Empress Xiaoke

Empress Xiaoke (孝恪皇后), born in 1510 and deceased in 1554, was a member of the Du clan during the Ming dynasty. She was a consort of the Jiajing Emperor and mother to Zhu Zaiji, who later became the Longqing Emperor.

In 1530, during the ninth year of Jiajing Emperor's reign, Lady Du was selected to become a concubine of the emperor. She was promoted to the position of Concubine Kang in the fifteenth year of Jiajing's reign. In the sixteenth year, which corresponds to 1537, she gave birth to Zhu Zaiji, her third son. Zhu Zaiji was not favored initially within the imperial court.

Lady Du passed away in the first month of the 33rd year of Jiajing's reign, which was 1554, at the age of 40. She was posthumously bestowed the title Consort Rongshukang (荣淑康妃). Her remains were interred in Yuquan Mountain. Following her death, the ceremonial officer requested Zhu Zaiji, her son, to observe a three-year mourning period; however, the Jiajing Emperor did not permit this request.

After Zhu Zaiji ascended the throne as emperor, he posthumously honored his mother with the title "Empress Xiaoke" and had her reburied in the Yongling tombs.

Throughout her life, she held several titles, corresponding with different reigns. During the reign of the Zhengde Emperor (1505–1521), she was known simply as Lady Du (杜氏). Upon becoming a concubine during Jiajing's reign, she was designated as Concubine Kang (康嫔) in March 1531, and later promoted to Consort Kang (康妃) in 1536. In 1554, she received the posthumous title of Consort Rongshukang (荣淑康妃). When her son became emperor, she was accorded the honorary title Empress Xiaoke Chun Ciyi Gongshun Zantian Kaisheng (孝恪淵純慈懿恭順贊天開聖皇后) in 1567.

Her only recorded issue was Zhu Zaiji, born on March 4, 1537, who ruled as the Longqing Emperor from 1567 until 1572.