Yinqi

Aisin Gioro Yunci (Manchu: ᠶᡡᠨ ᠴᡳ, Möllendorff: yūn ci, Chinese: 允祁; pinyin: Yǔnqí) was born on 14 January 1714 and died on 31 August 1785. He was a Manchu prince of the Third rank and the 23rd surviving son of the Kangxi Emperor. His father was Kangxi Emperor, and his mother was Imperial Concubine Jing, Lady Shi.

Yinqi, as he was also known, was not involved in the succession disputes among the Kangxi Emperor's sons, which were common during the early years of his life, partly due to his early age at that time. His early status and lineage positioned him within the imperial hierarchy of the Qing dynasty, but he was not among the primary contenders for the throne.

In 1730, at the age of 16, Yinqi was granted the title of Grace Defender Duke (镇国公). This title was a noble rank within the Qing aristocracy and often designated a member of the imperial family with specific administrative or ceremonial responsibilities. Like his half-brother Yunxu, Yinqi was responsible for managing affairs related to the Eastern Qing tombs, a significant site for imperial burial and ancestral rites.

By 1735, Yinqi received a promotion to Prince of the Fourth rank, indicating an elevation in his noble standing within the Qing peerage system. Such promotions reflected imperial recognition of status and service, though they did not necessarily imply significant political power.

In November 1784, shortly before his death, Yinqi was further elevated to the title of Prince of the Third Rank (多罗贝勒). Posthumously, he was given the name Prince Cheng of the Third Rank. Additionally, his family was granted the status of Prince of the Second Rank, which conferred certain privileges and honors extending to his descendants.

Yinqi's life spanned much of the 18th century, during a period of Qing consolidation and expansion. His titles and roles primarily denote his position within the noble hierarchy established by the Qing imperial family.

References for Yinqi’s genealogy include the "Draft History of the Qing" (Vol. 164), and information about his family and titles can be found in the Aisin Gioro genealogical records, such as the "Genealogy of Aisin Gioro."