Concubine Xiang (襄嬪;? – 14 August 1746), personal name Gao Zaiyi (高在儀), was an imperial concubine of Emperor Kangxi of the manchu ruled Qing dynasty.[1]

Gao Zaiyi
高在儀
Concubine Xiang (襄嬪)
Born17th Century
Died14 August 1746
Ningshou Palace, Forbidden City, Beijing, Qing Dynasty
Burial
Jingling tombs, Eastern Qing tombs
SpouseKangxi Emperor
IssueYinji
19th daughter
Yunyi
Posthumous name
Xiāng pín
(襄嬪)
HouseGao (馬佳氏; ; by birth)
Aisin Gioro (by marriage)
FatherGao Tingxiu

Life

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Family Background

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Concubine Xiang personal name was Zaiyi (在儀) and her family, the Gao clan (高氏), belonged to the Plain Blue Banner.

Father: Gao Tingxiu (高廷秀), a calligrapher and painter of Qing dynasty[2]

Kangxi era

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It is unknown when Lady Gao was born or when she entered the Forbidden City to become one of Emperor Kangxi wives.[3]

At that times, the rules of the harem system were not established and many women didn't receive an imperial title even though they had children. Lady Gao was one of them. However, women who have given birth to sons for the emperor enjoyed a higher treatment than others. On 25 October 1702, Lady Gao gave birth to the 29th son of emperor,[4] Yinji (胤禝), who would died prematurely in March 1704. Again, on 30 March 1703, she gave birth to the 19th daughter who would also died young, at almost age of 2. Lastly, in 1706 on 1 September, she gave birth to Yunyi (允禕), the only of her children who survived to adulthood and was made a prince. Only Yunyi out of her children was honoured as a prince, Prince Jianjing of the Third Rank (簡靖貝勒).

Yongzheng era

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Kangxi died 20 December 1722 and succeed by his fourth son, Yinzhen (胤禛), enthoned as Yongzheng Emperor (雍正帝). After becoming emperor, Yongzheng started to promote some of his father concubines who have given birth to sons. Lady Gao was honoured as Noble Lady (貴人; chinese: guìrén). When Lady Gao was still a noble lady, she was called by others as The Beautiful Concubine (秀嬪; chinese: Xiù pín)[5] .

Qianlong era

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In 1736, Qianlong promoted fourth of his grandfather living consorts, who were staying in Ningshou Palace (宁寿宫). Noble lady Gao was promoted to Concubine (嬪; chinese: pín). In 1746, on 24 August, Concubine Gao passed away at Ningshou Palace. She was posthumously honoured by Qianlong as Concubine Xiang (襄嬪; chinese: Xiāng pín).

Titles

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  • During the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (r. 1661–1722):
    • Gao Zaiyi (高在儀; from Unknown Date)
    • Mistress (庶妃; Unknown Date)
  • During the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor (r. 1722–1735):
    • Noble Lady (貴人; from 1722)
  • During the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (r. 1735–1796):
    • Concubine (嬪; from 1736)
    • Concubine Xiang (襄嬪; After August 1746),

Issues

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As a Mistress (庶妃):

  • Yinji (胤禝; 25 October 1702 – 28 March 1704), 29th (19th) son
  • 19th daughter (30 March 1703 – February/March 1705)
  • Yunyi (允禕), Prince Jianjing of the Third Rank (簡靖貝勒; 1 September 1706 – 30 June 1755), 30th (20th)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 愛新覺羅宗譜·星源集慶(頁四七)襄嬪.高
  2. ^ 喬曉軍編著,中國美術家人名辭典 補遺二編,三秦出版社,2007.07,第425頁
  3. ^ 《愛新覺羅宗譜·星源集慶》(頁四七)襄嬪.高氏.高廷秀之女.初為庶妃.康熙六十一年十二月.尊封貴人.乾隆元年十二月.尊封襄嬪.十一年丙寅六月廿八日薨.謹嬪……第十九子.允禝.無嗣.康熙四十一年壬午九月初五日丑時生.母襄嬪高氏.高廷秀之女……第二十子.多羅簡靖貝勒.允禕.康熙四十五年丙戌七月廿五日午時生.母襄嬪高氏.高廷秀之女……第十九女.康熙四十二年癸未二月十四四日巳時生.母襄嬪高氏.高廷秀之女……
  4. ^ 19th who lived
  5. ^ 宮內等處女子嬤嬤媽媽裡折肉銀底賬》寧壽宮,皇貴妃下官女子三人,學生二人,家下女子一人; 貴妃下官女子七人; 憲妃下官女子四人; 成妃下官女子六人; 密妃下官女子六人,使女二人;勤妃下官女子一人,家下女子三人;通嬪下官女子三人,家下女子一人;倩嬪下官女子三人; 秀嬪下官女子三人;玉嬪下官女子三人;綺嬪下官女子三人; 尹貴人下官女子三人,媽媽裡一人,蒙古女子一人;洛貴人下官女子三人;文貴人下官女子二人; 常貴人下官女子一人; 蘭貴人下官女子二人;智答應下官女子一人;令答應下官女子一人,家下女子一人