Mingfu


Mingfu was a title granted to wives of officials, non-imperial aristocrats, and collateral clanswomen. Mothers and sisters of imperial consorts were also granted a title of according to the rank held by their daughters or sisters. A title was granted to nursemaids of emperors and attendants of imperial consorts.
Noblewomen were divided into 7 ranks according to the rank of her husband and her daughter, if her daughter was an imperial consort. If the title held by husbands was divided into subclasses, they could be treated equally.

Rules of promotion

Married lady held title according to the position of her husband and could be promoted if her family members or children became officials or were awarded aristocratic title.
Wives of 8th and 9th rank officials could be granted a title of mingfu.
Mingfu retained her title even after divorce if her sister or daughter was imperial consort.
However, wives and mothers of dukes and aristocrats who received pre-standard titles could be addressed as "fujin" - a title typical for imperial princess consort. For example, mother of Fuk'anggan, lady Nara was mentioned and addressed as "fujin", as a mother of Prince Jiayong of the Second Rank. Fukang'an's wife, lady Irgen Gioro was also addressed as "fujin". Their names were not listed in Jade Tables. Wives of non-imperial aristocrates were treated as imperial duchesses, but de facto they enjoyed lesser privileges.

Notable titles and classification

were divided into "inner court ladies" and "outer court ladies." Inner court ladies were close friends and servants of imperial consorts, ex. Sumalagu, a confidant of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. Female servants of imperial consorts received a title of mingfu according to the rank of imperial consort whom their served. Sometimes they could be addressed as "gege". Inner holding rank equivalent to wives of imperial generals conducted promotions of imperial ceremonies, weddings of imperial princes and princesses and several rites, while lower ranked ladies attended to them.
Court ladies were subdivided into "Qianqing palace ladies" and "Cining palace ladies" according to the position of their masters. Qianqing palace ladies were attendants to the emperor and his consorts. The following titles were granted to Qianqing palace ladies:
  • Madam Shuyi equivalent to 2nd rank mingfu, granted to one court lady
  • Madam Wanshi, equivalent to 3 rank mingfu, granted to six court ladies
  • Madam Rouwan, equivalent to 4 rank mingfu, granted to 30 court ladies
  • Madam Fangwan, equivalent to 4 rank mingfu, granted to 30 court ladies
Cining palace ladies were attendants to the grand empress dowager, empress dowager and consort dowagers. The following titles were granted to Cining palace ladies:
  • Madam Zhenrong, equivalent to 2 rank mingfu, granted to one court lady
  • Madam Shenrong, equivalent to 3 rd rank mingfu, granted to two court ladies
Outer court ladies were mothers and unmarried into ruling clan sisters of imperial consorts, nursemaids of emperors and collateral clanswomen. Sisters of imperial consorts, who weren't members of imperial family were given a title of mingfu and receive a title according to the position of their husbands.

Notable titles

The following titles were granted to court ladies:
  • Madam of Gaoming, granted to attendants of imperial princesses, mothers of imperial consorts and their female clan members if anyone of them was holding a title of princess consort or imperial consort. The rank of Madam of Gaoming was determined by the rank of her spouse. Madams of Gaoming could be further promoted along the promotions of her family member being an imperial consort. However, only 1st and 2nd rank Madams of Gaoming were styled as furen, while 3 rank ladies were styled as shuren, 4 rank ladies were entitled gongren, 5 rank ladies were entitled yiren, 6 rank ladies were entitled anren and 7 rank ladies were styled as ruren
  • Madam Gioro was granted to collateral clanswomen who didn't marry into Aisin Gioro clan. Collateral Gioro clanswomen were treated like commoner ladies. However, collateral ladies whose husbands held ranks were treated as court ladies of 1-3rd rank.
  • Madam Fu Zhongyong, granted to lady Nara Tang'er, Fuheng's wife and Mingju's descendant. Duchess Nara was promoted to "fujin" by Qianlong Emperor personally as the mother of Fuk'anggan, Prince Jiayong of the Second Rank.
  • Madam Zuosheng, granted to Lady Yeheili
  • Madam Yousheng, granted to Lady Ligiya, wife of Manduli, a nursemaid of Shunzhi Emperor.
  • Madam Baosheng, granted to Lady Gūwalgiya, wife of Tukeshan and nursemaid of Kangxi Emperor, personally by Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.
  • Madam Fengsheng, granted to Lady Buri, wife of Plain Yellow Banner Master Commandant of Light Chariot Sakda Basali and nursemaid of Shunzhi Emperor and his son. The title was equivalent to duchess.
  • Madam Shunshan, granted to Lady Wang, Yongzheng Emperor's nursemaid.
  • Madam Gongqin, granted to Lady Xie, another Yongzheng Emperor's nursemaid
  • Madam Anqin, granted to Lady Liu, third nursemaid of Yongzheng Emperor
  • Madam Wenshu, granted to Lady Dong, Qianlong Emperor's nursemaid.

    Comparison of titles for noblewomen

Court attire

wore crowns with three bejewled plaques and finial consisting of one coral, silk bandeaus with embroidered golden dragons chasing after a flaming pearl and blue-grounded chaofu on solemn ceremonies. could not wear surcoats with roundels of flowers and auspicious symbols and also golden diadems, unlike imperial duchesses and clanswomen. Collateral clanswomen could wear surcoats with rampant four-clawed dragons above the magnificent sea-waves pattern and white caishui. Wives of officials wore sleeveless vest matching Mandarin square of her husband and Ming Dynasty style tiaras, as depicted on ancestral portraits.