Consorts of the Xianfeng Emperor


The Xianfeng Emperor had eighteen imperial consorts, including three empresses, two imperial noble consorts, two noble consorts, four consorts, four concubines and three first class attendants.

Empresses

  1. Empress Xiaodexian, of the Sakda clan
  2. Empress Xiaozhenxian, of the Niohuru clan
  3. Empress Xiaoqinxian, of the Yehe-Nara clan

Imperial Noble Consorts

  1. Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangjing, of the Tatara clan
  2. Imperial Noble Consort Duanke, of the Tunggiya clan

Noble Consorts

  1. Noble Consort Mei, of the Xu clan
  2. Noble Consort Wan, of the Socoro clan

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》
The consorts were promoted together within one year. The highest title they held during the Xianfeng era was noble lady.
  1. Consort Lu, of the Yehe-Nara clan, personal name Mudanchun
  2. Consort Ji, of the Wang clan, personal name Xinghuachun
  3. Consort Xi, of the Cahala clan, personal name Haitangchun
  4. Consort Qing, of the Zhang clan, personal name Wulingchun

Concubines

  1. Concubine Yun, of the Ugiya clan, personal name Qiyun
  2. Concubine Rong, of the Irgen-Gioro clan
  3. Concubine Shu, of the Yehe-Nara clan
  4. Concubine Yu, of the Yehe-Nara clan

First Class Attendants

1. First Class Attendant Chun

First Class Attendant Chun, of the Ming'an clan, didn't have her name recorded in history.

Daoguang era

First Class 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 and Noble Consort Wan. She was granted a title of Noble Lady Chun upon the entry in 1852. In 1853, she was demoted to First Class Attendant Chun. In 1855, the Head of Palace Administration Zhang Xin proclaimed an edict demoting her further to Second Class Attendant without the right to a honorific name. As a substitution for the honorific name, the two characters of her clan name were used. At that time, she had one personal maid and her allowance was 50 taels. In 1856, Lady Ming'an was restored as First Class Attendant Chun. She died in 1859 and was interred in the Ding Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs in 1865.
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2. First Class Attendant Xin

First Class Attendant Xin, of the Daigiya clan, was a member of Sinjeku caste of the Plain White Banner.

Family background

Father: Jilu, served as a slave of Plain White Banner
Two brothers

Xianfeng era

Lady Daigiya entered the palace in 1852 and was bestowed a title of First Class Attendant Xin. As the first to enter the palace, Lady Daigiya was made an informal leader of first class attendants.
On 25 June 1857, her personal maid, Daniu, was expelled from palace because of leg ailment. However, it was suspected that the actual reason behind Daniu's removal from service differed from the declared recuperation.
Lady Daigiya died on 27 May 1859 and her coffin was interred in Ding Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs.
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3. First Class Attendant Ping

First Class Attendant Ping of the Irgen-Gioro cla , didn't have her name recorded in history.

Family background

  • Father: Yanchang, served as banquet manager in Guozijian and received a jinshi degree in 1847
  • * Grandfather: Yingchun, served as 7th rank civil official
  • * Grandmother: Lady Ujaku
  • Mother: Lady Donggo

Xianfeng era

Lady Irgen-Gioro entered the palace in 1852 and was given the title "Noble Lady Ying". In March 1852, Noble Lady Ying received one black lacquered copper clock. In October 1852, Lady Irgen-Gioro was promoted to Concubine Ying. In October 1853, she was demoted to Noble Lady Yi to fulfill the limit of six concubines. On 11 January 1855，during the burial of Concubine Yun all imperial consorts stayed in Tiancun Village. Noble Lady Yi, who arrived from Ji'an Studio, departed for the Forbidden City earlier than other consorts. In March 1855, she was demoted to First Class Attendant Yi because of her behavior during the funeral. In January 1857, Lady Irgen-Gioro was demoted to Second Class Attendant. Second Attendant Yi fell ill in May 1856 and was suddenly restored as First Class Attendant Ping. First Class Attendant Ping died on 15 August 1856 and was buried in Xihua Garden in Tiancun on 27 August 1856. Her coffin was interred in the Ding Mausoleum in 1864.