1875), third rank consort

In fiction and popular culture

* Portrayed by Jess Sum Cheuk Ying in Curse of the Royal Harem as Niohuru Xiucheng (钮祜禄·秀成), Noble Consort Cheng.

References

Sources

* * *{{cite book, last=Zhao, first=Erxun, author-link=Zhao Erxun, title=

Draft History of Qing The ''Draft History of Qing'' () is a draft of the official history of the Qing dynasty compiled and written by a team of over 100 historians led by Zhao Erxun who were hired by the Beiyang government of the Republic of China. The draft was publi ...

(Qing Shi Gao), year=1928, language=zh Chinese imperial consorts Consorts of the Daoguang Emperor 1813 births 1888 deaths