Consort Zhuang

Consort Zhuang (Chinese: 庄妃; pinyin: Zhuāng Fēi) died on 9 March 1811. She was a consort of the Jiaqing Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. She was from the Manchu Wanyan clan, an ancient family line. Her personal name has not been recorded in historical sources. Her father was Yilibu, a provincial examination graduate, known as a Jǔrén in the imperial examination system.

Details of her marriage are limited; it is not recorded when she married Prince Jia of the First Rank, who later became the Jiaqing Emperor, nor when she entered the prince’s household as his concubine.

During the Qianlong era, the timeline of her marriage and early life remains unknown. Her name during this period is not documented, and her status during this time was that of a lady from the Wanyan clan.

In December 1796, during the Jiaqing era, she was granted the title “First Class Female Attendant Chun” (春常在), a level indicating a seventh-rank consort. The name "Chun" was chosen to symbolize beauty and eternal youth like the spring season. In 1798, she was promoted to “Noble Lady Chun” (春贵人), a sixth-rank consort. Her status further elevated in 1801 when she was promoted to “Concubine Ji” (吉嫔), a fifth-rank consort. In 1808, she was promoted to “Consort Zhuang” (庄妃), a fourth-rank consort.

Consort Zhuang died on 9 March 1811 in the Western Garden of Yuanmingyuan. She was childless at the time of her death. Her coffin was temporarily placed in the Antian Memorial Palace following her death. Subsequently, she was interred in the Chang Mausoleum within the Western Qing Tombs. Notably, Empress Xiaoherui personally participated in her funeral ceremony, which was uncommon in Qing practices, as empresses typically did not attend the funerals of concubines.

Her titles over the course of her life included various ranks consistent with her rising status within the imperial consort hierarchy. During the Qianlong Emperor’s reign, her titles included Lady Wanggiya and Mistress (格格). During the Jiaqing era, her titles progressed from First Class Female Attendant Chun (the seventh rank), to Noble Lady Chun (sixth rank), then to Concubine Ji (fifth rank), and finally to Consort Zhuang (fourth rank).