The Rise of the Qing Dynasty and Its Powerful Figures

The early 17th century witnessed the dramatic rise of the Manchu people under the leadership of Nurhaci, who established the Later Jin dynasty in 1616. His military campaigns consolidated Manchuria and laid the foundation for what would become one of China’s most enduring imperial dynasties. When Nurhaci died in 1626 from battle wounds, his eighth son Hong Taiji succeeded him, changing the dynastic name to Qing in 1636 and adopting the reign title Chongde.

This pivotal period saw the emergence of two extraordinary figures who would shape Qing history: Hong Taiji himself, a brilliant military strategist who expanded Qing territories dramatically, and his younger half-brother Dorgon, the 14th son of Nurhaci. Dorgon’s military prowess became legendary during campaigns against the Ming dynasty, particularly his victories at Guangqumen Gate and Jizhou, where he decimated Ming reinforcements. By 1636, Dorgon had risen to become Prince Rui of the First Rank, his power and prestige nearly matching that of the emperor himself.

The Succession Crisis and a Child Emperor

The sudden death of Hong Taiji in 1643 created a dangerous power vacuum in the Qing court. The ensuing succession struggle pitted Dorgon against other powerful princes including Dodo, Ajige, Jirgalang, and Hooge. This high-stakes political drama threatened to erupt into armed conflict until a compromise was reached: Hong Taiji’s five-year-old son Fulin would ascend the throne as the Shunzhi Emperor, with Dorgon and Jirgalang as co-regents.

In reality, Dorgon quickly consolidated power, leveraging his control of the elite White Banner troops. The delicate balance of power was further complicated by the presence of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, the young emperor’s mother. Born Borjigit of the Khorchin Mongols, she had been married to Hong Taiji at age thirteen in 1625. By 1643, this politically astute thirty-year-old widow found herself navigating treacherous court politics to protect her son’s throne.

Dorgon’s Absolute Power and Imperial Ambitions

As regent, Dorgon systematically eliminated potential rivals while expanding Qing control over China. His most decisive move came in 1644 when he seized the opportunity presented by Wu Sangui’s defection to lead Qing forces through Shanhaiguan and capture Beijing. This established the Qing capital in the heart of China and marked the true beginning of Manchu rule over all China.

Dorgon’s power grew unchecked. He assumed the title “Imperial Uncle Prince Regent” (皇叔父摄政王) and later “Imperial Father Prince Regent” (皇父摄政王), with ceremonial protocols nearly equal to the emperor’s. Court officials were required to kneel when he passed, and imperial edicts bore both his name and the emperor’s. In 1647, he had his main rival Hooge imprisoned on trivial charges and took Hooge’s wife as his own concubine – a shocking display of power that demonstrated his complete dominance over the imperial clan.

The Scandal That Shook the Empire

The most controversial chapter in this drama unfolded when Dorgon married his sister-in-law, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. Historical records suggest this was no secret affair but a formal union announced to the empire. The Joseon Korean court’s records note their astonishment at Qing documents referring to Dorgon as “Imperial Father,” with Korean officials speculating this indicated the Qing now had “two emperors.”

Several contemporary sources document this extraordinary event. The Ming loyalist Zhang Huangyan wrote satirical poetry describing the lavish wedding celebrations in the palace. The Qing official Jiang Liangqi recorded Dorgon’s frequent visits to the inner palace and his assumption of the “Imperial Father” title. Most remarkably, the Sichuan Normal University library holds an “Imperial Father Prince Regent’s Daily Records” with a postscript claiming the discovery of the original marriage edict in the Qing archives during the early 20th century.

Political Calculations Behind the Romance

While presented as a romantic union, this marriage was likely a strategic move by Xiaozhuang to protect her son’s position. With Dorgon’s power absolute and his imperial ambitions clear, the marriage secured the young emperor’s safety while giving Dorgon the prestige of imperial connection without formally usurping the throne.

The political theater surrounding the marriage reveals much about Qing power dynamics. The scholar Fan Wencheng orchestrated a court debate proposing that since the emperor regarded Dorgon as a father, it was only proper that his “parents” should live together. The motion passed without opposition – no official dared challenge Dorgon’s will.

The Aftermath and Historical Debate

Dorgon’s sudden death in 1650 at age 38 changed everything. The Shunzhi Emperor posthumously honored him as “Emperor Yi of the Qing Dynasty,” but soon reversed course, stripping Dorgon of all titles and exposing his “crimes.” Xiaozhuang, however, maintained her position, living until 1688 as a respected matriarch through two reigns.

Modern historians remain divided about the marriage. Scholars like Meng Sen argue the evidence is circumstantial – titles like “Imperial Father” had historical precedent, and hostile sources like Zhang Huangyan are unreliable. Others point to multiple corroborating records and the highly unusual burial arrangements for Xiaozhuang, who broke with tradition by not being interred with Hong Taiji, suggesting her own sense of impropriety about the marriage.

Legacy of a Palace Scandal

This remarkable episode illuminates the complex interplay of power, tradition, and personal relationships in Qing court politics. It demonstrates how the Manchus, while adopting many Chinese imperial traditions, retained certain flexibility from their steppe heritage regarding royal marriages. The story also reveals the extraordinary political acumen of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, who navigated these dangerous waters to ensure the survival of her son’s reign and the stability of the young Qing dynasty.

The controversy continues to captivate historians and popular imagination alike, serving as a lens through which we examine the cultural tensions between Manchu and Han traditions, the limits of imperial power, and the personal sacrifices made behind palace walls to shape the course of Chinese history.