Background

She was the primary consort of Yixuan (Prince Chun), the seventh son of the Daoguang Emperor, and the mother of the Guangxu Emperor, the penultimate emperor of the Qing dynasty.

Career

She was also a younger sister of Empress Dowager Cixi, who was the de facto ruler of the Qing Empire throughout the reigns of the Tongzhi and Guangxu emperors. Wanzhen"s father was Huizheng (惠徵), a Manchu official from the Bordered Blue Banner of the Eight Banners. Consort Yi became known as "Empress Dowager Cixi" from then on.

In January 1875, the Tongzhi Emperor died at the relatively young age of 18.

Prince Chun and Wanzhen"s second son, Zaitian, was chosen by Empress Dowagers Cixi and Ci"an to be the new ruler and was enthroned as the Guangxu Emperor. Wanzhen was widowed in 1891 when Prince Chun died.

Her stepson, Zaifeng, inherited his father"s princely title and became the second Prince Chun. Wanzhen herself died about five years later in 1896 at the age of 54.

Empresss Dowager Cixi also recalled that when the Guangxu Emperor was brought to the Forbidden City in 1875 for his coronation, "he was a very sickly child, and could hardly walk, he was so thin and weak.

Father: Huizheng (惠徵. 1805–1853), a Manchu official from the Blue Bordered Banner. Siblings:

Empress Dowager Cixi (1835–1908), eldest sister

Younger sister, name unknown, married Yixun (奕勛.

Second brother of Prince Qing)

Zhaoxiang (照祥), eldest brother

Guixiang (桂祥.

Died c 1913), second brother

Fuxiang (福祥), third brother

Spouse: Yixuan (Prince Chun) (1840–1891), seventh son of the Daoguang Emperor

Issue:

Zaihan (載瀚. 1 February 1865 – 9 December 1866), eldest son

Zaitian (1871–1908), second son, became the Guangxu Emperor

Third son (13–14 February 1875), unnamed, died one day after he was born

Zaiguang (載洸.

28 November 1880 – 18 May 1884), fourth son.

Connections

brother-in-law:

Prince Chun