Consort Shuhui

Concubine Shuhui, Borjigit clan, was born in the late 1640s. Her ancestral home was in the left wing of Korqin Banner in Zhelimu League. She was the daughter of Prince Chuerji, and granddaughter of Chahan, the second son of the Prince of Loyalty, and sister to Empress Xiaohuizhang. She was a consort of Emperor Shunzhi and shared the same clan background as Empress Xiaohuizhang, with the surname Borjigit.

Key points of her biography are as follows: In May of the 11th year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign (1654), Emperor Shunzhi took the daughter of the Korqin Kingdom's Guardian Duke Chuerji as a consort. Attending officials included Babu Tai, Oboi, Wohu, Shaji Dala, among others. She accompanied the imperial sacrificial rites. The gifts bestowed upon her included armor and saddled horses, silk and brocade, and so on, and banquets were held with animal sacrifices. Historical records differ on whether she was officially enfeoffed as a consort at that time, but it is generally believed she was granted the rank of Furen (Consort) rather than a formal imperial consort.

During the Shunzhi era, there were few women of the consort rank within the palace. The Borjigit was mostly maintained at the Furen level, rather than as a formal consort.

In the first year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign (1662), the Borjigit was appointed as one of the five Fupin (second-ranked consorts) in the Palace of Pure Brightness (Qingqing Palace). On the 28th day of the first lunar month, her appointment was presented to and approved by Empress Dowager Zhaosheng, confirming her rank as equivalent to the other five Fupin. In the 8th year of Kangxi, Borjigit and other widows of Shunzhi moved to Changchun Palace. On December 4th of the 12th year of Kangxi (1673), Emperor Kangxi conferred titles upon Emperor's late concubines: Imperial Concubine Borjigit was promoted to Imperial Concubine Gongjing, and others to Imperial Concubine Shuhui and Imperial Concubine Duanshun; Dorgon’s wife was made Imperial Concubine Ningmi. Among these, the first three had been previously at the Furen level, while Dorgon's wife was a lesser-ranked concubine, a "super-enfeoffment" situation. In the first month of the 15th year of Kangxi (1676), she was officially promoted to the rank of Shuhui Fei.

In the 28th year of Kangxi, the Shuhui Fei and other widows of Shunzhi moved to Ning Shou Palace. According to a map of Beijing from the Qianlong period, she and others mostly resided in Xian'an Palace and the small northern yard. On October 30th of the 52nd year of Kangxi (1713), Shuhui Fei passed away at the age of over seventy. In the same year, in November, Emperor Kangxi ceased court duties for three days to pay respects at her altar. Officials from the Ministries of Justice, Works, and the Imperial Household Department were demoted or disciplined due to mishandling funeral rites, offerings, and arrangements.

Regarding memorial poetry, Kangxi's 17th son and Wuyi Prince Yunli composed two elegies mourning Shuhui Fei, describing scenes of remembrance and rituals, reflecting their mourning and respect. For further details, see the Draft History of Qing, Volume 214.