Yongji

Yongqi (Qí) (June 7, 1752 – March 17, 1776), of the Aisin Gioro clan, was the twelfth son of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.

Key points of his life: Born on April 25, 1752, during the Hour of Yin (3–5 a.m.), his mother was the Consort Nara, who was the Empress Dowager's daughter. During Qianlong's 17th year (1762), while on a southern tour, Yongqi’s mother was abruptly disgraced for cutting her hair in anger at Qianlong; she was stripped of her crown consort title and placed under house arrest, and Yongqi’s younger brother, aged nearly thirteen, also lost favor. On July 14 of Qianlong’s 31st year (1766), Consort Nara passed away when Yongqi was 14. In April of his 35th year (1770), Yongqi was married, with his primary spouse being of the Borjigin clan. In Qianlong’s 36th year (1771), he was responsible for editing the general outline of the "Imperially Commissioned Manchu and Mongolian Texts," at the age of twenty. By Qianlong’s 40th year (1775–1776), the outline was completed, and Qianlong issued an edict praising his manuscript, saying, “The effort you have put into this book is also considerable.” Yongqi recalled that “Hearing the imperial command, I was overwhelmed with happiness.” He died of illness on the 28th day of the first month of Qianlong’s 41st year (February 17, 1776), at the age of 23. Due to his mother’s influence, his funeral rites followed the norms of the imperial clan, but in practice, they were slightly below the usual standard. In the third year of Jiaqing (1799), he was posthumously conferred the title of Doro Beile (a noble rank).

Works and scholarly activities: Yongqi authored the "Ririkasi Poems," a collection of daily poetry rather than original compositions. He was also listed first in the compilation team of the "Imperial Edited Outline of Manchu and Mongolian Texts." He dedicated significant effort to this editing work and notably recorded "The compilation of the Mongolian text outline by Zhiyuan Xianmu has been completed," which received Emperor Qianlong’s approval and imperial decree. The "Ririkasi Poems" also include poems mourning his family elder brothers, such as those from the 36th year of Xinyou (1771).

Education and evaluation: The renowned historian and linguist Qian Daxin lectured Yongqi for two years starting on January 12 of Qianlong’s 38th year (1773), praising him as having “pure innate talent and exceptional character.” During his lifetime, Yongqi was a member of the imperial clan without an official noble rank, as he did not hold an actual title.

Family and inheritance: His formal wife was of the Borjigin clan, originating from the Alxa Right Banner (Abaqa Right Banner) of Mongolia. On the eighth day of the second lunar month of Qianlong’s 31st year (March 11, 1766), their betrothal was formalized. In the same year, a daughter from a maternal clan attendant took residence with him but subsequently passed away for reasons unknown. After Yongqi’s death in the 41st year of Qianlong, his adopted son Mian Cai (born February 29, 1776) was formally designated as his heir by imperial decree. Following Yongqi’s death, his estate and related family assets are recorded in various documents with subsequent changes in ownership.