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Empress Xiao Zhuang Wen
Borjigit, the Zhaosheng Empress Dowager
Born	March 28, 1613
Died	January 27, 1688 (aged 75)
Consort	Emperor Huang Taiji

The Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, (Chinese: 孝莊文皇后; pinyin: 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 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. Image File history File links Padlock. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ... Events January - Galileo observes Neptune, but mistakes it for a star and so is not credited with its discovery. ... January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events A high-powered conspiracy of notables, the Immortal Seven, invite William and Mary to depose James II of England. ... It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ... The Manchu language is a member of the Tungusic languages of Altaic family; it used to be the language of the Manchu, though now most Manchus speak Mandarin Chinese and there are fewer than 100 native speakers of Manchu out of a total of nearly 10 million ethnic Manchus. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ... Events January - Galileo observes Neptune, but mistakes it for a star and so is not credited with its discovery. ... January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events A high-powered conspiracy of notables, the Immortal Seven, invite William and Mary to depose James II of England. ... The title Grand Empress Dowager (simplified and traditional Chinese: 太皇太后, pinyin tai4 huang2 tai4 hou4) was given to the grandmother or a woman from the grandmother generation of the Chinese dynastic ruler. ... The Shunzhi Emperor (March 15, 1638–February 5, 1661?) was the second emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China proper from 1644 to 1661. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Qing Dynasty (Chinese: ; pinyin: QÄ«ng cháo; Wade-Giles: Ching chao; Manchu: daicing gurun), occasionally known as the Manchu Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China, expanded into China and the surrounding territories, establishing the Empire... Empress Dowager Cixi (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Tzu-Hsi Huang Tai-hou) (November 29, 1835 – November 15, 1908), popularly known in China as the West Empress Dowager (Chinese: 西太后), was from the Manchu Yehenara Clan. ...

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). Mongols (Mongolian: Монгол Mongol, Turkish: MoÄŸollar) are an ethnic group that originated in what is now Mongolia, Russia, and China or more specifically on the Central Asian plateau north of the Gobi desert and south of Siberia. ... For other uses, see Genghis Khan (disambiguation). ...

Biography

Lady Borjigit was given to Hung Taiji 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 married to Hung Taiji who also became an empress dowager when Hung Taiji died and was succeeded by Borjigit's son, Shunzhi. Hong Taiji (Chinese: 皇太極; also known as 洪太極 or 黃台吉; sometimes referred to as Abahai), (1592-1643), was Manchu emperor first of the Later Jin dynasty and then, after he changed its name, of the Qing dynasty, reigning from 1626 to 1643. ... Events March 27 - Prince Charles Stuart becomes King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland. ... The Shunzhi Emperor (March 15, 1638 - February 5, 1661) was the second emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China proper from 1644 to 1661. ... Jere was married to Hong Taiji and became his official wife, Empress of the Qing dynasty when it was established. ...

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 (多爾袞 duo1 er3 gun3) (November 17, 1612 - December 31, 1650), also known as Hošoi Mergen Cin Wang (和碩睿親王), was a Manchu prince in the early Qing dynasty. ...

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. Prince Dodo (1614–1649) was a Manchu prince and general. ...

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. Empress Dowager Cixi (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Tzu-Hsi Huang Tai-hou) (November 29, 1835 – November 15, 1908), popularly known in China as the West Empress Dowager (Chinese: 西太后), was from the Manchu Yehenara Clan. ... The Guangxu Emperor (August 14, 1871–November 14, 1908), born Zaitian (載湉), was the tenth emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Oboi (Manchu: ; Chinese: ; pinyin: ) (?-1669) was a great Manchu warrior of the Bordered Yellow Banner from the Gūwalgiya clan. ... Sonin, (?-1667) also known as Soni (Manchu: ; Chinese: 索尼), was a senior regent during Chinese Emperor Kang Xis minority in the Qing Dynasty. ... A regent during the early reign of Chinese Emperor Kang Xi who was put to death by Oboi. ... Ebilun was an assistant minister appointed by the Chinese Emperor Shunzhi for his successor, Emperor Kang Xi during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). ...

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.

Reference

• 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.

Succession