Erdeni Bumba (Chinese: 額爾德尼布木巴; fl. 17th century), of the Khorchin Mongol Borjigit clan, was the consort of Fulin, the Shunzhi Emperor. She was empress consort of the Qing dynasty of China from 1651 until her deposition in 1653. She was demoted to concubine rank and received the honorary title Consort Jing.[1]

Erdeni Bumba
Empress consort of the Qing dynasty
Tenure27 September 1651 – 25 October 1653
PredecessorEmpress Xiaoduanwen
SuccessorEmpress Xiaohuizhang
BornBorjigit Erdeni Bumba
(博爾濟吉特 額爾德尼布木巴)
DiedUnknown
Possibly Beijing
Spouse
(m. 1651)
Names
Borjigit Erdeni Bumba (博爾濟吉特 額爾德尼布木巴)
HouseBorjigit (博爾濟吉特)
FatherWukeshan
Erdeni Bumba
Traditional Chinese靜妃
Simplified Chinese静妃

Life edit

Family background edit

Shunzhi era edit

Erdeni Bumba was selected by her aunt - the emperor's mother, Empress Dowager Zhaosheng - to be the Shunzhi Emperor's primary consort.[2] On 27 September 1651, she was instated as empress. The Prince-Regent Dorgon also encouraged the marriage between the Shunzhi Emperor and Erdeni Bumba.

Two years later, however, on 25 October 1653, the Emperor deposed her, despite protests from much of his court. She was demoted from empress to merely "Consort Jing". Some sources, such as the Draft History of the Qing, claim that she was deposed because of her love luxury and tendency towards jealousy, characteristics decried by the emperor, who respected simplicity and frugality.[3]

However, deposing her may have been related to growing estrangement between the emperor and his mother, and power struggles within the court.[1] His mother and regent Dorgon, who were closely intertwined, held great power, and by deposing his mother's niece, who had been chosen for him, he may have been attempting to exercise his own power.[4]

Some sources claim, that when she was living in Palace of Eternal Longevity, she became pregnant. During her pregnancy, she left the Forbidden City and gave birth to a son. However, historical records don't mention her further fate.

Titles edit

  • During the reign of Hong Taiji (r. 1626–1643):
    • Lady Borjigit
  • During the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor (r. 1643–1661):
    • Empress (皇后; from 27 September 1651[5])
    • Consort Jing (靜妃; from 25 October 1653[6]), fourth rank consort

In fiction and popular culture edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Rawski, Evelyn S. (1998). The Last Emperors: A Social History of Qing Imperial Institutions. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-22837-5.
  2. ^ Sr, Arthur W. Hummel (1 January 2018). Eminent Chinese of the Qing Period: 1644-1911/2. Berkshire Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-61472-849-8.
  3. ^ McMahon, Keith (21 April 2016). Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-5502-9.
  4. ^ Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Lau, Clara; Stefanowska, A. D. (17 July 2015). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: v. 1: The Qing Period, 1644-1911. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-47588-0.
  5. ^ 順治八年 八月 十三日
  6. ^ 順治十年 九月 五日

References edit

Erdeni Bumba
Chinese royalty
Preceded by
Jerjer, Empress Xiaoduanwen
of the Borjigit clan
Empress consort of the Qing dynasty
27 September 1651 – 25 October 1653
Succeeded by
Preceded by Empress consort of China
27 September 1651 – 25 October 1653
Succeeded by