A Stepmother’s Ascent to the Throne

Empress Xiaoherui of the Niohuru clan, born in 1776, was an unlikely figure in Qing Dynasty history. As the stepmother of the Daoguang Emperor, she found herself in a precarious position—only six years older than her imperial stepson. Her life took a dramatic turn in 1820 when her husband, the Jiaqing Emperor, died suddenly in Chengde. With the ascension of her stepson, the Daoguang Emperor, she transitioned from empress to empress dowager, a role she would hold for 29 years until her death in 1849.

Her story is not just one of personal endurance but also a reflection of the complex power dynamics within the Qing court. Unlike most empress dowagers, Xiaoherui never saw her own mausoleum built during her lifetime—a glaring omission that raises questions about the relationship between her and the Daoguang Emperor.

The Curious Case of the Missing Mausoleum

In Qing tradition, a new emperor had two immediate responsibilities upon ascending the throne: constructing his own mausoleum and building one for the empress dowager. Daoguang fulfilled the first duty by commissioning his tomb at Baohuayu in the Eastern Qing Tombs. Yet, astonishingly, he neglected the second duty entirely, leaving Xiaoherui without a designated resting place for nearly three decades.

Historians speculate that three key factors contributed to this neglect:

### 1. The Precedent of Empress Dowager Xiaoshengxian

A critical influence was the precedent set by Empress Dowager Xiaoshengxian, the mother of the Qianlong Emperor. When her husband, the Yongzheng Emperor, was interred in the Tailing Mausoleum, court officials debated whether to reserve space for her. She famously decreed: “There is no need to reserve a space for me in the Tailing tomb.” This allowed Qianlong to later build the lavish Taidong Mausoleum for her.

When Jiaqing was buried in the Changling Mausoleum, officials similarly asked Daoguang whether to reserve space for Xiaoherui. The tomb was sealed without provisions for her, making it impossible to inter her there without major disruption—a clear signal of Daoguang’s reluctance.

### 2. The Fraught Relationship Between Stepson and Stepmother

The heart of the issue lay in the strained relationship between Daoguang and Xiaoherui. Suspicion surrounds Daoguang’s ascension: when Jiaqing died suddenly, no clear succession decree was found. Daoguang claimed to have discovered a secret edict in a small golden box, naming him heir. However, historians debate its authenticity—some argue it was a fabrication to legitimize his rule.

Compounding the tension, Daoguang allegedly confined Xiaoherui in the Old Summer Palace to force her endorsement of his reign. Whether true or not, this narrative underscores the mistrust between them. With no filial bond to motivate him, Daoguang had little incentive to honor Xiaoherui with a mausoleum.

### 3. Xiaoherui’s Own Ambitions

As a mother of two adult sons—Princes Miankai and Mianxin—Xiaoherui may have harbored hopes for one of them to inherit the throne. Miankai, in particular, was a capable prince, praised for his role in suppressing the Lin Qing Rebellion in 1813. Some speculate that Jiaqing might have considered him as heir, or that Xiaoherui privately favored him.

After Daoguang’s accession, Miankai faced repeated punishments, fueling suspicions of political retaliation. This tension made it impossible for Xiaoherui to press for her own mausoleum, leaving the matter unresolved for decades.

A Last-Minute Decision and a Diminished Legacy

Xiaoherui died on December 11, 1849, at age 74, still without a tomb. Only on January 12, 1850, did Daoguang belatedly select a site west of the Changling Mausoleum—the future Changxi Mausoleum. Fate intervened again: two days later, Daoguang himself died, passing the responsibility to his successor, the Xianfeng Emperor.

Overwhelmed by dual funerary duties, Xianfeng cut corners. The Changxi Mausoleum was significantly scaled down: its Hall of Eminent Favor, side halls, and gate were reduced to three bays each, and the traditional square city and Ming Tower atop the burial chamber were omitted. The result was the most modest empress’s tomb of the Qing Dynasty, a stark contrast to the grandeur of earlier examples.

The Cultural and Political Implications

Xiaoherui’s story reveals much about Qing court politics. Stepmothers in imperial China often occupied precarious positions, particularly when they had sons of their own. The absence of her mausoleum speaks volumes about Daoguang’s insecurities and the fragility of his legitimacy.

Moreover, the downgraded Changxi Mausoleum reflects the declining resources and attention to tradition in the late Qing era. By the mid-19th century, the dynasty faced internal strife and external threats, leaving little room for ceremonial extravagance.

Modern Reflections on an Overlooked Empress

Today, Empress Xiaoherui’s legacy is a footnote in Qing history, overshadowed by more prominent figures. Yet her life offers a window into the personal and political struggles behind imperial rituals. The neglected mausoleum stands as a silent testament to the unresolved tensions of her reign—a reminder that even in death, the empress dowager could not escape the complexities of her position.

Her story also prompts broader questions: How many other women in history were sidelined by similar dynamics? And how do the material traces of their lives—or the lack thereof—shape our understanding of power and memory?

In the end, the Changxi Mausoleum, though modest, ensures that Xiaoherui is not entirely forgotten. It remains a physical marker of her existence, however diminished by the hands of history.