Ladies Of Qingxia

Qingxia Women: Their birth and death dates are unknown. They are collectively referred to as women residing in the Qingxia Residence during the late Ming Dynasty, toward the end of Emperor Chongzhen's reign. Qingxia Residence served as a study chamber following the Qianqing Palace. In the late Chongzhen period, when national affairs were in difficulty, Emperor Chongzhen did not select new consorts besides the Empress and his existing concubines. Women chosen as court ladies to reside in Qingxia Residence were called "women," with the purpose of preventing them from bearing children; if necessary, abortion medicines were used. On March 18, 1644 (the 17th year of Chongzhen), Beijing fell to the rebel forces of Li Zicheng. Emperor Chongzhen forced Empress Zhou to commit suicide, personally murdered several concubines and princesses, then hanged himself on Coal Hill. The next day, Li Zicheng entered the palace; the Qingxia women fled to the quarters of the Western maids in Qianqing Palace and perished in a self-immolation.