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Emperor Hongwu, 1st ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1368-1398). Personal Name: Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhū Yuánzhāng Posthumous Name: Gaodi, Gāodì Temple Name: Taizu, Tàizǔ Reign Name: Ming Hongwu, Ming Hóngwǔ The Hongwu Emperor was the founder and first emperor (1368–98) of the Ming Dynasty of China. His era name, Hongwu, means 'vastly martial'.<br/><br/> In the middle of the 14th century, with famine, plagues and peasant revolts sweeping across China, Zhu became a leader of an army that conquered China, ending the Yuan Dynasty and forcing the Mongols to retreat to the Mongolian steppes. With his seizure of the Yuan capital (present-day Beijing), he claimed the Mandate of Heaven and established the Ming Dynasty in 1368.<br/><br/> Nanjing dates back to the beginning of the Warring States Period (403–221 BCE). Between the 3rd and 6th centuries CE, Nanjing was the capital of the Southern dynasties at a time when non-Chinese were in command in northern China. After various natural disasters and a peasant rebellion, the new Sui dynasty moved the imperial capital to Xi’an (589 CE) and destroyed Nanjing, along with almost all of its cultural and historical relics.<br/><br/> Nanjing regained national importance at the beginning of the Ming dynasty, when its first emperor, Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang), set up the seat of government here in the Southern Capital until it was transferred to Beijing in 1421.
Father Ferdinand Verbiest (1623-1688) was a Flemish Jesuit missionary in China during the Qing dynasty. He proved to the court of Kangxi Emperor that European astronomy was more accurate than Chinese astronomy.<br/><br/> He then corrected the Chinese calendar and was later asked to rebuild and re-equip the Beijing Ancient Observatory, being given the role of Head of the Mathematical Board and Director of the Observatory.<br/><br/> Verbiest was the only Westerner in Chinese history to ever receive the honour of a posthumous name by the Emperor. He is buried in Beijing.
Aisin-Gioro Yinli was the seventeenth son of the Qing Dynasty Kangxi Emperor. Prince Yinli was born on March 2 during the thirty-sixth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, his mother was the Imperial Consort Chunyuqin of the Chen Clan. When Yinli's half-brother, the Yongzheng Emperor ascended to the throne, Prince Yinli was granted the title of Prince Guo and was also given the tasks of administrating the institution of scholars.<br/><br/> During the third year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign, Prince Yinli was given a higher salary due to his honesty and diligence. In February during the sixth year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign, Yinli was promoted to a Duke. In the following years, Prince Yinli was appointed to the Grand Council (1735–1736) and given even more tasks, including escorting the Dalai Lamas back to Tibet, and to inspect the soldiers along the route. He was also a Tibetan Buddhist patron and scholar.<br/><br/> When the Emperor fell seriously ill, Prince Yinli was given the task of supporting the new emperor, Qianlong. When he ascended to the throne, Yinli was given more power and more responsibilities with commensurate recognition.
Aisin-Gioro Yinli was the seventeenth son of the Qing Dynasty Kangxi Emperor. Prince Yinli was born on March 2 during the thirty-sixth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, his mother was the Imperial Consort Chunyuqin of the Chen Clan. When Yinli's half-brother, the Yongzheng Emperor ascended to the throne, Prince Yinli was granted the title of Prince Guo and was also given the tasks of administrating the institution of scholars.<br/><br/> During the third year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign, Prince Yinli was given a higher salary due to his honesty and diligence. In February during the sixth year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign, Yinli was promoted to a Duke. In the following years, Prince Yinli was appointed to the Grand Council (1735–1736) and given even more tasks, including escorting the Dalai Lamas back to Tibet, and to inspect the soldiers along the route. He was also a Tibetan Buddhist patron and scholar.<br/><br/> When the Emperor fell seriously ill, Prince Yinli was given the task of supporting the new emperor, Qianlong. When he ascended to the throne, Yinli was given more power and more responsibilities with commensurate recognition.
Aisin-Gioro Yinli was the seventeenth son of the Qing Dynasty Kangxi Emperor. Prince Yinli was born on March 2 during the thirty-sixth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, his mother was the Imperial Consort Chunyuqin of the Chen Clan. When Yinli's half-brother, the Yongzheng Emperor ascended to the throne, Prince Yinli was granted the title of Prince Guo and was also given the tasks of administrating the institution of scholars.<br/><br/> During the third year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign, Prince Yinli was given a higher salary due to his honesty and diligence. In February during the sixth year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign, Yinli was promoted to a Duke. In the following years, Prince Yinli was appointed to the Grand Council (1735–1736) and given even more tasks, including escorting the Dalai Lamas back to Tibet, and to inspect the soldiers along the route. He was also a Tibetan Buddhist patron and scholar.<br/><br/> When the Emperor fell seriously ill, Prince Yinli was given the task of supporting the new emperor, Qianlong. When he ascended to the throne, Yinli was given more power and more responsibilities with commensurate recognition.
Yinxiang, 1st Prince Yi (1686 - April 1730) of the Manchu Aisin-Gioro clan was a noble of the Qing Dynasty born as the 13th surviving son to the Kangxi Emperor. His mother was Kangxi's concubine, Min-Fei of the Janggiya clan.<br/><br/> In 1725, Yinxiang was sent to oversee the water issues of Zhili (present-day Hebei), including flood control and transportation. Returning to Beijing, Yinxiang was constantly affected by ill health. Yinxiang died in April 1730, and was given the posthumous name Xian. He received great praise from the Emperor, who ordered a three-day mourning period in which no administrative affairs were conducted in court. In addition, his title was added to eight previous Prince titles to become 'iron-cap' titles, to be inherited by his descendants. His fifth generation descendant, Zaiyuan, was also prominent in Qing politics.
Yinti, Prince Xun (16 January 1688 — 13 January 1756) of the Aisin-Gioro clan was the Kangxi Emperor's fourteenth son, and the one who was said to be the favourite to succeed him. He was the brother of Yinzhen born to the same mother, the Concubine of the Wuya Clan (i.e. the Empress Xiaogong Ren). In 1718, after the defeat of a Chinese army along the Salween River in Tibet by the Dzungar general Tsering Dondub, he was appointed by the Kangxi Emperor as The Frontier Pacification General to lead an army of 300,000 into Tibet and defeat the Dzungar general. On 24 September 1720, Yinti's army took Lhasa and returned the Dalai Lama back to the Potala Palace. Yinti was planning a conquest of Dzungaria when on 21 December 1722 he was informed of his father's death and was summoned immediately back to the capital. The throne had been inherited by his brother Yinzhen, the Yongzheng Emperor. Yongzheng saw Yinti as a potential threat and placed him under house-arrest. Yinti was released after the Yongzheng Emperor's death in 1735.
Yinxiang, 1st Prince Yi (1686 - April 1730) of the Manchu Aisin-Gioro clan was a noble of the Qing Dynasty born as the 13th surviving son to the Kangxi Emperor. His mother was Kangxi's concubine, Min-Fei of the Janggiya clan.<br/><br/> In 1725, Yinxiang was sent to oversee the water issues of Zhili (present-day Hebei), including flood control and transportation. Returning to Beijing, Yinxiang was constantly affected by ill health. Yinxiang died in April 1730, and was given the posthumous name Xian. He received great praise from the Emperor, who ordered a three-day mourning period in which no administrative affairs were conducted in court. In addition, his title was added to eight previous Prince titles to become 'iron-cap' titles, to be inherited by his descendants. His fifth generation descendant, Zaiyuan, was also prominent in Qing politics.
Yinsi, Prince Lian (29 March 1681 – 5 October 1726) was born to the Kangxi Emperor and Imperial Consort Liang of the Wei clan. As the Kangxi Emperor's eighth son, he was the Eighth Imperial Prince. After the Yongzheng Emperor's succession to the imperial throne in 1722, Yinsi was appointed one of his four chief advisors and was given the peerage title Prince Lian. However, having been a serious contender for the Crown Prince during the era of Kangxi, Yinsi soon found himself a subject of mistrust for the then recently crowned emperor. In 1726, he suffered the indignity of being expelled from the imperial household following a series of unjust accusations of incompetence made by the emperor himself. In the same year, he was ordered to rename himself Akina ('pig') when he fell from the emperor's grace. Yinsi died of illness in custody after being found guilty on 40 counts which allegedly endangered the ruling of the Qing Dynasty.
Empress Xiao Gong Ren ( 1660–1723) was an Imperial Consort of the Kangxi Emperor and mother of the Yongzheng Emperor. Her father was Lieutenant-Colonel Wei-wu of the Uya clan, of the Manchu yellow banner corps. In 1678 Uya gave birth to the Kangxi Emperor's fourth surviving son Yin Zhen, the future Yongzheng Emperor. One year later she was granted the title of Imperial Concubine De, meaning 'virtuous'. In 1681 Uya gave birth to another son. In 1682 she was granted the title of Imperial Consort De. In the next five years, Uya gave birth to three daughters. Finally in 1688, she gave birth to her last son. When the Kangxi Emperor died in 1722, her son Yinzhen succeeded to the throne and, as the mother of the reigning emperor, she received the title the 'Empress Dowager Renshou'. In 1723, one year after the death of her husband the Empress Dowager Renshou died of illness. She was 64 years old and was interred in the Jing Ling Mausoleum. She was given the posthumous title of Empress Xiao Gong Ren.
Empress Xiao Yi Ren (1609 - 24 August 1689), personal name Tunggiya. Xiao Yi Ren was the third Empress Consort of the Kangxi Emperor. She was of the Tunggiya clan, and was the daughter of the Minister of Internal Defence, Tong Guowei. Also, she was the niece of the Empress Xiao Kang Zhang. At first, Tunggiya was given the title Noble Consort Tong. When Empress Xiao Zhao Ren died, Lady Tunggiya became head of the Imperial Household. During the twentieth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, Tunggiya was given the title Imperial Noble Consort. During the twenty-second year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1683), the Imperial Noble Consort Tong gave birth to a daughter, whom died within a month. In 1689, Tunggiya became seriously ill and Emperor Kangxi promoted her to the rank of Empress Consort. She died one day later. Tungiya was given the posthumous title of Empress Xiao Yi Ren after her death, and she was interred in the Jing Ling Mausoleum.
Empress Xiao Yi Ren (1609 - 24 August 1689), personal name Tunggiya. Xiao Yi Ren was the third Empress Consort of the Kangxi Emperor. She was of the Tunggiya clan, and was the daughter of the Minister of Internal Defence, Tong Guowei. Also, she was the niece of the Empress Xiao Kang Zhang. At first, Tunggiya was given the title Noble Consort Tong. When Empress Xiao Zhao Ren died, Lady Tunggiya became head of the Imperial Household. During the twentieth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, Tunggiya was given the title Imperial Noble Consort. During the twenty-second year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1683), the Imperial Noble Consort Tong gave birth to a daughter, whom died within a month. In 1689, Tunggiya became seriously ill and Emperor Kangxi promoted her to the rank of Empress Consort. She died one day later. Tungiya was given the posthumous title of Empress Xiao Yi Ren after her death, and she was interred in the Jing Ling Mausoleum.
Empress Xiao Cheng Ren, also known as the Ren Xiao empress (26 November 1653 – 16 June 1674) was the first Empress Consort of the Kangxi Emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty of China. They were married in 1665. Empress Xiao Cheng Ren came from the Manchu Heseri clan, and therefore was known as "Empress Heseri". She was the daughter of Gabula, a granddaughter of Suoni and a niece of Songgotu. In 1669, Heseri gave birth to a son whom died at the age of three. In 1674, Heseri died while giving birth to Prince Yin Reng, who became the crown prince of the Kangxi Emperor at the age of two. Empress Xiao Cheng Ren died at age 20, and is thus considered the most short-lived Empress of the Qing Dynasty.
Empress Xiao Cheng Ren, also known as the Ren Xiao empress (26 November 1653 – 16 June 1674) was the first Empress Consort of the Kangxi Emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty of China. They were married in 1665. Empress Xiao Cheng Ren came from the Manchu Heseri clan, and therefore was known as "Empress Heseri". She was the daughter of Gabula, a granddaughter of Suoni and a niece of Songgotu. In 1669, Heseri gave birth to a son whom died at the age of three. In 1674, Heseri died while giving birth to Prince Yin Reng, who became the crown prince of the Kangxi Emperor at the age of two. Empress Xiao Cheng Ren died at age 20, and is thus considered the most short-lived Empress of the Qing Dynasty.
Li Guangdi (1642-1718), courtesy name Jingqing and sobriquet Hou'an, was a Chinese neo-Confucianist who served in the Imperial court of the Kangxi Emperor.
The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 1654 –20 December 1722) was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.<br/><br/> Kangxi's reign of 61 years makes him the longest-reigning Chinese emperor in history (although his grandson, the Qianlong Emperor, had the longest period of de facto power) and one of the longest-reigning rulers in the world. However, having ascended to the throne at the age of seven, he was not the effective ruler until later, with that role temporarily fulfilled for six years by four regents and his grandmother, the Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.
The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 1654 –20 December 1722) was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.<br/><br/> Kangxi's reign of 61 years makes him the longest-reigning Chinese emperor in history (although his grandson, the Qianlong Emperor, had the longest period of de facto power) and one of the longest-reigning rulers in the world. However, having ascended to the throne at the age of seven, he was not the effective ruler until later, with that role temporarily fulfilled for six years by four regents and his grandmother, the Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.
Yin'e (1683-1741), later renamed Yun'e by Imperial demand, was a Manchu prince of the Qing dynasty, 10th son of the Kangxi Emperor. Relatively unremarkable, he was primarily remembered as a crony of his older brother Yunsi.
Empress Xiao Gong Ren ( 1660–1723) was an Imperial Consort of the Kangxi Emperor and mother of the Yongzheng Emperor. Her father was Lieutenant-Colonel Wei-wu of the Uya clan, of the Manchu yellow banner corps. In 1678 Uya gave birth to the Kangxi Emperor's fourth surviving son Yin Zhen, the future Yongzheng Emperor. One year later she was granted the title of Imperial Concubine De, meaning 'virtuous'. In 1681 Uya gave birth to another son. In 1682 she was granted the title of Imperial Consort De. In the next five years, Uya gave birth to three daughters. Finally in 1688, she gave birth to her last son. When the Kangxi Emperor died in 1722, her son Yinzhen succeeded to the throne and, as the mother of the reigning emperor, she received the title the 'Empress Dowager Renshou'. In 1723, one year after the death of her husband the Empress Dowager Renshou died of illness. She was 64 years old and was interred in the Jing Ling Mausoleum. She was given the posthumous title of Empress Xiao Gong Ren.
Empress Xiao Gong Ren ( 1660–1723) was an Imperial Consort of the Kangxi Emperor and mother of the Yongzheng Emperor. Her father was Lieutenant-Colonel Wei-wu of the Uya clan, of the Manchu yellow banner corps. In 1678 Uya gave birth to the Kangxi Emperor's fourth surviving son Yin Zhen, the future Yongzheng Emperor. One year later she was granted the title of Imperial Concubine De, meaning 'virtuous'. In 1681 Uya gave birth to another son. In 1682 she was granted the title of Imperial Consort De. In the next five years, Uya gave birth to three daughters. Finally in 1688, she gave birth to her last son. When the Kangxi Emperor died in 1722, her son Yinzhen succeeded to the throne and, as the mother of the reigning emperor, she received the title the 'Empress Dowager Renshou'. In 1723, one year after the death of her husband the Empress Dowager Renshou died of illness. She was 64 years old and was interred in the Jing Ling Mausoleum. She was given the posthumous title of Empress Xiao Gong Ren.
Yin'e, the 10th son of Kangxi, was stripped of all his titles in May 1724, and sent north to the Shunyi area as part of Emperor Yongzheng's struggle to assert himself against his various princely brothers.