Jiaqing Emperor

Jiaqing Emperor
7th Qing Emperor of China
Reign	9 February 1796 – 2 September 1820
Predecessor	Qianlong Emperor
Successor	Daoguang Emperor
Regent	Qianlong Emperor (1796–1799)
Born	13 November 1760 Old Summer Palace, Beijing
Died	2 September 1820 (aged 59) Chengde Summer Palace, Hebei
Burial	Western Qing Tombs
Empress	Empress Xiaoshurui Empress Xiaoherui
Issue	Prince Mu Heshuo Princess Zhuangjing Mianning, Prince Zhi Gulun Princess Zhuangjing Heshuo Princess Hui'an Miankai, Prince Dun Mianxin, Prince Rui Mianyu, Prince Hui Gulun Princess Huimin five other unnamed daughters
Full name Chinese: Aixin-Jueluo Yongyan愛新覺羅永琰, later Yongyan 顒琰 Manchu: Aisin-Gioro Yongyan ᠠᠪᡴᠠᡳ ᠶᠣᠩ ᠶᠠᠨ Posthumous name Emperor Shòutiān Xìngyùn Fūhuà Suīyóu Chóngwén Jīngwǔ Guāngyù Xiàogōng Qínjiǎn Duānmǐn Yīngzhé Ruì 受天興運敷化綏猷崇文經武光裕孝恭勤儉端敏英哲睿皇帝 Temple name Qīng Rénzōng 清仁宗
House	Aisin Gioro
Father	Qianlong Emperor
Mother	Empress Xiaoyichun

The Jiaqing Emperor (Chinese: 嘉慶帝; pinyin: Jiāqìng Dì; Wade–Giles: Chia¹-ch'ing⁴ Ti⁴; Mongolian: Sayishiyaltu Yirugertu Khaan, 13 November 1760 – 2 September 1820), personal name Aisin Gioro Yongyan, was the seventh emperor of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and the fifth Qing emperor to rule over China from 1796 to 1820. He was the 15th son of the Qianlong Emperor. During his reign, he prosecuted Heshen, the corrupt favourite of his father, and attempted to restore order within the Qing Empire and curb the smuggling of opium into China.

Early years

Yongyan was born in the Old Summer Palace, 8 km (5 mi) northwest of the walls of Beijing. His personal name, "Yongyan" (永琰), was later changed to "Yongyan" (顒琰) when he became the emperor. The Chinese character for yong in his name was changed from the more common 永 to the less common 顒. This novelty was introduced by the Qianlong Emperor, who believed that it was not proper to have a commonly used Chinese character in an emperor's personal name due to the longstanding practice of naming taboo in the imperial family.

Yongyan was the 15th son of the Qianlong Emperor. His mother was Noble Consort Ling, the daughter of Wei Qingtai (魏清泰), a Han Chinese official whose family had been long integrated into the Manchu Eight Banners as part of a Han Banner.

The Qianlong Emperor originally had two other sons in mind for succeeding him, but both of them died early from diseases, hence in December 1773 he secretly chose Yongyan as his successor. In 1789, the Qianlong Emperor instated Yongyan as "Prince Jia of the First Rank" (嘉親王; or simply "Prince Jia").

Accession to the throne

Portrait of the Jiaqing Emperor in his study

In October 1795, the 60th year of his reign, the Qianlong Emperor announced his intention to abdicate in favour of Prince Jia. He made this decision because he felt that it was disrespectful for him to rule longer than his grandfather, the Kangxi Emperor, who was on the throne for 60 years. Prince Jia ascended the throne and adopted the era name "Jiaqing" (Chinese: 嘉慶; Manchu: ᠰᠠᡳᠴᡠᠩᡤᠠ ᡶᡝᠩᡧᡝᠨ saicungga fengšen) in February 1796, hence he is historically known as the Jiaqing Emperor. For the next three years however, the Jiaqing Emperor was emperor in name only because decisions were still made by his father, who became a Taishang Huang (emperor emeritus) after his abdication.

After the death of the Qianlong Emperor in the beginning of February 1799, the Jiaqing Emperor took control of the government and prosecuted Heshen, a favourite official of his father. Heshen was charged with corruption and abuse of power, stripped of his titles, had his property confiscated, and ordered to commit suicide. Heshen's daughter-in-law, Princess Hexiao, a sister of the Jiaqing Emperor, was spared from punishment and given a few properties from Heshen's estates.

At the time, the Qing Empire faced internal disorder, most importantly the large-scale White Lotus (1796–1804) and Miao (1795–1806) rebellions, as well as an empty imperial treasury. The Jiaqing Emperor engaged in the pacification of the empire and the quelling of rebellions. He endeavored to bring China back to its 18th-century prosperity and power. However, due in part to large outflows of silver from the country as payment for the opium smuggled into China from British India, the economy declined.

Court intrigues and incidents

Members of the Qing imperial family tried to assassinate him twice – in 1803 and in 1813. The princes involved in the attempts on his life were executed. Other members of the imperial family, numbering in the hundreds, were sent into exile.^[1][2][3]

Renaming Vietnam

The Jiaqing Emperor refused the Vietnamese ruler Gia Long's request to change his country's name to Nam Việt. He changed the name instead to Việt Nam.^[4] Gia Long's Đại Nam thực lục contains the diplomatic correspondence over the naming.^[5]

Opposition to Christianity

The Great Qing Code includes one statute titled "Prohibitions Concerning Sorcerers and Sorceresses" (禁止師巫邪術). In 1811, a clause was added to it with reference to Christianity. It was modified in 1815 and 1817, settled in its final form in 1839 under the Daoguang Emperor, and abrogated in 1870 under the Tongzhi Emperor. It sentenced Europeans to death for spreading Catholicism among Han Chinese and Manchus. Christians who would not repent their conversion were sent to Muslim cities in Xinjiang, to be given as slaves to Muslim leaders and beys.^[6]

Chinese nobility

The Jiaqing Emperor granted the title Wujing Boshi (五經博士; Wǔjīng Bóshì) to the descendants of Han Yu.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Family

Spouses

Title / Posthumous title	Name	Born	Died	Father	Notes
Empress Xiaoshurui 孝淑睿皇后	Lady Hitara 喜塔臘氏	2 October 1760	5 March 1797	Horchingo (和爾經額) of the Hitara clan	Married Yongyan in 1774 and became his primary consort; Became Empress in 1796
Empress Xiaoherui 孝和睿皇后	Lady Niohuru 鈕祜祿氏	1776	1850	Gong'ala (恭阿拉) of the Niohuru clan	Started out as a secondary consort of Yongyan; Became a Noble Consort after the Jiaqing Emperor's coronation; Promoted to Imperial Noble Consort after the death of Empress Xiaoshurui; Promoted to Empress in 1801; Became Empress Dowager Gongci (恭慈皇太后) in 1820
Imperial Noble Consort Heyu 和裕皇貴妃	Lady Liugiya 劉佳氏	9 January 1761	27 April 1834	Liu Fuming (劉福明)	Started out as a secondary consort of Yongyan; Became Consort Xian (諴妃) in 1796; Promoted to Noble Consort Xian (諴貴妃) in 1808; Promoted to Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xianxi (皇考諴禧皇貴妃) in 1820 by the Daoguang Emperor
Imperial Noble Consort Gongshun 恭順皇貴妃	Lady Niohuru 鈕祜祿氏	1787	23 April 1860	Shanqing (善慶) of the Niohuru clan	Started out as Noble Lady Ru (如貴人); Promoted to Imperial Concubine Ru (如嬪) in 1805; Promoted to Consort Ru (如妃) in 1810; Promoted to Dowager Noble Consort Ru (皇考如貴妃) in 1820 by the Daoguang Emperor; Promoted to Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Ru (皇考如皇貴妃) in 1846 by the Daoguang Emperor; Promoted to Grand Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Ru (皇祖如皇貴太妃) in 1850 by the Xianfeng Emperor
Consort Shu 恕妃	Lady Wanyan 完顏氏	unknown	unknown	Hafeng'a (哈豐阿) of the Wanyan clan	Started out as a secondary consort of Yongyan; Died before Yongyan became Emperor
Consort Hua 華妃	Lady Hougiya 侯佳氏	unknown	1804	Hou Taozhu (侯討住)	Started out as a concubine of Yongyan; Became Imperial Concubine Ying (瑩嬪) in 1796; Promoted to Consort Hua in 1801
Consort Zhuang 莊妃	Lady Wanggiya 王佳氏	unknown	1811	Yilibu (伊里布) of the Wanggiya clan	Started out as Noble Lady Chun (春貴人); Promoted to Imperial Concubine Ji (吉嬪) in 1801; Promoted to Consort Zhuang in 1808
Consort Xin 信妃	Lady Liugiya 劉佳氏	unknown	1822	Liu Benzhi (劉本志)	Started out as Noble Lady Xin (信貴人); Promoted to Imperial Concubine Xin (信嬪) in 1808; Promoted to Dowager Consort Xin (皇考信妃) in 1820 by the Daoguang Emperor
Imperial Concubine Xun 遜嬪	Lady Shengiya 沈佳氏	unknown	unknown	Shen Yonghe (沈永和)	Started out as a concubine of Yongyan; Died before Yongyan became Emperor
Imperial Concubine Jian 簡嬪	Lady Guangiya 關佳氏	unknown	1780	Guan Decheng (關德成)	Started out as a concubine of Yongyan; Died before Yongyan became Emperor
Imperial Concubine Chun 淳嬪	Lady Donggiya 董佳氏	unknown	1819	Shitai (時泰)	Started out as Noble Lady Chun (淳貴人); Promoted to Imperial Concubine Chun in 1801
Imperial Concubine Rong 榮嬪	Lady Lianggiya 梁氏	unknown	1826	Liang Guangbao (梁光保)	Started out as Noble Lady Rong (榮貴人); Promoted to Dowager Imperial Concubine Rong (皇考榮嬪) in 1820 by the Daoguang Emperor
Imperial Concubine En 恩嬪	Lady Uya 烏雅氏	unknown	unknown	Wanming (萬明) of the Uya clan	Started out as Noble Lady En (恩貴人); Promoted to Dowager Imperial Concubine En (皇考恩太嬪) in 1820 by the Daoguang Emperor
Imperial Concubine An 安嬪	Lady Suwannigūwalgiya 蘇完尼瓜爾佳氏	1785	1837	unknown	From the Gūwalgiya clan; Started out as Noble Lady An (安貴人); Promoted to Dowager Imperial Concubine An (皇考安太嬪) in 1820 by the Daoguang Emperor
Noble Lady Yun 芸貴人	unknown	unknown	1805	unknown	Became Noble Lady Yun in 1804
Noble Lady Yu 玉貴人	unknown	unknown	1814	unknown
First Class Female Attendant Hui 慧常在	unknown	unknown	unknown	unknown

Sons

#	Title / Posthumous title	Name	Born	Died	Mother	Notes
1	Prince Mu of the Second Rank 穆郡王	unnamed	4 February 1779	10 April 1780	Imperial Noble Consort Heyu	Died in infancy; Posthumously honoured as "Prince Mu of the Second Rank" in 1820 by the Daoguang Emperor
2	Daoguang Emperor 道光帝	Mianning 綿寧	16 September 1782	26 February 1850	Empress Xiaoshurui	Made a qinwang under the title "Prince Zhi of the First Rank" (智親王) in 1813; Enthroned on 3 October 1820; Changed his personal name to "Minning" (旻寧) after he became Emperor
3	Prince Dunke of the First Rank 惇恪親王	Miankai 綿愷	6 August 1795	18 January 1838	Empress Xiaoherui	Made a junwang in 1819; Promoted to qinwang in 1820 under the title Prince Dun of the First Rank; Demoted to junwang in 1827; Restored as qinwang in 1828; Demoted to junwang again in 1838 but restored as qinwang within the same year
4	Prince Ruihuai of the First Rank 瑞懷親王	Mianxin 綿忻	1805	1828	Empress Xiaoherui	Made a qinwang in 1819 under the title Prince Rui of the First Rank (瑞親王)
5	Prince Huiduan of the First Rank 惠端親王	Mianyu 綿愉	8 March 1814	9 January 1865	Imperial Noble Consort Gongshun	Made a qinwang under the title Prince Hui of the First Rank in 1814

Daughters

#	Title / Posthumous title	Born	Died	Mother	Spouse	Notes
1	unnamed	1780	1783	Imperial Concubine Jian		Died young
2	unnamed	1780	1783	Empress Xiaoshurui		Died young
3	Heshuo Princess Zhuangjing 莊敬和碩公主	1781	1811	Imperial Noble Consort Heyu	Suotenamuduobuji (索特納木多布濟) of the Borjigit clan, married in 1801
4	Gulun Princess Zhuangjing 莊靜固倫公主	1784	1811	Empress Xiaoshurui	Manibadala (瑪尼巴達喇) of the Borjigit clan, married in 1802
5	Heshuo Princess Hui'an 慧安和碩公主	1786	1795	Imperial Concubine Xun		Died young
6	unnamed	1789	1790	Consort Hua		Died young
7	unnamed	1793	1795	Empress Xiaoherui		Died young
8	unnamed	1805	1805	Imperial Noble Consort Gongshun		Died in infancy
9	Gulun Princess Huimin 慧愍固倫公主	1811	1815	Imperial Noble Consort Gongshun		Posthumously honoured as a Gulun Princess in 1820

Death and burial

On 2 September 1820, the Jiaqing Emperor died at the Rehe (Jehol) Traveling Palace (熱河行宫), 230 km (140 mi) northeast of Beijing, where the imperial court was in summer quarters. The Draft History of Qing did not record a cause of death. Some have alleged that he died after being struck by lightning, but others prefer the theory that he died of a stroke as the emperor was quite obese. He was succeeded by his second son, Mianning, who became known as the Daoguang Emperor.

Renzong was interred amidst the Western Qing Tombs, 120 km (75 mi) southwest of Beijing, in the Changling (昌陵; lit. "splendid tomb") mausoleum complex.

Ancestry

Ancestors of the Jiaqing Emperor

Shunzhi Emperor               Kangxi Emperor                       Empress Xiaokangzhang               Yongzheng Emperor                             Uya Weiwu               Empress Xiaogongren                       Qianlong Emperor                                   Niuhuru Eidu               Niuhuru Lingzhu                       Empress Xiaoshengxian                             Yongyan, Jiaqing Emperor                                         Wei Qingtai                             Weigiya, Empress Yi Chun

References

•  This article incorporates text from China in the light of history, by Ernst Faber, a publication from 1897 now in the public domain in the United States.
•  This article incorporates text from China in the light of history, by Ernst Faber, a publication from 1897 now in the public domain in the United States.
•  This article incorporates text from The Chinese recorder, Volume 27, a publication from 1896 now in the public domain in the United States.
•  This article incorporates text from Life among the Chinese: with characteristic sketches and incidents of missionary operations and prospects in China, by Robert Samuel Maclay, a publication from 1861 now in the public domain in the United States.

1. Ernst Faber (1897). China in the light of history. American Presbyterian mission press. p. 17. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
2. The Chinese recorder, Volume 27. American Presbyterian Mission Press. 1896. p. 242. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
3. Ernst Faber (1897). China in the light of history. American Presbyterian mission press. p. 17. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
4. Woodside 1971, p. 120.
5. Jeff Kyong-McClain; Yongtao Du (2013). Chinese History in Geographical Perspective. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 67–. ISBN 978-0-7391-7230-8.
6. Robert Samuel Maclay (1861). Life among the Chinese: with characteristic sketches and incidents of missionary operations and prospects in China. Carlton & Porter. p. 336. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
7. Qin ding da Qing hui dian (Jiaqing chao). 1818. p. 1084.
8. 王士禎 [Wang Shizhen] (3 September 2014). 池北偶談 [Chi Bei Ou Tan]. 朔雪寒 [Shuo Xue Han]. GGKEY:ESB6TEXXDCT.
9. 徐錫麟 [Xu, Xilin]; 錢泳 [Qian, Yong] (10 September 2014). 熙朝新語 [Xi Chao Xin Yu]. 朔雪寒 [Shuo Xue Han]. GGKEY:J62ZFNAA1NF.
10. Brunnert, H. S.; Hagelstrom, V. V. (15 April 2013). Present Day Political Organization of China. Routledge. pp. 493–94. ISBN 978-1-135-79795-9.