Hongshi

Hongshi (Manchu: ᡥᡠᠩ ᡧᡳ Hung ši; 18 March 1704 – 20 September 1727) was a prince of the Qing dynasty belonging to the Aisin Gioro clan. He was born in Beijing, China, as the third son of the Yongzheng Emperor, whose personal name was Yinzhen, and a secondary consort of Han Chinese descent with the family name Li. Hongshi's birth date is recorded as 18 March 1704.

His father, Yinzhen, was the fourth son of the Kangxi Emperor and ascended the throne in December 1722, adopting the regnal name Yongzheng. During his early years, Hongshi did not acquire a noble rank or hold prominent political roles. Unlike his elder brother Hongli, who was awarded the title of qinwang (first-rank prince), Hongshi remained without a noble title.

In terms of familial relationships, Hongshi's mother was a secondary consort, and he had at least two sisters. His paternal family lineage is significant within the Qing imperial context, as he was a direct descendant of the Kangxi Emperor.

From 1722 to 1726, Hongshi became associated with his uncle Yunsi, a prominent political figure who was at odds with the Yongzheng Emperor. In 1725, the Yongzheng Emperor took actions against Yunsi, stripping him of his princely title and banishing him from the Aisin Gioro clan on charges considered trumped-up by historians. As a consequence, Hongshi was also expelled from the Forbidden City and from the imperial clan, with his association with Yunsi cited as a reason. The emperor issued an edict suggesting that Hongshi could consider himself Yunsi's son if he wished, indicating a close relationship. He was placed under the custodianship of his maternal uncle Yuntao, a princely member of the imperial family.

In April 1726, the Yongzheng Emperor further decreed the removal of Hongshi's name from the imperial genealogy, symbolically signaling his complete disownment. Hongshi did not show remorse for his associations or actions. He died on 20 September 1727 in Beijing at the age of 23, during the fifth year of Yongzheng’s reign. The circumstances of his death are not definitively documented; at least some accounts suggest that the emperor might have ordered him to commit suicide to eliminate perceived political rivals. Other historians propose that Hongshi's death could have resulted from internal political machinations or personal circumstances. Given his limited political influence, he was unlikely to have posed a significant threat to the succession.

Following his death, Hongshi was posthumously rehabilitated during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, Yongzheng's successor. In 1735, a memorial by the imperial prince Yunlu sought Hongshi's restoration, which Qianlong granted, stating that many years had passed since his death and that harsh treatment was unnecessary. Qianlong also expressed brotherly affection, though no specific charges or crimes against Hongshi are mentioned.

Hongshi was married to a primary consort from the Donggo clan, with whom he had a daughter born in 1722 and died in 1727, and he also had two mistresses. His sons included Yongshen, born 1721 and died in 1724, and a second daughter who lived from 1724 to 1726.

He has been portrayed in modern popular culture, notably in Chinese television dramas such as "Scarlet Heart" (2011), "Empresses in the Palace" (2011), and "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" (2018).