Li Fei
Encyclopedia
Consort Li (March 1837 - December 1890) was a consort of the Xianfeng Emperor
who ruled China during the Qing Dynasty
from 1850 till 1861.
in 1850 during elections for the Xianfeng Emperor
's harem. During the same time, Lady Yehenara (the future Empress Dowager Cixi
) entered the palace as well. Lady Tatala was chosen to stay and was given the title of Honored Lady Li (麗 "beautiful" 貴人), in 1852, while Cixi was given the title of Honored Lady Lan. Two years later Worthy Lady Li was promoted to Imperial Concubine (嬪"pin") being promoted ten months later than Lady Yehenara.
In 1855 Imperial Concubine Li gave birth to the emperor's first and only daughter, State Princess Rong'an. During the ceremony of the Three Baths Imperial Concubine Li was promoted to Consort (妃). This time, she was promoted ten months earlier then Lady Yehenara. It is said that Consort Li was the emperor's favourite consort. Cixi only caught the attention of the emperor during and after Consort Li's pregnancy. This because the emperor was not allowed to have any sex with her for 100 days after she had given birth to a child.
In 1860 she fled alongside the emperor, empress and other concubine to Yehol amidst the Second Opium War
. The Xianfeng Emperor died in the following year and was succeeded bu Lady Yehenara's son, who was enthroned as the Tongzhi Emperor
. Because Consort Li had served the Xianfeng Emperor for many years and had given birth to the eldest daughter, she was promoted to Imperial Honored Consort (麗皇貴妃). At the time she lived in the Palace of Eternal Harmony.
In January 1875 the Tongzhi Emperor died. He was succeeded by his cousin Zaitian, who became the Guangxu Emperor
. Consort Li was given the title of Dowager Consort Li (麗皇貴太妃). Her daughter died in February 1875 at the age of 19. Official historical records state that Consort Li was often sick and she died from illness in 1890 at the age of 53. The Guangxu Emperor ordered members of the imperial clan and officials to wear mourning dress for a day. Consort Li was buried in Dingling Mausoleum for imperial concubines in Hebei
three years later, together with Honored Consort Mei (玫貴妃) who died seven days before her.
After her death she was granted the title of Imperial Honored Consort Zhuangjing (庄靜皇貴妃).
Xianfeng Emperor
The Xianfeng Emperor , born Aisin-Gioro I Ju, was the ninth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and the seventh Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1850 to 1861.-Family and his early years:...
who ruled China during the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
from 1850 till 1861.
Biography
Consort Li neé Tatala (他他拉氏) was the daughter of Jiahai (庆海). She was born in the 17th year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign on the 27th day of the second month. She entered the Forbidden CityForbidden City
The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum...
in 1850 during elections for the Xianfeng Emperor
Xianfeng Emperor
The Xianfeng Emperor , born Aisin-Gioro I Ju, was the ninth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and the seventh Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1850 to 1861.-Family and his early years:...
's harem. During the same time, Lady Yehenara (the future Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
) entered the palace as well. Lady Tatala was chosen to stay and was given the title of Honored Lady Li (麗 "beautiful" 貴人), in 1852, while Cixi was given the title of Honored Lady Lan. Two years later Worthy Lady Li was promoted to Imperial Concubine (嬪"pin") being promoted ten months later than Lady Yehenara.
In 1855 Imperial Concubine Li gave birth to the emperor's first and only daughter, State Princess Rong'an. During the ceremony of the Three Baths Imperial Concubine Li was promoted to Consort (妃). This time, she was promoted ten months earlier then Lady Yehenara. It is said that Consort Li was the emperor's favourite consort. Cixi only caught the attention of the emperor during and after Consort Li's pregnancy. This because the emperor was not allowed to have any sex with her for 100 days after she had given birth to a child.
In 1860 she fled alongside the emperor, empress and other concubine to Yehol amidst the Second Opium War
Second Opium War
The Second Opium War, the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a war pitting the British Empire and the Second French Empire against the Qing Dynasty of China, lasting from 1856 to 1860...
. The Xianfeng Emperor died in the following year and was succeeded bu Lady Yehenara's son, who was enthroned as the Tongzhi Emperor
Tongzhi Emperor
The Tongzhi Emperor , born Aisin-Gioro Dzai Šun, was the tenth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the eighth Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1861 to 1875. His reign, which effectively lasted through his adolescence, was largely overshadowed by the rule of his mother, the Empress...
. Because Consort Li had served the Xianfeng Emperor for many years and had given birth to the eldest daughter, she was promoted to Imperial Honored Consort (麗皇貴妃). At the time she lived in the Palace of Eternal Harmony.
In January 1875 the Tongzhi Emperor died. He was succeeded by his cousin Zaitian, who became the Guangxu Emperor
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
. Consort Li was given the title of Dowager Consort Li (麗皇貴太妃). Her daughter died in February 1875 at the age of 19. Official historical records state that Consort Li was often sick and she died from illness in 1890 at the age of 53. The Guangxu Emperor ordered members of the imperial clan and officials to wear mourning dress for a day. Consort Li was buried in Dingling Mausoleum for imperial concubines in Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
three years later, together with Honored Consort Mei (玫貴妃) who died seven days before her.
After her death she was granted the title of Imperial Honored Consort Zhuangjing (庄靜皇貴妃).
Literature and sources
- Draft history of the Qing dynasty. 《清史稿》卷二百十四．列傳一．后妃傳．文宗庄静皇贵妃.
- Royal archives of the Qing dynasty (清宫档案).
- Sterling Seagraves, "Dragon Lady" ISBN 0679733698. Contains a lot of information about Consort Li.