Yimo

Yimo (奕謨; 22 May 1850 – 17 August 1905) was an imperial prince of the Qing dynasty, being the sixth son of Mianyu and a grandson of the Jiaqing Emperor. His family belonged to the lesser members of the Prince Hui of the First Rank peerage.

Born to Mianyu’s secondary princess consort, lady Yang, Yimo maintained a close relationship with Prince Chun of the First Rank, Yixuan. In 1856, he was granted the title of buru bafen zhenguo gong, a rank associated with being a son of a prince of the first rank, and was authorized to wear peacock feathers, which denoted a specific noble status. He was promoted in 1864 to feng'en zhenguo gong, sharing this elevation with his brother, Yixun.

Throughout his career, Yimo's noble titles evolved: in 1872, he was promoted to the rank of Prince of the Fourth Rank, and in 1889, he was accorded the status of Prince of the Third Rank. In 1875, Yimo was entrusted with military responsibilities, specifically commanding Bordered White Banner Mongolian forces. Two years later, in 1877, he was involved in ceremonial duties at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, during which he sent a eunuch named Lu Defu to perform sacrifices.

Yimo is also known for a controversial incident involving a painting. Empress Dowager Cixi disapproved of his relationship with his wife, which led Yimo to create a symbolic painting depicting himself fleeing from a leg symbolizing Cixi’s interference in familial affairs. The poem accompanying the painting described an old man trying to escape and building a tower to hide from a powerful leg, which was interpreted as a critique of Cixi’s influence. This artwork enraged Cixi, who ordered it to be burned.

Regarding succession, Yimo saw his nephew Zaiji, son of Prince Huijing of the Second Rank Yixiang, adopted into the peerage in 1886. In 1897, Cixi adopted Zaitao, the son of Prince Chun of the First Rank, into the peerage, and Yimo was notably pleased upon meeting Zaitao, considering him as a son figure. Later, in 1903, Zaitao was transferred to the Prince Zhong peerage following the deposition of Zaiying, Yihe’s adopted son.

Yimo died on 17 August 1905, alongside his wife, who was Lady Tatara, daughter of the second-rank military official Changshan. His family included an adoptive son, Zaitao, transferred to the Prince Zhong peerage; an adoptive son, Zaiji, who held the title of Second Class Grace Defender General until his death in 1894; and an adoptive grandson, Puji, a Grace Defender Duke, who was originally the biological son of Zaize's brother Zaiguang, and was adopted by Yimo following Zaiji’s death.

**Family:**

- **Primary Consort:** Lady Tatara (deceased 17 August 1905)

- **Children / Adopted Members:**

- Zaitao (adopted 1897, transferred to Prince Zhong peerage in 1903)

- Zaiji (1881–1894), Second Class Grace Defender General

- Puji (1889–1926), Grace Defender Duke, biological son of Zaize and Lady Zaize, adopted after Zaiji’s death