Yunduan Explained

Yunduan
Prince Qin of the Second Rank
Chinese: 多羅勤郡王
Succession:Head of the House of Prince Qin peerage
Reign:1636–1652
Reign-Type:Tenure
Predecessor:peerage created
Successor:peerage abolished
Birth Date:1671
Father:Yolo
Mother:Lady Hešeri
House:Aisin Gioro

Yunduan (1671-1705) was Qing dynasty imperial prince as Yolo's 18th son and Abatai's grandson. Yunduan was granted a title of Prince Qin of the Second Rank in 1684 and was stripped of all of his titles in 1698. His lineage became extinct because of the lack of a male heir. As Prince Qin of the Second Rank peerage was not given iron-cap status, each successive bearer of the title would hold diminished ranks vis-a-vis his predecessor.[1]

Life

Yunduan was born in 1671 to lady Hešeri, Yolo's third primary consort[2] and paternal aunt of Empress Xiaochengren, Kangxi Emperor's first reigning empress.[3] Yunduan was granted a title 'Prince Qin of the Second Rank' (勤郡王, meaning "diligent") in 1684. In 1690, after Nuoni (member of Prince Keqin peerage[4]) discovered that Yolo had sown discord among the regents and princes and, moreover, had framed Nuoni for unwilling to demonstrate filial piety, Yunduan was downgraded to prince of the fourth rank (贝子) along with his father, who became posthumously demoted to Prince An of the Second Rank[5] ,and brother, who became demoted to grace defender duke without an ability to pass the title on his descendants. Yunduan was stripped of his titles in 1698 because of his sympathy for Han rebelliants. It was disputed that Yunduan was not granted red girdles due to Kangxi Emperor's admiration for his literary works.[6]

Yunduan died in 1705 at the age of 35. After his death, there weren't any other imperial princes adopted as his successors, hence the peerage remained extinct.

In his childhood, Yunduan was raised together with his elder brother, but turned ill-tempered because of their jealousy.[7] Yunduan was recognised as an artist and a poet, whose lyrics evolved into Chinese opera. His works include: "Bridge on the Jade Basin" (《玉池生稿》), "Stories of Red Orchids" (《红兰集》), "Smartweed in the Sand" (《蓼汀集》), "Untitled poem" (《无题诗》); which became a libretto of "Story of the Dream of Yangzhou" (《扬州梦传奇》) and "View of the Late Spring" (《春郊晚眺》).[8]

Family

Yunduan was married to lady Nara, daughter of Cha'erhai (查尔海). His second wife was the sister of his previous one.[9]

Family tree

Legend:

Orange - Prince Raoyu/Prince An of the First Rank

Indigo - Prince Xi

Blue - Consorts of Prince Xi

Light Blue - Lesser members and their consorts

Purple - Prince Qin

Violet - Consorts of Prince Xi

Names

First courtesy name: Jianshan (兼山)

Second courtesy name: Zhengzi (正子), meaning "upright son"

First art name: Yuchisheng (玉池生), derived from the homonymic poem, meaning : "Scholar of the Jade Pond"

Second art name: Master of the Room of Red Orchids (红兰室主人),[11] derived from the poem "Stories of Red Orchids"

Notes and References

  1. Book: Zhao, Erxun. Draft History of Qing. Imperial Princes, Chart 2. 1928.
  2. Book: 《愛新覺羅宗譜》/"Genealogy of the Aisin Gioro clan", part 2. 10. 5371.
  3. Book: 《康熙朝实录》/ "The chronicles of the Kangxi era"..
  4. Web site: 详细资料介绍_爱新觉罗宗谱网. 2020-12-29. www.axjlzp.com.
  5. Book: Tong/佟, Jiajiang/佳江. "Correction of the "Draft History of Qing" ". Jilin University press.
  6. Book: Liu, Xiaomeng. 正说清朝十二王/"Qing dynasty 12 princes". Beijing Book Co. Inc.. 2009.
  7. Book: 《清诗纪事》/ "Chinese Poetry".
  8. Web site: 蕴端简介_古诗文网. 2020-12-30. so.gushiwen.org.
  9. Web site: 详细资料介绍_爱新觉罗宗谱网. 2020-12-30. www.axjlzp.com.
  10. Web site: 详细资料介绍_爱新觉罗宗谱网. 2020-12-30. www.axjlzp.com.
  11. Book: Yan, Dichang. History of the Qing dynasty poetry. 浙江古籍出版社. 2002. 28.