Prince Gong

Yixin (11 January 1833 – 29 May 1898), commonly known as Prince Gong or Kung in English, was an imperial prince of the Aisin Gioro clan of the Qing dynasty. He was born in Beijing and was the sixth son of the Daoguang Emperor. His mother was Imperial Noble Consort Jing of the Khorchin Mongol Borjigit clan. Yixin belonged to the Manchu ruling family and was one of the twelve "iron cap" princes, which denoted hereditary noble titles that could be inherited with full status through generations.

Yixin received education in literature and martial arts. He studied in the imperial library and practiced martial skills under his fourth brother, Yizhu. He created various spear and sword movements, and was bestowed the White Rainbow Sword by his father. His early tutelage included mentorship from scholar-officials Zhuo Bingtian and Jia Zhen, both successful jinshi graduates.

In 1850, upon the critical illness of the Daoguang Emperor, a secret edict was revealed indicating that the Fourth Prince, Yizhu, was to become the next emperor, but there are rumors suggesting Yixin was a potential successor. When Yizhu ascended the throne as the Xianfeng Emperor, Yixin was granted the title "Prince Gong of the First Rank" (恭親王). Throughout his career, he held various military and administrative positions, including appointments to the Grand Council and senior military commands, particularly during the Taiping Rebellion and the Second Opium War.

In 1860, during the Second Opium War, Yixin was entrusted with negotiations with British and French forces. He signed the Treaty of Beijing in 1860, on behalf of the Qing court, and subsequently established the Zongli Yamen in 1861, which served as the Qing government's foreign affairs office. He supported modernization efforts and the Self-Strengthening Movement, advocating for military modernization, foreign diplomacy, and educational initiatives such as the Tongwen Guan.

Following the death of the Xianfeng Emperor in 1861, Yixin collaborated with Empress Dowager Cixi to oust the eight regents appointed by the late emperor in the Xinyou Coup. He was appointed Prince-Regent for the underage Tongzhi Emperor, with some privileges such as exemption from kowtowing and writing his name on memorials. During his regency, he contributed to suppressing the Taiping Rebellion and promoted reforms in military and foreign affairs.

In 1864, Qing forces subdued the Taiping Rebellion, and Yixin was publicly praised for his leadership. However, his political influence fluctuated due to conflicts with court conservatives and Empress Dowager Cixi. Around 1865, he was accused of monopolizing power and practicing favoritism, leading to his removal from the regency but he remained influential within the inner court.

He was demoted in 1874 due to court reprimands but regained status following the marriage of the Tongzhi Emperor. Under the Guangxu Emperor, he continued to hold prominent positions, including head of the Imperial Clan Court. His career was marked by involvement in significant events, including the Sino-French War (1884) and the First Sino-Japanese War (1894), during which he was recalled to assist in military affairs. He was appointed to oversee defenses and served as president of the Grand Council.

Yixin died in 1898 at the age of 67. Posthumously, he was honored with the name "Zhong" (忠, meaning "Loyal") and was enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. His residence in Beijing has been preserved as a museum and garden park, notable for its historical significance and former association with the corrupt official Heshen.

He was survived by descendants who continued to hold noble titles, with his eldest grandson Puwei inheriting the title of Prince Gong of the Second Rank. His life and career reflect the complexities of Qing imperial politics, modernization efforts, and diplomatic relations during a period of internal unrest and external pressure.