Consort Qian

Consort Qian (Chinese: 謙妃; pinyin: Qiān Fēi), born in 1714, died on 17 June 1767, was a member of the Liu clan, a Han Chinese family later Manchurised as "Liugiya." Her personal name was Xiangyu (香玉), which translates to "Tuberose." She was a consort of the Yongzheng Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

Family Background:

Consort Qian's father was Liu Man, who held an official position in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (内管领, pinyin: neiguanling). The Liu family was Han Chinese, and her lineage was incorporated into the Manchu-ruled Qing imperial court.

Early Life:

She was born during the Kangxi Emperor's reign in 1714. Specific details about her early childhood prior to entering the palace are not recorded.

Entry into the Imperial Palace:

In 1729, at age fifteen, Lady Liu entered the Forbidden City. Her initial title was "Second Class Female Attendant Liu" (刘答应). The following year, she was promoted to "Noble Lady Liu" (刘贵人), a higher rank among imperial consorts.

Marriage and Children:

On 9 May 1733, Lady Liu gave birth to the sixth imperial prince, Hongyan, in the Yuanmingyuan (圆明园). Subsequently, her title was elevated to "Concubine Qian" (谦嫔), with "Qian" meaning "modest" or "amiable."

Promotion and Rank:

Following the ascension of the Qianlong Emperor in 1735, Lady Liu was promoted to "Consort Qian" (谦妃), which was a fifth-rank consort position. Her titles reflect her rising status within the imperial harem hierarchy.

Later Life:

By 1751, records indicate she had six palace maids: Dege (德格), Lianying (连英), Fuge (福格), Aishenzhu (爱申朱), Fengge, and Daniu. Her son Hongyan, Prince Guogong of the Second Rank (果恭郡王 弘曕), was born in 1733 and died in 1765.

Death and Burial:

Consort Qian died on 17 June 1767 at the age of fifty-three. Her coffin was temporarily stored in the Balitun Immortal Palace before being interred at the Tai Mausoleum within the Western Qing tombs.

Imperial Titles:

- During Kangxi's reign (1661–1722): Lady Liu (from 1714)

- During Yongzheng's reign (1722–1735):

- Second Class Female Attendant Liu (刘答应; from 1729), eighth rank consort

- Noble Lady Liu (刘贵人; from 1730), sixth rank consort

- Imperial Concubine Qian (谦嫔; from 1733), fifth rank consort

- During Qianlong's reign (1735–1796):

- Consort Qian (谦太妃; from 1735), fourth rank consort

Issue:

Her notable offspring included Hongyan, who held the title Prince Guogong of the Second Rank. He was born on 9 May 1733 and died on 27 April 1765.

Note:

The Qing imperial consort ranking system included various titles that reflected the hierarchy of ranks among the emperor's wives and consorts, with titles such as Noble Lady, Concubine, and Consort denoting different levels of status within the court.