Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu

Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu (Chinese: 敦肃皇贵妃), born after 1679 and died on 23 December 1725, was a consort of the Yongzheng Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. She belonged to the Han Chinese Bordered Yellow Banner Nian clan.

Family Background:

Her father was Nian Xialing, who served as the governor (巡撫) of Huguang and held the title of a first-class duke (一等公). She had at least five elder brothers, among whom the fifth elder brother was Nian Gengyao (1679–1726), a notable figure in Qing history. She also had at least one sister.

Early Life and Entry into Imperial Service:

The specific birth date and personal name of Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu are not documented. She entered the Forbidden City in 1711 during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor and became a secondary consort (側福晉) to Yinzhen, who later became the Yongzheng Emperor.

Children:

During the Kangxi era, she gave birth to three children:

- A daughter born on 15 April 1715, who died at the age of two in June or July 1717.

- A son named Fuyi (福宜), born on 30 June 1720, who died on 9 February 1721.

- A son named Fuhui (福惠), born on 27 November 1721, who died on 11 October 1728.

Yongzheng Era and Titles:

Yinzhen ascended to the throne on 27 December 1722, after the death of the Kangxi Emperor. On 28 March 1723, she was awarded the rank of Noble Consort (貴妃), a third-rank imperial consort.

She continued to rise in rank, and on 12 June 1723, she gave birth to her fourth child, a son named Fupei (福沛). On 19 December 1725, she was elevated to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort (皇貴妃), a second-rank imperial consort.

Later that year, she was bestowed the posthumous title Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu (敦肅皇貴妃). She died on 27 December 1725, shortly after her elevation. She was interred in the Tai Mausoleum of the Western Qing tombs.

Titles Summary:

- During the Kangxi Emperor’s reign: Lady Nian (年氏), Secondary Consort (側福晉) from 1711.

- During the Yongzheng Emperor’s reign: Noble Consort (貴妃) from 28 March 1723.

- Posthumously: Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu (敦肅皇貴妃) from December 1725.

Issue:

As Secondary Consort:

- An unnamed daughter (15 April 1715 – June/July 1717), the Yongzheng Emperor’s fourth daughter.

- Fuyi (福宜; 30 June 1720 – 9 February 1721), the emperor's seventh son.

- Fuhui (福惠; 27 November 1721 – 11 October 1728), the prince Huai of the First Rank, the emperor's eighth son.

As Noble Consort:

- Fupei (福沛; born 12 June 1723), the emperor's ninth son.

Portrayals in Popular Culture:

Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu has been depicted by various actors in multiple television dramas and films, including Pao Cheng-Fang in "Legend of YungChing" (1997), Chang Lin in "Yongzheng Dynasty" (1999), Tong Liya in "Palace" (2011), Lu Meifang in "Scarlet Heart" (2011), Jiang Xin in "Empresses in the Palace" (2011), Nancy Wu in "Gilded Chopsticks" (2014), and Li Shaminzi in "Love in the Imperial Palace" (2017).

See Also:

- Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty.

- Imperial Chinese harem system (Qing Dynasty).

References:

Zhao, Erxun (1928). Draft History of Qing (Qing Shi Gao).