State Princess Rongxian

Princess Rongxian of the First Rank (June 20, 1673 – May 29, 1728) was a member of the Qing Dynasty imperial family. She was the third daughter of the Kangxi Emperor and her mother was Consort Rong of the Magiya clan, a Manchu noblewoman affiliated with the Plain Yellow Banner.

Born in the Forbidden City, Beijing, Princess Rongxian's birthdate is recorded as June 20, 1673. Her early life was within the imperial court, where her family held considerable influence.

In 1691, at 18 years of age, she entered into marriage with Örgen, a prince of the Mongol Barin tribe. The marriage served as a strategic alliance intended to strengthen Qing control over the Mongol tribes, which was a significant aspect of Kangxi's frontier policy. Örgen was honored with titles and roles befitting the spouse of a Gulun Princess, including military and administrative responsibilities. The union produced at least one son.

During her father's reign, Princess Rongxian was noted for her filial devotion. Kangxi, influenced by her loyalty and his concerns over the serious illness of Prince Yinren, found solace in her presence. In recognition of her service and loyalty, after Kangxi recovered from his illness, he granted her the noble title of "Princess Rongxian of Gu Lun" (translated as "Princess of the First Rank"), elevating her from her previous title, "Princess Heshuo Rongxian," which denoted a second-rank princess.

Princess Rongxian died on May 29, 1728. Her tomb complex was constructed with a central gate on the south wall and originally included a square pavilion opposite the north gate. Flanking the pavilion were east and west side halls measuring approximately 15 meters each, with the eastern halls serving as servant quarters and a kitchen, and the western halls designated for sacrificial offerings and officials. The main mausoleum was situated in the rear, surrounded by six small brick chamber tombs positioned along the south, north, and east sides, each capped with a pagoda-shaped roof measuring approximately 2.5 to 3 meters in diameter. Inside these chambers, purple urns were found, though they suffered damage, and no commemorative stones remain.

The tomb was excavated in 1972 after remaining undisturbed for over 240 years. The remains of Princess Rongxian were found remarkably well-preserved, with elastic skin resembling that of a living person. She was laid face-up in her coffin, oriented with her head pointing south and feet north. Her burial attire included a golden phoenix crown, gold bracelets, finger rings, and red satin embroidered boots. Her clothing featured multiple layers, notably a pearl-embroidered dragon robe. She was approximately 156 centimeters tall, with two black braids, each about 75 centimeters long, extending to her hips and appearing to be tied at the ends. Two urns located on the south and east sides of her coffin contained the ashes of her husband, Örgen, and their son, Linbu.

There are no remaining commemorative stones at her tomb site.