Yiho

Yihe (奕詥; 14 March 1844 – 17 December 1868) was a Chinese imperial prince during the Qing Dynasty. He was the eighth son of the Daoguang Emperor and the first holder of the Prince Zhong peerage.

He was born on 14 March 1844 in the Garden of Elegant Spring within Yuanmingyuan, the imperial summer palace. His mother was Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangshun, lady Uya. Yihe had an older brother, Yixuan, and a younger brother, Yihui.

In 1850, Yihe began his studies at the Imperial Study, where his tutors included Zhong Fucheng, who was an editor at the Hanlin Academy and later served as regent during the minority of the Tongzhi Emperor, and Weng Xincun. That same year, at approximately six years old, Yihe was granted the title of Prince Zhong of the Second Rank (钟郡王). Due to his young age and status, he was not eligible for succession rights.

Yihe's official duties commenced during the minority of the Tongzhi Emperor. In 1864, he was appointed to perform sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, presiding over sacrificial rites on behalf of the teenage emperor and two empresses dowager. He also participated in shamanic rites in autumn 1866. In 1865, he was entrusted with responsibilities concerning the Hall of Uprightness and Objectivity (中正殿).

Yihe died in 1868, at the age of 24. Posthumously, he was honored as Prince Zhongduan of the Second Rank.

Regarding his family, Yihe was married to Lady Niohuru, the daughter of first-class Marquis Chong'en and a grand-niece of Empress Xiaoherui. Because Yihe did not have biological children, his adopted successors were Zaiying and Zaitao.

His primary consort was Lady Niohuru, who passed away in 1871. He did not have biological heirs; instead, two adopted sons were designated as his successors:

- Zaiying, who held the title of Prince of the Third Rank acting as Prince of the Second Rank. He was the biological son of Yixin, Prince Gongzhong of the First Rank, and Secondary Princess Consort Gongzhong, lady Xuegiya. Zaiying was adopted at the request of Princess Consort Zhongduan of the Second Rank but was later stripped of his title due to involvement in the Boxer Rebellion.

- Zaitao, another adopted son with the title of Prince of the Third Rank acting as Prince of the Second Rank. He was the biological son of Yixuan, Prince Chunxian of the First Rank, and Secondary Princess Consort Chunxian, Liugiya Cuiyan. His adoption was decreed by Empress Dowager Cixi.

Yihe's familial relationships and succession practices reflect Qing imperial customs concerning peerages, adoption, and posthumous honors.