Hongxiao

Hongxiao (Chinese: 弘曉; Manchu: ᡥᡡᠩ ᡥᡳᠶᠣᡠ, hūng hiyoo) was born on 3 May 1722 and died on 11 May 1778. He was an imperial prince of the Qing Dynasty, the seventh son of Yinxiang, Prince Yixian of the First Rank. Hongxiao was a paternal cousin of the Qianlong Emperor and a grandson of the Kangxi Emperor. He was recognized as the second in the Prince Yi of the First Rank lineage and was noted for his contributions to poetry and his associations with prominent literary figures such as Cao Xueqin.

**Early Life and Family Background**

Hongxiao was born to Lady Joogiya, the primary princess consort Yixian of the First Rank. He had two biological sisters, including Princess Hehui of the Second Rank, who was adopted into the palace early in life, and two brothers, among them Hongjiao, Prince Ningliang of the Second Rank. On 21 June 1730, Hongxiao inherited the title of Prince Yi of the First Rank, a peerage granted with iron-cap status, signifying its hereditary durability. His younger brother was granted the title of Prince Ning of the Second Rank. Unlike his brother, Hongxiao was not implicated in the Coup of Hongxi in 1739, which resulted in his brother being deprived of his allowance.

**Career and Court Conduct**

Hongxiao's life included notable events such as the death of his mother in 1766, which was followed by some conduct issues, including an incident in 1767 when he and his nephew Yongkun behaved disrespectfully during a national mourning by not wearing mourning garments. The consequences were delayed at the urging of Fuheng. In 1768, he was included in a promotion ceremony for imperial princes after sacrificial rites at the Temple of Agriculture, alongside other princes such as Hongzhou, Prince He of the First Rank; Yongchang, Prince Zhuang and Guanglu; and Prince Yu of the First Rank.

In August 1777, Hongxiao participated in sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple with Prince Guo of the Second Rank. He failed to observe appropriate etiquette and was subsequently tried by the Imperial Clan Court. His penalty was the deprivation of his salary in the subsequent month. Hongxiao died on 11 May 1778 and was posthumously titled Prince Yixi of the First Rank.

**Literary Contributions and Relationship with Cao Xueqin**

Hongxiao was recognized for his interest in poetry from a young age. His known works include the "Series of the Hall of the Four Pines" (《四松堂集》) and "Poems of the Hall of the Bright Kindness" (《明善堂集》). He maintained friendships with intellectual figures of the Qianlong era, notably Cao Xueqin, the author of *Dream of the Red Chamber*. When Cao Xueqin's family experienced financial decline, Hongxiao preserved drafts of the novel's manuscript, and his poetry contains references to their relationship. Some redologists have speculated that the second characters in their names resemble outlines of the novel's plot, though scholarly debate continues regarding Hongxiao's direct involvement in the manuscript’s drafts and the authorship of the poems, with some suggesting they were written by ghostwriters.

**Posthumous Recognition and Literary Legacy**

Hongxiao's poetry was largely unknown until it was published in the "Collection of the Prince Yi Manor" by Weng Tonghe, Yang Shaohe, and Shen Zuyin. This collection included his poetry, Tibetan books from the 17th century, and calligraphy paintings with seals. Most of the books owned by Hongxiao and his descendants were not included in the *Siku Quanshu* canon and only became publicly available in the 19th century.

**Family and Marriages**

Hongxiao was married twice. His primary consort was from the Ligiya clan, daughter of Bohege, with whom he had several children, including his first son, Yonghang, and his eighth son, Yongmai. He later married a woman from the Tunggiya clan, daughter of Changsheng. His other consorts included women from the Jin, Shi, Irgen Gioro, and Bayara clans, and he had in total nine sons and nine daughters.

He fathered notable children such as Yonghang (born 1744, deceased 1777), Yonglang (1746–1799), and Yongman (born 1752, died 1808). His daughters married various figures from the Manchu and Mongol clans.

**In Popular Culture**

Hongxiao has been portrayed in television dramas, such as Xu Ziming in "Succession War" (2018) and Cheng Junwen in "Story of Yanxi Palace" (2018).

**References**

[Details regarding references are not provided in this extract.]