Shunzhi Emperor

Shunzhi Emperor
Clan name:	Aixin-Jueluo (愛新覺羅) Aisin-Gioro
Given name:	Fulin (福臨) Fu Lin
Dates of reign:	Oct. 30, 1644¹–Feb. 5, 1661
Era name:	Shunzhi (順治) Ijishūn Dasan
Era dates:	Feb. 8, 1644–Feb. 17, 1662
Temple name:	Shizu (世祖) Šidzu
Posthumous name: (short)	Emperor Zhang (章皇帝) Emperor Eldembuhe
Posthumous name: <center>(full)	Emperor Titian Longyun Dingtong Jianji Yingrui Qinwen Xianwu Dade Honggong Zhiren Chunxiao Zhang 體天隆運定統建極英睿欽文顯武大德弘功至仁純孝章皇帝
General note: Names given in Chinese, then in Manchu (full posthumous name is in Chinese only). ——— Dates given here are in the Gregorian calendar. ——— 1. Was emperor of Manchuria between Oct. 8, 1643-Oct. 30, 1644. Officially proclaimed emperor of China on Oct. 30, 1644.

The Shunzhi Emperor (March 15, 1638 - February 5, 1661) was the second emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China proper.

Life

He ascended to the throne aged five (six sui according to traditional Chinese count) in 1643 upon the death of his father, Huang Taiji, but actual power during the early part of his reign lay in the hands of the appointed regents, Princes Dorgon and Jirgalang. With the Qing pacification of the former Ming provinces almost complete, he died still a young man, although in circumstances that have lended themselves to rumour and speculation.

In the midst of much upheaval, the Manchus seized control of Beijing in June 1644, and in October of the same year the Shunzhi emperor's uncle, the chief regent Prince, proclaimed the Qing dynasty to be the legitimate successor to the Ming dynasty. Therefore, although the Shunzhi emperor was not the founder of the Qing dynasty, he was the first Qing emperor of China.

His mother was the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang who was an excellent politician during the period. The young emperor disliked his uncle, the chief regent Prince Dorgon, and after Dorgon's death in 1650 the emperor stripped both him and Dorgon's brother, Prince Dodo, of their titles, although he was only 12 years old at the time.

During his short reign, the Shunzhi emperor encouraged the Han Chinese to participate in government activities. He was a scholar and employed Han Chinese to teach his children.

The emperor married his mother's niece, but demoted the empress several years later. Four months after his favourite concubine passed away, he died of smallpox. Before he passed away, he appointed four regents to help his son, Hiowan Yei. They were Oboi, Sonin, Suksaha and Ebilun.

It was believed that the young emperor did not pass away but left the palace to become a monk.

He was interred in the Eastern Qing Tombs (清東陵), 125 kilometers/75 miles east of Beijing, in the Xiaoling (孝陵) mausoleum complex (known in Manchu as the Hiyoošungga Munggan).

Family

• Father: Huang Taiji, emperor of Manchuria (of whom he was the 9th son)

• Mother: concubine Zhuang, who later became the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang (Manchu: Hiyoošungga Ambalinggū Genggiyenšu Hūwanghu), the daughter of a Mongol prince of the Borjigid clan (the descendants of Gengis Khan)

• Consorts:

1. The Demoted Empress (廢后), from the Borjigid clan (the descendants of Gengis Khan), demoted in 1653
2. Empress Xiaohui Zhang (Chinese: 孝惠章皇后; Manchu: Hiyoošungga Fulehun Eldembuhe Hūwanghu) (d. 1718) from the Borjigid clan, made empress in 1654
3. Concubine of Han Chinese origin (1640-1663), mother of Emperor Kangxi. She was made Manchu in order to become a concubine of Shunzhi, and her Chinese family name Tong (佟) was changed into the Manchu clan name Tunggiya, inaugurating this practice for future generations. She was made Empress Dowager Cihe (慈和皇太后) in 1661 when Kangxi became emperor. She is known posthumously as Empress Xiaokang Zhang (Chinese: 孝康章皇后; Manchu: Hiyoošungga Nesuken Eldembuhe Hūwanghu).
4. Concubine from the Donggo clan (d. 1660), the concubine with whom Shunzhi was madly in love, posthumously raised to Empress Xiaoxian Duanjing (孝獻端敬皇后).

• Children:
  • 8 sons (4 died young)
  • 6 daughters (5 died young)

ja:順治帝 zh:顺治帝