Borjigit, Empress Duan Wen

Empress Xiao Duan Wen ( _zh. 孝端文皇后博尔吉济特氏), private name: Jerjer, (May 13 1600 - May 17 1649). She was the principal Empress Consort of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Huang Taiji of China. Empress Xiao Duan Wen was a daughter of Manjusri Noyan, the First Prince Fu of the Borjigit clan, descended from the Mongol Horchin clan.

Borjigit married the Tai Zong Emperor Huang Taiji of the Manchu Later Jin on May 28 1614, and became his official wife "although not being his first wife", and later Empress in 1636 when the Qing Dynasty was established. Both her nieces Bumbutai "Zhuang Fei" (later Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang) and Hai Lan Zu were married to the Emperor as well.

Borjigit gave birth to 3 daughters:
#Princess Makata (马喀塔公主) (1625 - 1663)
#Princess Jingduan (固伦靖端長公主) (1628 - 1686)
#Princess Yungan (固伦永安長公主) (1634 - 1692 )

After the death of Huang Tai Ji in 1643, Borjigit was made the "Mother Empress Imperial Dowager Empress" ( _zh. 母后皇太后), being the principal consort and preceded Shun Zhi Emperor's biological mother, the Empress Xiao Zhuang Wen who was also elevated to the "Holy Mother Imperial Dowager Empress" ( _zh. 圣母皇太后).

Being known as a benevolent and virtuous empress Borjigit died in the sixth year of reign of the Shun Zhi Emperor in 1649 being 50 years old.

Borjigit was posthumously styled with the title "Empress Xiao Duan Wen" after her death.

References

*Hummel, Arthur William, ed. "Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period (1644-1912)." 2 vols. Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1943.

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