Borjijit, Empress Dowager Zhuang Wen

Infobox_Monarch | name =Empress Xiao Zhuang Wen
title =Empress of China


date of birth = birth date|1613|3|28|mf=y
date of death = death date and age|1688|1|27|1613|3|28|mf=y
consortto =Emperor Huang Taiji|

The Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, (zh-cp|c=孝莊文皇后|p="Xiàozhuāngwén Huánghòu"; Manchu: "Hiyoošungga Ambalinggū Genggiyenšu Hūwanghu"; March 28, 1613 - January 27, 1688), known for the majority of her life under the title "Grand Empress Dowager", was the concubine of Emperor Huang Taiji, the mother of the Shunzhi Emperor and the grandmother of the Kangxi Emperor during the Qing Dynasty in China. She wielded significant influence over the Qing court during the rule of her son and grandson. Known for her wisdom and political ability, Xiaozhuang has become a largely respected figure in Chinese history, strictly in contrast to the despotic reputation of Empress Dowager Cixi.

Empress Xiao Zhuang Wen was a daughter of a prince of Borjigit clan of the Khorchin Mongols, Prince Jaisang, and thus was a descendant of Genghis Khan. Her given name was Bumbutai (Chinese: 布木布泰; pinyin: "Bùmùbùtài"). The name given to her on many occasions in Chinese is "Da yu-er" (大玉儿), although it is unclear whether this is simply a product of folktales or is, in fact, a name used by the Empress.

Biography

Lady Borjijit or Princess Bumbutai was given to Huang Taiji as his concubine in 1625 when she was twelve years old. Borjigit bore Hung Taiji three daughters and his ninth son, Fulin, who would later become Shunzhi emperor. Her aunt, Jere, was Hung Taiji's empress consort who became an empress dowager when Hung Taiji died and was succeeded by Borjigit's son, Shunzhi.

After Hung Taiji died, he did not leave a will and there was a struggle among his brothers and his eldest son, Hooge. Daisan and Dorgon, brothers of Hung Taiji agreed that Shunzhi should become the successor and pledged that they would serve the young lord with their absolute loyalty. Hooge was not pleased by this decision and argued that he should succeed his father since he was the eldest son. Hooge was eventually put under house arrest by Prince Dorgon and he died during the period.

Dorgon became the regent making decisions for Shunzhi because the young emperor was a minor. The relationship between the regent and the young emperor was always questioned by historians. After the death of Dorgon, his family was punished by the emperor and all his titles were taken away. It was believed that Xiaozhuang married Dorgon after Hung Taiji's death. This probably helped to explain why Dorgon and his brother, Dodo, received posthumous punishments.

Borjigit played an important role for her son. She kept a low profile during her son's reign and she was less likely to interfere with her son's decisions than the later Empress Dowager Cixi who kept the Guangxu Emperor under house arrest. Borjigit's son Shunzhi died at the age of 24 and his son and successor, Kangxi, was only 8 years old. Borjigit was summoned back into the politics of the Qing dynasty. Borjigit asked the four appointed regents, Oboi, Sonin, Suksaha, and Ebilun to assist her grandson and advised her grandson to learn from his ministers since they were most experienced and had been assisting the late emperor during his reign.

Borjigit took charge of Emperor Kangxi's upbringing after the death of his mother. When Oboi was posing a threat to Emperor Kangxi's rule, she helped the young emperor to get rid of Oboi.

Borjigit rejected the pleasure of the palace probably due to her upbringing in Mongolia. She refused to have her birthday celebrated knowing that it would be costly.

Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang died in 1688.

References

*Hummel, Arthur William, ed. "Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period (1644-1912)." 2 vols. Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1943.
*Rawski, Evelyn Sakakida. "The Last Emperors: A Social History of Qing Imperial Institutions." Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1998.

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