Weijiya, Empress Yi Chun

Infobox_Monarch | name =Empress Xiao Yi Chun
title =Empress of China


spouse =The Qianlong Emperor
issue =The Jiaqing Emperor
date of birth =1727
date of death =1775 (aged 47)
father =Wei Qingtai|

Empress Xiao Yi Chun ( _zh. 孝儀純皇后魏佳氏) 1727 - 1775, is popularly known as "Consort Ling" in popular Chinese TV series "Princess Returning Pearl" a.k.a. "Huan Zhu Ge Ge". Empress Xiao Yi Chun came from the Han Chinese Wei clan. Her clan name was later changed to the Manchu "Weigiya" clan during the Jiaqing Emperor's reign. Empress Xiao Yi Chun's father was Wei Qing Tai, and she was born during the fifth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign.

Biography

Lady Weigiya entered the Qing Dynasty Imperial Court as a Lady-in-waiting to the Qianlong Emperor in 1745. She was soon given the title of "Honoured Lady Wei" ( _zh. 魏貴人), and was later elevated to the "Imperial Concubine Ling" ( _zh. 令嬪), and was again elevated to the "Imperial Consort Ling" ( _zh. 令妃) afterwards. Between 1746 and 1765, Weigiya was further elevated to the "Imperial Noble Consort Ling" ( _zh. 令貴妃). Weigiya gave in birth to six children in total, including four sons and two daughters. Among her children was the future Jiaqing Emperor.

Weigiya died in the fortieth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign. She was aged 48 years old, and was given the posthumous title of "Imperial Noble Consort Ling-Yi" ( _zh. 令懿皇貴妃). A little while later, Weigiya was interred in the Yuling Mausoleum. In 1796, when Weigiya's son ascended the throne as the Jiaqing Emperor, he granted Weigiya the posthumous title "Empress Xiao Yi Chun" ( _zh. 孝儀純皇后), meaning "The Filial, Graceful, and Pure Empress".

Titles Held from Birth to Death

* 1727-1745: Lady Weijiya (魏佳氏)
* 1745: Weijiya, the Honoured Lady Wei (魏貴人魏佳氏)
* 1745-1749: Weijiya, the Imperial Concubine Ling (令嬪魏佳氏)
* 1749-1759: Weijiya, the Imperial Consort Ling (令妃魏佳氏)
* 1759-1765: Weijiya, the Noble Consort Ling (令貴妃魏佳氏)
* 1765- death: Weigiya, the Imperial Noble Consort Ling (令皇貴妃魏佳氏)
* "Posthumously Granted: Weijiya, the Imperial Noble Consort Ling-Yi" (令懿皇貴妃魏佳氏)
* "Posthumously Granted: Weijiya, the Filial, Graceful, and Pure Empress" (孝儀純皇后魏佳氏)

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