Empress Xiaozhuangwen
Qing Dynasty empress dowager From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Qing Dynasty empress dowager From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bumbutai (Mongolian: Бумбутай; Manchu: ᠪᡠᠮᠪᡠᡨᠠᡳ; Chinese: 布木布泰; 28 March 1613 – 27 January 1688), of the Khorchin Mongol Borjigit clan, was the consort of Hong Taiji. She was 21 years his junior. She was honoured as Empress Dowager Zhaosheng during the reign of her son, Fulin, the Shunzhi Emperor, and as Grand Empress Dowager Zhaosheng during the reign of her grandson, Xuanye, the Kangxi Emperor.
| Empress Xiaozhuangwen | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Empress Dowager Zhaosheng | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Empress dowager of the Qing dynasty | |||||||||
| Tenure | 21 September 1643 – 5 February 1661 | ||||||||
| Successor | Empress Dowager Cihe and Empress Xiaohuizhang | ||||||||
| Grand empress dowager of the Qing dynasty | |||||||||
| Tenure | 5 February 1661 – 27 January 1688 | ||||||||
| Born | Borjigit Bumbutai (博爾濟吉特·布木布泰) 28 March 1613 (萬曆四十一年 閏二月 八日) | ||||||||
| Died | 27 January 1688 (aged 74) (康熙二十六年 十二月 二十五日) Cining Palace, Forbidden City | ||||||||
| Burial | Western Zhao Mausoleum, near Eastern Qing Tombs | ||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||
| Issue | Princess Yongmu of the First Rank Princess Shuhui of the First Rank Princess Shuzhe of the First Rank Shunzhi Emperor | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Borjigit (博爾濟吉特) | ||||||||
| Father | Zhaisang | ||||||||
| Mother | Boli | ||||||||
| Empress Xiaozhuangwen | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 孝莊文皇后 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 孝庄文皇后 | ||||||
| |||||||
As empress dowager and grand empress dowager, she had significant influence in the Qing imperial court and was highly respected for her political wisdom and insight. After her death, she was posthumously honoured with the title Empress Xiaozhuangwen, although she never held the rank of empress consort during her lifetime.
Bumbutai was born on the eighth day of the intercalary second lunar month in the 41st year of the reign of the Wanli Emperor, which translates to 28 March 1613 in the Gregorian calendar.
In March or April 1625, Bumbutai married Hong Taiji and became one of his multiple wives. Prior to this, the Khorchin Mongols had sent Hong Taiji another woman, Jerjer, the future Empress Xiaoduanwen, on 28 May 1614, to strengthen the relationship between the Qing dynasty and the Khorchin. Bumbutai's elder sister, Harjol, the future primary consort Minhui, would marry Hong Taiji on 6 December 1634.
Bumbutai gave birth on 31 January 1629 to Hong Taiji's fourth daughter, Princess Yongmu of the First Rank, on 2 March 1632 to his fifth daughter, Princess Shuhui of the First Rank, and on 16 December 1633 to his seventh daughter, Princess Shuzhe of the First Rank.
When Hong Taiji conferred titles on his five primary spouses in August 1636, Bumbutai was named "Consort Zhuang" of Yongfu Palace (永福宮).
On 15 March 1638, Consort Zhuang gave birth to Hong Taiji's ninth son, Fulin.
Hong Taiji died on 21 September 1643 and was succeeded by Fulin, who was enthroned as the Shunzhi Emperor. Bumbutai, as the mother of the reigning emperor, was honoured with the title "Holy Mother, Empress Dowager" with honorary name "Zhaosheng". Her aunt Jerjer, as the empress consort of the previous emperor, was similarly honored as "Mother Empress, Empress Dowager". Hong Taiji's younger half-brother, Dorgon, was appointed as prince regent to rule on behalf of the Shunzhi Emperor until the emperor reached adulthood. After Dorgon died on 31 December 1650, the Shunzhi Emperor posthumously stripped him of his princely title and had his dead body exhumed and mutilated. It is believed – though not supported by historical evidence – that Empress Dowager Zhaosheng secretly married Dorgon after Hong Taiji's death, since levirate marriage was common among Mongols.
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng kept a low profile during the reign of her son and had little interference in politics. The Shunzhi Emperor died on 5 February 1661 and was succeeded by his third son Xuanye, who was enthroned as the Kangxi Emperor. As the grandmother of the reigning emperor, she was honored as "Grand Empress Dowager Zhaosheng". Since the emperor was underage at the time, the Four Regents of the Kangxi Emperor, appointed by the Shunzhi Emperor, ruled on his behalf until he reached adulthood. During this time, Grand Empress Dowager Zhaosheng advised her grandson to learn from the regents and took charge of his upbringing after the emperor's mother died.
When the Kangxi Emperor grew up and began his personal rule in 1667, he felt threatened by the strong influence of Oboi, one of the four regents. Two years later, Grand Empress Dowager Zhaosheng assisted her grandson in his plans to get rid of Oboi. Oboi was lured into a trap (forced to sit on a broken chair), placed under arrest, and removed from power. Throughout her life, Bumbutai disliked living in the Forbidden City, despite the luxurious conditions it offered. She also refused to hold any birthday celebrations as she felt that it would be costly.
When Grand Empress Dowager Zhaosheng fell sick in the autumn of 1687, the Kangxi Emperor personally took care of his grandmother.[1] She died on 27 January 1688.
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