Empress Xiaoxian Donggo was one of the most controversial figures in Chinese history. She was the third Empress of The Shunzhi Emperor. She was also his greatest love. Empress Xiaoxian Donggo was originally the wife of the younger brother of Emperor Shunzhi. Yet, Emperor Shunzhi was so besotted with her that it didn’t stop him from sacrificing his brother’s life to take his sister-in-law as his consort. Emperor Shunzhi loved her so much that he tried to make her his Empress during her lifetime. When she died, he was so distraught that he tried to become a Buddhist monk. Thus, the relationship between Emperor Shunzhi and Empress Xiaoxian Donggo is one of the most tragic love stories in Chinese history.
On 1 January 1639 C.E., Empress Xiaoxian Donggo was born in Liaoning.[1] She was from the Donggo clan, which was a prominent noble Manchu family. Her father, Eshuo, was the Grand Minister of the Imperial Household Department of the Plain White Banner.[2] She was beautiful and intelligent.[3] When she was sixteen, Lady Donggo became the wife of Prince Xiang Bombogur (the younger brother of Emperor Shunzhi).[4]
It is uncertain when Emperor Shunzhi fell in love with his brother’s wife.[5] It was said that Emperor Shunzhi was agonizing over his two failed marriages when he suddenly had a chance encounter with his sister-in-law.[6] Emperor Shunzhi immediately fell in love with her and desired to have her for himself.[7] Emperor Shunzhi ordered Prince Xiang Bombogur to commit suicide.[8] On 12 October 1656 C.E., Princess Donggo entered the palace and was made Virtuous Imperial Consort. On 19 January 1657 C.E., Consort Donggo was quickly promoted to Imperial Noble Consort. Emperor Shunzhi held a grand ceremony for her that was similar to an empress’s crowning ceremony, and a general amnesty was issued.[9]
Even though it cost him his brother’s life, Emperor Shunzhi finally enjoyed a happy marriage with Imperial Noble Consort Donggo.[10] They shared a love of books and often discussed state affairs.[11] Emperor Shunzhi was greatly influenced by her ideas and often followed her advice.[12] Thus, Imperial Noble Consort Donggo heavily influenced Emperor Shunzhi’s ideology on how to rule the nation.[13] Imperial Noble Consort Donggo became Emperor Shunzhi’s sole favourite and shared powers with Empress Alatan Qiqige within the imperial harem.[14] Therefore, Imperial Noble Consort Donggo ran both the state and the imperial harem.
On 12 November 1657 C.E., Imperial Noble Consort Donggo gave birth to Emperor Shunzhi’s fourth son. Emperor Shunzhi was so ecstatic that he made Imperial Noble Consort Donggo’s son a prince of the first rank and the heir apparent.[15] In 1658 C.E., Empress Xiaozhuangwen fell ill. Consort Donggo nursed Empress Xiaozhuangwen day and night until she finally recovered.[16] However, Empress Alatan Qiqige did not visit her mother-in-law while she was sick.[17] This gave Emperor Shunzhi the excuse to depose his Empress.[18] He declared Empress Alatan Qiqige to be unfilial.[19] When his ministers and Empress Xiaozhuangwen learned that Emperor Shunzhi meant to depose Alatan Qiqige and make Consort Donggo the Empress, they protested against it. It was not until Imperial Noble Consort Donggo refused the Empress position and pleaded for Empress Alatan Qiqige by saying, “If Shizu abolished the Empress, she would definitely not dare to survive.” [20] Thus, Emperor Shunzhi had no choice but to stop his Empress’s deposition.[21]
On 25 February 1658 C.E., Imperial Noble Consort Donggo’s son died. The imperial couple both grieved the death of their beloved son whom all their hopes and dreams had rested.[22] Imperial Noble Consort Donggo never got over her son’s death. Instead, she continued to sink further into depression.[23] She fell ill and died on 23 September 1660 C.E. She was twenty-one years old.
Emperor Shunzhi was so distraught over Imperial Consort Donggo’s death that he did not conduct any state affairs for five days.[24] Emperor Shunzhi’s deepest regret was that he could not make Imperial Noble Consort Donggo his Empress during her lifetime.[25] Therefore, he made her his posthumous Empress.[26] She became Empress Xiaoxian Donggo. Emperor Shunzhi gave Empress Xiaoxian Donggo a grand funeral. Emperor Shunzhi punished people who did not show an ounce of grief for Empress Xiaoxian Donggo.[27] He also ordered palace maids and eunuchs to die with her so they could serve her in the afterlife.[28]
Emperor Shunzhi never got over Empress Xiaoxian Donggo’s death. He tried to commit suicide but was stopped by his attendants.[29] Therefore, he was constantly watched by his servants to make sure he did not make any suicidal attempts again.[30] Realizing that he could not commit suicide, Emperor Shunzhi shaved his head and tried to become a Buddhist monk.[31] However, his ministers persuaded him to continue his duties as an emperor, and he was forced to regrow his hair.[32] Still, Emperor Shunzhi continued to fall deeper into depression.[33] Emperor Shunzhi followed Empress Xiaoxian Donggo in death four months later.[34] He died of smallpox on 5 February 1661 C.E. He was twenty-four years old. Emperor Shunzhi was buried with Empress Xiaoxian Donggo in the Eastern Qing Mausoleum.[35]
Even though Emperor Shunzhi had to sacrifice his brother to get the woman he wanted, Emperor Shunzhi was finally able to have the happy married life he yearned for. Empress Xiaoxian Donggo was his choice, and he was able to shower his affections on her without restraint. His deepest regret in life was that he could never make her his Empress while she was alive. He never got over her death and wanted to retire as a monk to grieve for his beloved. Because he could not do that as an emperor, he only wanted to follow her in death. Therefore, Empress Xiaoxian Donggo made a profound effect on The Shunzhi Emperor. She influenced him in politics and helped run the imperial harem. Without Empress Xiaoxian Donggo, The Shunzhi Emperor was lost. He died at an early age because he greatly mourned the loss of her death. It is no wonder why The Shunzhi Emperor’s lasting legacy is his love for Empress Xiaoxian Donggo.[36] Their love story has touched the hearts of China.
Sources:
Inf.news. (n.d.). “Empress Xiaohuizhang was 21 years old as Empress Dowager, not favored by Emperor Shunzhi, but for 57 years as Empress Dowager”. Retrieved on 18 September 2022 from https://inf.news/en/history/992fa1afb81fae7bfcb3709b8f5fbcae.html.
McMahon, K. (2016). Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing. NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Zhang, X. & Zhang, W. trans. (2015). “Empress Xiao Xian of the Donggo Clan”. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women v. 1: The Qing Period, 1644-1911 (1st ed.). (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; C. Lau, Ed.; A.D. Stefanowska,. Ed.; S. Wiles, Asst. Ed.) NY: Routledge. pp. 344-347.
[1] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[2] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[3] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[4] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[5] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[6] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[7] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[8] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[9] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[10] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[11] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[12] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[13] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[14] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[15] McMahon, 2016
[16] McMahon, 2016
[17] McMahon, 2016
[18] McMahon, 2016
[19] McMahon, 2016
[20] Inf. news, n.d., “Empress Xiaohuizhang was 21 years old as Empress Dowager, not favored by Emperor Shunzhi, but for 57 years as Empress Dowager”, para. 9
[21] McMahon, 2016
[22] McMahon, 2016
[23] McMahon, 2016
[24] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[25] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[26] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[27] McMahon, 2016
[28] McMahon, 2016
[29] McMahon, 2016
[30] McMahon, 2016
[31] McMahon, 2016
[32] McMahon, 2016
[33] McMahon, 2016
[34] Zhang and Zhang, 2015
[35] McMahon, 2016
[36] McMahon, 2016
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