Yunli

Yunli (24 March 1697 – 21 March 1738), born Yinli, was a Manchu prince during the Qing dynasty, known formally as Prince Guo. He was the seventeenth son of the Kangxi Emperor and his mother was Consort Qin, also known as Consort Chunyuqin. Consort Qin was of Han Chinese origin from the Chen family, which was incorporated into the Manchu Banner system, leading to a Manchurization of her surname from Chen to Chenjia.

Yinli demonstrated academic talent from a young age and maintained a reputation for being intelligent and cautious. Unlike some of his brothers, he was not involved in succession struggles and engaged in scholarly pursuits such as calligraphy and poetry. He was also known for traveling extensively within China, having visited numerous notable mountains in Sichuan.

In 1722, following the death of his father, the Kangxi Emperor, Yinli's fourth brother Yinzhen ascended the throne as the Yongzheng Emperor. To avoid naming taboo with the emperor's personal name Yinzhen, Yinli changed his name to Yunli. That same year, he was granted the title "Prince Guo of the Second Rank" and was put in charge of scholarly institutions. His standing improved over the years, and in 1728, he was promoted to "Prince Guo of the First Rank." Yunli was appointed to the Grand Council and entrusted with important duties, including escorting the Dalai Lama to Tibet and inspecting military forces. He was a patron and scholar of Tibetan Buddhism.

During the Yongzheng Emperor's terminal illness, Yunli was tasked with supporting the heir, Hongli. After the Yongzheng Emperor's death in 1735, Hongli ascended the throne as the Qianlong Emperor. Under Qianlong’s reign, Yunli continued to receive increased authority and responsibilities.

Yunli died in 1738 at the age of 40. He fathered two children—a son and a daughter—both of whom died prematurely. His princely title was inherited by Hongyan, the sixth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, who was adopted as Yunli's heir.

His family included a primary consort, Imperial Princess Consort Guoyi of the Niohuru clan, and a secondary consort from the Meng clan. His son was born on 10 May 1732 and died on 25 November 1732; his daughter was born on 14 January 1735 and died on 19 July 1735.

Yunli has been depicted in popular culture, notably portrayed by Li Dongxue in "Empresses in the Palace" (2011) and by Du Chun in "Palace II" (2012).

His titles and status are associated with the Prince Guo peerage, a rank within the Qing imperial nobility, and his life reflects the complexities of Qing court hierarchy, ethnicity, and familial relationships.