Imperial Concubine Shen

Consort Shen (18th century? — 1765), of the Bair Gests. An Ulutu Dashdava tribe member, daughter of Demuzise Yinchake, and a consort of Emperor Qianlong.

Background and Entry into the Palace

- Birth year unknown; birth date was April 11. Originated from the Ulutu Dashdava tribe; father was the son of Demuzise Yinchake.

- Around the 20th year of Qianlong’s reign (1755), the Dashdava tribe assisted the Qing army in quelling rebellions, and migrated with the army to Rehe. The Deputy Commander of Rehe reported that over 2,100 members of the Dashdava tribe had relocated there, requiring over 1,300 new residences.

- It is inferred that Consort Shen followed her father Demuzise Yinchake to pledge allegiance to the Qing.

Court Service and Title Changes

- On June 19th of the 24th year of Qianlong (1759), she was granted the title of First Bin (Yi Gui Ren) and was concurrently promoted alongside Gu Changzai Huo Shuo Te-shi; she was previously a pupil under the Nara clan’s respected women following imperial regulations.

- The next day, the court commanded officials in Suzhou to present two sets of embroidered silk robes and fabrics, embroidered with four-tier embroidery patterns. The first set included a silk embroidery robe in stone blue satin with a longevity pattern featuring eight clusters of kui dragons, and a gold dragon robe embroidered with fragrant-colored satin; the second set had similar embroidery.

- On April 22nd of the 26th year of Qianlong (1761), Emperor Qianlong issued an edict to give Consort Shen a fire-rimmed jacket with multicolored threads and gold threads, made according to sample; the emperor praised her as “elegant among the six palaces” to indicate her good relations with the Empress.

- In the 26th year, her black fox-fur court crown and velvet court crown, which did not feature five-colored silk ribbons, were dealt with accordingly; Rong Fei still wore her Huizi court attire and crown, which needed no adjustment.

- On May 21st of the 27th year of Qianlong (1762), the formal enfeoffment ceremony was conducted; on May 22nd, Consort Shen, wearing the Eleteer court attire, visited the Empress at Yikun Palace to pay respects. An inner attendant requested the Empress to ascend her seat, and Consort Shen performed the ritual of six bows, three kneelings, and three prostrations before the Empress’s throne. On May 25th, she was granted a cloisonné topped clock with a cloisonné dial.

Key Points of Court Life

- After the 26th year of Qianlong, records indicate that Consort Shen maintained influence within the Inner Court, involved in daily female duties and court affairs alongside the Empress, and was often cited as an example of “elegance among the six palaces.”

Death and Burial

- In May of the 29th year of Qianlong (1764), Consort Shen fell ill. Emperor Qianlong summoned her younger brother, Eremujie, from Rehe to Beijing and sent two Urut doctors for her treatment, explicitly instructing that there be no delay.

- She passed away on the 4th day of June that year; her funeral was held on June 7th, with the Empress and other consorts going to Jing’an Village Mausoleum to bid farewell to her in her gilded coffin. Noble Consort Wei was not present for unknown reasons. On November 27th, her belongings were inspected by the Ritual Room officials.

- In the 30th year of Qianlong, she was buried in the Imperial Tombs of the Eastern Qing, in the Yu Ling Pei Garden.

Film and Television References

- No information provided about film or TV adaptations.