Ninglingge

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Ninglingge (Chinese: 寧令哥; 1032–1048) was a crown prince of the Western Xia dynasty and the fourth son of the Emperor Jingzong, the founding monarch. Ninglingge was a member of Tangut Weiming (嵬名) clan.[1]

Life[]

Ninglingge was born in 1032 to empress Yeli. He had also one elder brother, Ningming (宁明) and one younger brother, Xili (锡狸).

In 1042, Ninglingge's elder brother Ningming was murdered by Yuanhao for confessing taoism.[2] Another brother, Xili, died prematurely.[3] Anxious about subsequent deaths of the princes, Emperor Jingzong appointed Ninglingge as Crown Prince.[4] Ninglingge was favoured by his father for his talents, force and beautiful appearance.[5] Yuanhao had high hopes for his son, henceforth prepared him for the succession. However, Ninglingge presented rather pacifism and did not support aggressive and highly expensive foreign policy.[6]

Yuanhao once took his son on the battlefield during the war with the Song dynasty. Ninglingge was hurt by an arrow on the battlefield and brought by Western Xia general Meiyi Jieshan to his house for recuperation. When Ninglingge woke up, he saw a girl staying near the bed, who was revealed to be a daughter of Jieshan. The prince tried to grip the girl but she shyly hid behind the curtain. Ninglingge came closer to the girl. From that on, they developed an intimate relationship. After the recovery Ninglingge knelt so as to seek agreement for the marriage with general Meiyi's daughter. Both Jieshan and lady Meiyi supported Ninglingge's desire. Lady Meiyi was bestowed a title of Crown Princess.[7]

In 1047, Empress Xiancheng, lady Yeli, was demoted to a commoner and turned to nunnery due to machinations of lady Mozang, sister of Mozang Epang. Lady Mozang had framed his mother for a romance with the official Buxiqi Duosi (补细乞多巳), using the hand of Yeli Yuqi, brother of Empress Yeli.[8] Lady Mozang and Mozang Epang still plotted to harm Lady Yeli's son and support succession of Lady Mozang's son, Ningling Liangcha (宁令两岔) despite his age (Ningling Liangcha was several months old and therefore was unable to rule on his own).[9]

In 1048, Emperor Jingzong seduced Ninglingge's wife, lady Meiyi (没移氏) and conferred upon her a title of Empress.[10] Ninglingge's mother's maternal clansmen and Epang instructed Ninglingge to kill the emperor[11] so as support his later ascension to the throne.[12] On 19 January 1048, Ninglingge broke down into the chamber of Li Yuanhao, seizing the opportunity of the drunken state of his father. The only action Ninglingge manage to undertake was chopping out Yuanhao's nose. Ninglingge went for backup to Mozang Epang because of being frightened of his murder. Epang betrayed his accomplice by turning him an assassin, which led to the execution of the crown prince.[13] Li Yuanhao was able to survive an attempt of assassination, however succumbed of his wounds two days later.[14]

Ninglingge was executed for assassination by Mozang Epang and didn't receive any posthumous name customary for crown princes who failed to ascend to the imperial throne.[15]

Family[]

Father: Li Yuanhao

Mother: Empress Xiancheng (宪成皇后野利氏), lady Yeli

Spouse: Crown Princess, Lady Meiyi (没移氏)

References[]

  1. ^ 《中国民族史人物辞典》.
  2. ^ Fan/范, Wenlan/文澜 (1978). Comprehensive History of China. Vol. 2. 人民出版社. p. 159.
  3. ^ 《太乙金鉴》.
  4. ^ Xie/谢, Qihuang/启晃 (1983). 中国少数民族历史人物志/Annals of Chinese rare minorities. 民族出版社. pp. 170–171.
  5. ^ Ding/丁, Fan/帆 (2004). 中国西部现代文学史/History and Culture of the western tribes of China. Beijing Book Co. Inc.
  6. ^ He/何, Yuren/玉人 (2005). 新时期中国戏曲创作概论. 文化藝術出版社. pp. 14–15.
  7. ^ Bao/保, Yuanzhang/元璋 (2017). History of Helan/贺兰地名故事. Beijing Book Co. Inc.
  8. ^ 宋史/History of Song. 485.
  9. ^ Li/李, Xihou/锡厚 (2003). History of Liao, Jin and Western Xia. 上海人民出版社. p. 485.
  10. ^ 《宋史·卷485·夏国传上》.
  11. ^ 宁夏百科全书/ Complete Encyclopaedia of Ningxia. 宁夏人民出版社. 1998. p. 261.
  12. ^ Chen/陈, Haibo/海波 (2016). 西夏简史/A Brief History of Western Xia. Beijing Book Co. Inc.
  13. ^ Shan/善, Cong/从 (2018). 中国皇帝全传/Complete biographies of Chinese emperors. Beijing: 中国华侨出版社. pp. 457–460.
  14. ^ 《嘉靖宁夏新志》/ New Annals of Ningxia.
  15. ^ 西夏纪/Records of Western Xia. Vol. 11.
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