Consort Chang

Consort Chang (31 December 1808 – 10 May 1860) was a consort of the Daoguang Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. She was a member of the Manchu Hešeri clan, which belonged to the Bordered Blue Banner. Her personal name is not recorded in historical texts.

Family Background:

Consort Chang's father was Ronghai, a third-rank military official. Her paternal grandfather was Shanqing, a magistrate of Lizhou, Yingzhou, and Huizhou. Her paternal grandmother was Lady Gioro. Her mother was Lady Irgen Gioro. She had two younger brothers: Rushan, born in 1811, who achieved the jinshi degree in 1838 and served as a third-rank literary official in Sichuan; and Longshan. She also had two elder sisters: the first was married to Nianchang'a, an examiner of the Manchu Bordered Blue Banner; the second married Linxiang, a second-rank military official and Grand Minister of Internal Affairs of the Mongol Plain White Banner.

Birth and Early Life:

Consort Chang was born on the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month in the 12th year of the Jiaqing Emperor's reign, corresponding to 31 December 1808.

Entry Into the Imperial Court:

Between 1822 and 1825, she entered the Forbidden City. Initially, she was granted the title "Noble Lady Zhen" (珍贵人, "zhen" meaning "pearl" or "precious"). In May 1825, she was promoted to "Concubine Zhen" (珍嫔). Later, in September 1825, she advanced to "Consort Zhen" (珍妃).

Difficulties and Demotions:

In 1826, during a visit to Yuanmingyuan, she was demoted to "Concubine Zhen" after her Yanxi Palace used a coach with four horses, which was considered inappropriate. Her standing declined further when, in 1830, she was demoted to "Noble Lady Chang" (常贵人), translating to "ordinary" or "common" noble lady, and she was relocated to Xianfu Palace on the western side of the Forbidden City. She did not have any children during the Daoguang era. Her husband, the Daoguang Emperor, died on 26 February 1850.

Later Life and Death:

Following the accession of the Xianfeng Emperor, she was restored to the rank of "Concubine Chang" (常嫔) and resided in Shoukang Palace in the western part of the Forbidden City. She died on 10 May 1860 in the Garden of Elegant Spring in Yuanmingyuan. Posthumously, she was granted the title "Consort Chang" (常妃) by the Tongzhi Emperor, the son of the Xianfeng Emperor.

Titles Summary:

- During Jiaqing Emperor’s reign: Lady Hesheri (from 1808).

- During Daoguang Emperor’s reign: She held multiple titles, including Noble Lady Zhen, Concubine Zhen, Consort Zhen, Noble Lady Chang.

- During Xianfeng Emperor’s reign: She was known as Concubine Chang and later promoted to Consort Chang.

Her life reflects the hierarchical structure and complex rank system of Qing imperial consorts, governed by ranks such as Noble Lady, Concubine, and Consort.