Imperial Noble Consort Chunhui

Imperial Noble Consort Chunhui (13 June 1713 – 2 June 1760) was a consort of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. She was born into the Han Chinese Plain White Banner Su clan and was two years younger than the emperor.

Family Background:

Her personal name has not been recorded in historical sources. Her father was Zhaonan, and she had two brothers. The family was of commoner status, which influenced her family name remaining unchanged after her marriage.

Early Life:

Lady Su was born on the 21st day of the fifth lunar month in the 52nd year of the Kangxi Emperor’s reign, corresponding to 13 June 1713 in the Gregorian calendar. She was raised in Suzhou.

During the Yongzheng era:

It is not documented when Lady Su was presented to the Yongzheng Emperor by local officials. Subsequently, she was designated as a concubine for his fourth son. On 15 July 1735, she gave birth to Hongli's third son, Yongzhang.

During the Qianlong era:

Following the death of the Yongzheng Emperor on 8 October 1735, Hongli ascended the throne as the Qianlong Emperor. Lady Su was granted the title of "Concubine Chun" on 8 November 1735. She was promoted to "Consort Chun" on 23 January 1738, making her the fourth highest-ranking consort, after the Empress, Noble Consort, and Consort Xian.

She bore the emperor a sixth son, Yongrong, on 28 January 1744. On 9 December 1745, she was elevated to "Noble Consort," a rank she held alongside Consort Xian. This marked the first time in the Qing Dynasty that two noble consorts existed simultaneously. She also gave birth to a daughter, Princess Hejia of the Second Rank, on 24 December 1745.

In 1760, towards the end of her life, she was promoted to "Imperial Noble Consort" on 25 May 1760. She died shortly afterward, on 2 June 1760, and was posthumously bestowed the title "Imperial Noble Consort Chunhui." She was interred in the Yu Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs on 16 December 1762.

Additional Notes:

Some 20th-century historical texts, such as the Draft History of Qing, incorrectly recorded her family name as "Sugiya" (蘇佳). However, she retained her original surname, Su, as her background as a commoner did not qualify her for a Manchu-style surname change.

Titles (chronologically):

- During Kangxi: Lady Su (from 13 June 1713)

- During Yongzheng: Mistress (date unknown)

- During Qianlong:

- Concubine Chun (from 8 November 1735)

- Consort Chun (from 23 January 1738)

- Noble Consort Chun (from 9 December 1745)

- Imperial Noble Consort (from 25 May 1760)

- Posthumously: Imperial Noble Consort Chunhui (from June/July 1760)

Offspring:

- Yongzhang (15 July 1735 – 26 August 1760), third son of the Qianlong Emperor

- Yongrong (28 January 1744 – 13 June 1790), sixth son, Prince Zhizhuang of the First Rank

- Princess Hejia of the Second Rank (24 December 1745 – 29 October 1767), fourth daughter, married Fulong'an of the Fuca clan

Representation in Popular Culture:

She has been portrayed by Wang Yuanke in "Story of Yanxi Palace" (2018) and by Hu Ke in "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" (2018).

See also:

- Imperial Chinese harem system during the Qing dynasty

- Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty