Hongyan

Hongyan (弘曕; 9 May 1733 – 27 April 1765), also known as Prince Guo, was an imperial prince during the Qing Dynasty of Manchu origin. He was the sixth son of the Yongzheng Emperor and belonged to the Aisin Gioro clan.

Born in 1733, Hongyan's mother was Consort Qian (謙妃) from the Liugiya clan, daughter of Liu Man, an official within the Qing imperial court. After the death of Yongzheng Emperor in 1735, Hongyan was approximately six years old. The responsibility for his education was undertaken by the Qianlong Emperor, Yongzheng's successor. Hongyan was known for his fondness for the Yuanming Yuan, which earned him the nickname "Yuanming Yuan Prince."

In February 1738, at the age of around five, Hongyan was granted the title of Prince Guo of the First Rank (果恭郡王). He maintained a close relationship with the Qianlong Emperor, who entrusted him with various significant responsibilities. In 1759, Hongyan served as a colonel (都統) in the Bordered White Banner, and in 1761, he was appointed as a commandant in the Han Bordered Blue Banner.

In 1759, Hongyan encountered financial difficulties; specifically, on May 13 of the 28th year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, he requested Gao Heng to sell ginseng to settle debts owed to the salt merchant Jiang Qixi. When the Qianlong Emperor discovered this, Hongyan was demoted from his rank and withdrew from official duties, being reduced to Prince of the Third Rank.

In February 1765, Hongyan became seriously ill. The Qianlong Emperor responded by granting him the title of Prince of the Second Rank. He died on 27 April 1765, at approximately 31 years old. Posthumously, he was honored as Prince Guo Gong of the Second Rank (果恭郡王) and was buried with the rites of a first-rank prince. Though the Qianlong Emperor did not personally attend the funeral, he arranged for one of Hongyan's sons to perform mourning rites.

Family details include a primary consort from the Fangiya clan, who bore two sons: Yongtu (果簡郡王 永瑹; 20 July 1752 – 10 September 1789), the first son, and Yongcan (镇国将军 永璨; 9 September 1753 – 2 January 1811), the second son. Hongyan also had a secondary consort from the Janggiya clan and a mistress from the Liugiya clan. He had a third son, Yongna (7 December 1762 – 1 December 1767), with his mistress.

Hongyan is portrayed in popular culture by actor Duan Shaonan in the television series "Empresses in the Palace" (2011).