| Empress Xiaochengren | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Empress consort of the Qing dynasty | |||||
| Tenure | October/November 1665 – 6 June 1674 | ||||
| Predecessor | Empress Xiaohuizhang | ||||
| Successor | Empress Xiaozhaoren | ||||
| Born | 3 February 1654 (順治十年 十二月 十七日) | ||||
| Died | 6 June 1674 (aged 20) (康熙十三年 五月 三日) Palace of Earthly Tranquility | ||||
| Burial | Jing Mausoleum, Eastern Qing tombs | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | Chenghu Yunreng, Prince Limi of the First Rank | ||||
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| House | Hešeri (赫舍裡) | ||||
| Father | Gabula | ||||
| Empress Xiaochengren | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 孝誠仁皇后 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 孝诚仁皇后 | ||||||
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| Manchu name | |||||||
| Manchu script | ᡥᡳᠶᠣᠣᡧᡠᠩᡤᠠ ᡠᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ ᡤᠣᠰᡳᠨ ᡥᡡᠸᠠᠩᡥᡝᠣ | ||||||
| Romanization | hiyoošungga unenggi gosin hūwangheo | ||||||
Empress Xiaochengren (3 February 1654 – 6 June 1674), of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner Hešeri clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and first empress consort of Xuanye, the Kangxi Emperor. She was empress consort of Qing from 1665 until her death in 1674. Although her marriage was a purely political one, the Kangxi Emperor was very fond of her and left the position of empress vacant for about three years after her death.
Empress Xiaochengren's personal name was not recorded in history.
Lady Hešeri's grandfather, Sonin (索尼; 1601–1667), served as one of the Four Regents of the Kangxi Emperor, and held the title of first class duke. Her father, Gabula (噶布喇; d.1681), served as a military general and also held a title of duke. One of her aunts married with the grandson of Nurhaci, Yolo (岳樂; 1625–1689), Prince of the first rank (和碩安親王); another aunt married with the grandson of Nurhaci, the son of Dodo (多鐸), Cani (察尼; 1640–1688), Prince of the third rank (多羅貝勒).
The future Empress Xiaochengren was born on the 17th day of the 12th lunar month in the tenth year of the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor, which translates to 3 February 1654 in the Gregorian calendar.
In October or November 1665, Lady Hešeri married the Kangxi Emperor and became empress consort because her powerful family could help the emperor on his rules. Although it was a purely political marriage, the Kangxi Emperor was very fond of the Empress. On 4 January 1670, she gave birth to a son, Chenghu, who would die prematurely on 3 March 1672. The death of Prince Chenghu hit the Empress very much, and she became very sick. The Emperor who was staying in Chicheng heard that Lady Hešeri was seriously ill, and he set off for Beijing immediately to take care of Lady Hešeri. After the Empress recovered, she became pregnant again.
The Empress died on 6 June 1674 shortly after giving birth to the emperor's second son, Yunreng. The emperor was extremely sad about the Empress's death, so he made her son the crown prince. After her death, the Kangxi Emperor left the position of empress vacant for about three years before instating one of his consorts, Lady Niohuru, as Empress, on 18 September 1677.