Yunsi

Yunsi (29 March 1680 – 5 October 1726), born as Yinsi, was a Manchu prince of the Qing dynasty in China. He was the eighth son of the Kangxi Emperor and Consort Liang, a Manchu woman of the Plain Yellow Banner. Yinsi was raised by Consort Hui, the mother of Yinzhi, the first son of Kangxi. His mother, Consort Liang, reportedly came from a disadvantaged background, as she belonged to the "sin jeku" slave caste prior to becoming a consort of the emperor.

Yinsi gained prominence within the imperial court despite the low social status of his maternal family. He was considered one of Kangxi’s favored sons and was popular with court officials. At age 18, Yinsi was granted the rank of doroi beile, which was the third highest rank of nobility at the time.

Regarding the imperial succession, the Kangxi Emperor initially designated his second son, Yinreng, as crown prince. However, Yinreng’s conduct, characterized by licentiousness and political ambition, led to his removal from the position in 1708. During a hunting trip to Rehe, Kangxi grew suspicious that Yinreng conspired to usurp him and consequently placed Yinreng under house arrest. Four days later, Kangxi appointed Yinsi to oversee the imperial household in an effort to remove Yinreng’s influence. Yinsi utilized this position to bolster his support among court officials and became a contender for the throne. His supporters included several princes and high-ranking officials, forming a political faction known as the Baye Dang or "the Eighth Lord Party."

Yinsi's support network included the Ninth Prince Yintang, Tenth Prince Yin’e, and the 14th Prince Yinti. Following Yinreng's deposition, Yinsi was seen as a potential successor, supported by court officials through a formal petition. However, Kangxi’s perception of Yinsi’s ambitions as a threat prompted him to strip Yinsi of his titles and disfavor.

The succession struggles continued, with Kangxi reinstating Yinreng as crown prince in 1709, only to strip him again in 1711. Later, the emperor sought to determine a suitable successor through court ballots, in which Yinsi received significant support. Nonetheless, Kangxi dismissed the results and further suppressed Yinsi’s ambitions, favoring the 14th Prince Yinti. During this period, Yinsi’s influence waned within the court.

After Kangxi’s death in 1722, Yinzhen ascended the throne as the Yongzheng Emperor. To avoid sharing the same character in his name with the new emperor, Yinsi changed his name to Yunsi. In the early Yongzheng reign, Yunsi was enfeoffed as "Prince Lian of the First Rank" and served as a top advisor and the head of the Lifan Yuan, responsible for affairs concerning Outer Mongolia and other frontier territories. Despite these honors, Yunsi faced criticism from Yongzheng, who often targeted Yunsi’s allies and accused him of misconduct.

In 1725, Yunsi was exiled from the imperial clan following allegations, and his titles were revoked. His wife was exiled to the interior, and he was compelled to adopt the name "Akina." Yunsi died in captivity in 1726, four years after the Yongzheng Emperor's ascension. His son, Hongwang, was later rehabilitated by the Qianlong Emperor, who restored Yunsi’s name to Yunsi in 1778. However, he was not reinstated to his former titles.

His residence was located near Taijichang Road southeast of the Forbidden City in Beijing, with subsequent structural modifications after his expulsion.

Yunsi’s family included a primary consort from the Gorolo clan and mistresses from the Zhang and Mao clans. His children included Hongwang (who died in 1762) and a daughter who married Sun Wufu.

Yunsi has been portrayed in various works of fiction and popular culture, including television dramas and films dating from the late 20th century to the 21st century.