Noble Lady Shun

Noble Lady Shun (3 January 1748 – 1790) was a consort of the Qianlong Emperor during the Qing dynasty. She belonged to the Manchu Niohuru clan, a prominent family with a history of official service and imperial connections.

Family Background:

Noble Lady Shun was born into the Niohuru clan, a Manchu noble family. Her father was Aibida, who held the position of governor (總督). Her paternal lineage included notable ancestors, such as Ebilun, a distinguished official in the early Qing administration. Her great-aunt held the position of Empress Xiaozhaoren, serving as the second empress of the Kangxi Emperor. The family's lineage was characterized by a tradition of service in imperial governance and elevated social standing.

Life at the Qing Court:

She was born on 3 January 1748, during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. In 1766, she entered the Forbidden City, the imperial palace, where she was granted the rank of "Noble Lady Chang" (常貴人), positioning her as a sixth-ranking consort within the imperial harem.

Initial Prospects:

Following the death of the previous empress in 1766, Empress Dowager Chongqing recommended Lady Niohuru as a potential candidate for the imperial title of empress. However, the Qianlong Emperor declined this suggestion, citing that he would not promote anyone to the position of empress again. Consequently, he delegated imperial harem affairs primarily to Imperial Noble Consort Ling, a Han woman who, despite her status, could not become empress.

Career Progression:

In 1768, Lady Niohuru was elevated to "Imperial Concubine Shun" (順嬪). During a southern tour in 1771, the emperor took only six consorts, among them Lady Niohuru. In 1776, she experienced a pregnancy that resulted in a miscarriage. That same year, the emperor promoted her to "Consort Shun" (順妃), possibly to console her. The promotion ceremony was scheduled for 1777 but was delayed due to the death of the empress dowager.

In 1780, Consort Shun led the Silkworm Worship Ceremony, an event traditionally overseen by the empress. Records indicate she maintained a favorable relationship with the emperor; he is documented to have personally hunted ducks and given them to her. She was one of twelve consorts included in Giuseppe Castiglione's painting "Portraits of the Qianlong Emperor and His Twelve Consorts."

Later Life and Demotion:

In 1788, Lady Niohuru was demoted in rank twice. First, to "Imperial Concubine Shun" (順嬪), and shortly thereafter to "Noble Lady Shun" (順貴人). The reasons for these demotions are not documented. She passed away in 1790 at the age of approximately 42 and was interred in the Yuling Mausoleum at the Eastern Qing Tombs.

Titles:

Throughout her life, her titles included:

- Noble Lady Chang (1766) — sixth rank

- Imperial Concubine Shun (1768) — fifth rank

- Consort Shun (1776) — fourth rank

- Imperial Concubine Shun (1788) — fifth rank

- Noble Lady Shun (1788) — sixth rank

In Popular Culture:

She was portrayed by actress Jenny Zhang in the 2018 Chinese television series "Story of Yanxi Palace."

Notes and References:

Her participation in court life, her rank changes, and her familial background have been documented through Qing imperial records and historical studies, contributing to the understanding of the Qing imperial harem system and noble family lineages.