Consort Ding

Diangui (1661 – May 24, 1757), of the Manchu Wanliuha clan, also known as Waliuha; the Han surname is suspected to be Xie; personal name: NiuNiu. Originally a person under the first banner’s Second Bannerman, First Department, First Captain, later serving under the Fifth Banner Manchu, Seventeenth Battalion, Second Captain. She was the daughter of Langzhong, Sanling, and also Zuo Ling (Assistant Captain) Tuo’er Bi, and was a consort of Emperor Kangxi.

Key Biographical Points

- Birth and Clan Affiliation: Born on the 3rd day of the first lunar month in the 18th year of Shunzhi (1661), personal name NiuNiu, Manchu name nionio, meaning “eyeball.” Member of the Wanliuha clan, belonging to the Plain Yellow Banner. Came from a Banner household; father was Tuo’er Bi, who served as Langzhong, Sanling, and Zuo Ling.

- Entry into the Palace and Early Records: In December of the 14th year of Kangxi (1675), selected by the Imperial Household Department as a Show Girl (Xiu Nu) to enter the palace; on the same day, she was among a group of Xiu Nu chosen. She was allowed to bring one lady-in-waiting from her family. Official files record her as “NiuNiu, daughter of Inner Department Head Tuo’er Bi, born in the Ox year (i.e., 1661), aged fifteen.”

- Offspring and Court Status: On the hour of Yin (around 11 pm) on December 24, 24th year of Kangxi (1685), she gave birth to the twelfth prince, Prince Luyi, Yuntang (允瑝); he later became a significant heir of a princely estate.

- Rank and Official Position: On December 28, in the 57th year of Kangxi (1718), she was officially conferred as Ding Pin (a noble consort rank). In late Kangxi and early Yongzheng reign, detailed records of her specific position and status within the harem are not publicly available.

- Promotion and Reassignment during the Yongzheng Era: From the first month of Yongzheng’s first year (1723), after Kangxi’s death, the emperor permitted elder mothers to return home to live with their sons. Ding Pin moved into the Prince Yuntang’s residence, continuing court ritual protocol: she was required to pay respects to Emperor Yongzheng and to other consorts. On June 10 of the Yongzheng Year 2 (1724), she was accompanied by other former empresses and consorts in a ceremonial ascent of titles.

- Later Life Titles and Activities: Records indicate she was referred to as Ding Taifei (Great Consort Ding) during the Yongzheng years, residing in Prince Yuntang’s estate. She continued to enjoy certain court rituals into the Qianlong period. In December of the 9th year of Qianlong (1744), on her 60th birthday, Emperor Qianlong personally sent congratulatory envoys and extended felicitations to her. In the 15th year of Qianlong (around 1740s), she was involved in the affairs of a nephew’s event and mourning activities.

- Death and Burial: The Wanliuha clan member died at Prince Yuntang’s estate at age ninety-six, making her the longest-lived woman in the late Qing court. In mid-April, her gold coffin was temporarily laid to rest at Cao 8li Tun; Emperor Qianlong personally came to pay respects. In late April, the coffin was re-interred; her death was confirmed on the seventh day of the tenth lunar month, and her remains were moved to the Imperial Garden (Yuanqin). She was buried on the twenty-fifth day of the tenth lunar month at Jingling Princess’s Garden, alongside Lady Lekui.

Family Background and Ancestry

Dingfei’s family is native to Qinghe. She was originally recruited into the Qing Dynasty from her family’s household and was part of a Banner household. In the first year of Yongzheng, because she was an outsider of Dingfei’s family, a special decree elevated her from a Banner household to be part of a semi-official Banner unit, managed by her clan relative Xie Ni. Her banner affiliation was Manchu Plain Yellow Banner, Fifth Battalion, Seventeenth Zuo Ling. The same year, the family was united with the family of Shang Jitu, who served as Langzhong of the Plain Red Banner, and became a unified Zuo Ling command, with Xie Ni overseeing it, and promoted to Gongzhong Zuo Ling (a higher rank). Ancestors Nika Da, grandfather Tuohegqi, and her father Tuo’er Bi are recorded in her family genealogy.

Note: The above account is based solely on available data and factual descriptions; no subjective evaluations of characters or events are provided.