Consorts of the Xianfeng Emperor

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The Xianfeng Emperor had eighteen consorts, including three empresses, two imperial noble consorts, two noble consorts, four consorts, four concubines and three first attendants. The consorts are classified according to their posthumous titles.

Empresses[]

1. Empress Xiaodexian (1831-1850), of the Sakda clan. During her lifetime, she was the imperial primary princess consort, but died before Yizhu's coronation.^[1]
2. Empress Dowager Ci'an (1837-1881), of the Niohuru clan, reigned as empress from 1852 to 1861. After 1861, she held the title of Mother Empress, Empress Dowager Ci'an.^[2] Her poshumous title was Empress Xiaozhenxian.^[3]
3. Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908), Yehe-Nara Xingzhen (杏贞). The highest title she held during the Xianfeng era was Noble Consort Yi (懿贵妃).^[4] From 1861 to 1908, she held the title of Holy Mother, Empress Dowager Cixi. At that time she was acting as a regent on behalf of the Tongzhi and Guangxu Emperors.^[5]

Imperial Noble Consorts[]

1. Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangjing (2 April 1837 – 26 December 1890), of the Tatara clan, was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort in 1861.^[6]
2. Imperial Noble Consort Duanke (3 December 1844 – 7 May 1910), of the Tunggiya clan, was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort in 1908.^[7]

Noble Consorts[]

Noble Consort Mei fishing with Noble Lady Chun

1. Noble Consort Mei ( 1835 – 20 December 1890), of the Xu clan, was promoted to Noble Consort in 1875.^[8]
2. Noble Consort Wan (17 November 1835 – 20 June 1894), of the Socoro clan, was promoted to Noble Consort in 1875.^[9]

Consorts[]

All consorts were palace maids known as Four Spring Ladies. The name of the clique was derived from their personal names and a poem line "When four springs follow upwards the wind, the copper fish swims in the water every five nights".

《袅袅四春随风撵，沈沈五夜递铜鱼》^[10]

The consorts were promoted together within one year. The highest title they held during the Xianfeng era was noble lady.

1. Consort Lu (2 March 1841 – 15 May 1895), personal name Yehenara Mudanchun (牡丹春)^[11]
2. Consort Ji of the clan (吉妃, 王氏; 1846 – 12 November 1905), personal name Xinghuachun (杏花春)^[12]
3. Consort Xi, of the Cahala clan (禧妃, 察哈喇氏; 4 October 1842 – 26 June 1877), personal name Haitangchun (海棠春)^[10]
4. Consort Qing, of the Zhang clan (慶妃, 張氏; 25 October 1840 – 15 June 1885), personal name Wulingchun (武陵春)^[13]

Concubines[]

1. Concubine Yun (雲嬪, 武佳氏; d. 11 January 1856), personal name Ugiya Qiyun (綺雲)^[14]
2. , of the Irgen Gioro clan (容嬪, 伊爾根覺羅氏; 6 July 1837 – 21 June 1869)^[15]
3. , of the Yehe Nara clan (璹嬪, 葉赫那拉氏; 27 March 1840 – 9 May 1874), personal name Xiuyuan (琇媛)^[16]
4. , of the Yehe Nara clan (玉嬪, 葉赫那拉氏; 14 August 1843 – 26 December 1863),^[17] personal name Yuyuan (玉媛)^[16]

First Attendants[]

First Class Female Attendant Chun[]

First Class Female Attendant Chun (瑃常在,暝谙氏; 1835 -1859) was a member of the Ming'an clan.

Daoguang era[]

First Class Female Attendant Chun was born in 1835, which translates to 15th year of the Daoguang era. Her family background is not mentioned.

Xianfeng era[]

Lady Ming'an entered the palace at the same time as most of the Xianfeng Emperor's consorts, including Empress Dowager Cixi, Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangjing, Noble Consort Mei, Noble Consort Wan.^[18] She was granted a title of Noble Lady Chun (春贵人, meaning "spring") upon the entry in 1852. In 1853, she was demoted to First Class Female Attendant Chun (春常在). In 1855, the Head of Palace Administration Zhang Xin proclaimed a decree demoting her further to Second Class Female Attendant without the right to convey a honorifical name.^[19] As a substitution for honorifical name, the two characters of her clansname were used.^[20] At that time, she had one personal maid and her allowance was 50 taels.^[21] In 1856, Lady Ming'an was restored as First Attendant Chun (瑃常在). First Attendant Chun died in 1859. She was interred in the Ding Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs in 1865.
春贵人→春常在→答应→瑃常在

1. (鑫常在, 戴佳; d.27 May 1859), of the Daigiya clan
   鑫常在
2. (玶常在, 伊尔根觉罗氏; d.1856), of the Irgen Gioro clan ^[6]
   英贵人→英嫔→伊贵人→伊常在→伊答应→玶常在

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  First Attendant Xin near the peonies

• 

  Concubine Ying and Noble Lady Chun during the imperial hunt

Occupation of the palaces in the Forbidden City[]

References[]

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