A Macabre Discovery in the Imperial Tombs

When the Qing Dynasty’s imperial tombs were looted in the early 20th century, grave robbers and investigators made a baffling observation: while the remains of emperors—including powerful rulers like Kangxi, Qianlong, and Guangxu—had decomposed into skeletons, several empresses and consorts were found eerily intact. The preserved bodies included Empress Xiaoyi (née Wei, later posthumously honored as Empress Xiaoyirui), Empress Dowager Ci’an, Empress Dowager Cixi, Empress Xiaozhe (consort of the Tongzhi Emperor), and the Tongzhi Emperor’s Imperial Noble Consort Shushen. This phenomenon sparked debates among historians: Why did these women defy decomposition while emperors did not? Did their causes of death—often violent or mysterious—play a role?

The Violent Fates of Qing Palace Women

### Death by Coercion: The Brutal Politics of the Inner Court

The Qing imperial harem was a perilous place where women faced execution, forced suicide, and fatal “accidents” as political pawns:

– Ritual Sacrifice: Nurhaci’s primary consort, Abahai (Dorgon’s mother), was forced to commit suicide in 1626 despite her high status and young sons. Official records claim she was “jealous and scheming,” but historians suspect her death was orchestrated to eliminate a rival faction.
– Filial Betrayal: The Jianzhou Jurchen noblewoman Fuca, once a favored consort of Nurhaci, was murdered by her own son, Manggūltai, who sought to prove loyalty to his father.
– Poisoned Rivalry: Empress Dowager Ci’an, co-regent with Cixi, died abruptly in 1881 after eating tainted pastries—a suspected assassination by Cixi to consolidate power.
– Execution: The Guangxu Emperor’s favorite, Consort Zhen, was drowned in a well by eunuchs on Cixi’s orders during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

### Suicide: The Last Resort of the Desperate

– Defiance and Despair: Empress Xiaozhe (Arukte clan), widowed at 22 after the Tongzhi Emperor’s death, starved herself in 1875 to escape Cixi’s persecution.
– Coerced Self-Harm: The Daoguang Emperor’s Empress Xiaoquancheng was allegedly ordered to hang herself by the Empress Dowager in 1840 over unspecified offenses.

### “Accidents” and Suspicious Ends

– Childbirth: Empress Xiaochengren died hemorrhaging after delivering the Kangxi Emperor’s heir in 1674.
– Drowning: Qianlong’s Consort Cheng fell from a dragon boat during a 1784 southern tour.
– Terror: A low-ranking consort of the Xianfeng Emperor died of shock when Anglo-French troops burned the Old Summer Palace in 1860.

Why Were the Empresses Preserved?

### Cultural and Religious Factors

1. Early Manchu Funerary Practices:
– Pre-1644, the Jurchens practiced cremation for portability during nomadic life. Nurhaci and Hong Taiji were cremated; their ashes stored in urns.
– Kangxi abandoned this tradition under Han Confucian influence, adopting earth burials—but without Egyptian-style embalming.

2. Spiritual Beliefs Over Physical Preservation:
– Shamanism: Manchu spirituality prioritized soul liberation over bodily integrity. Rituals like “spirit jumping” (萨满跳神) focused on guiding the deceased’s spirit to heaven.
– Buddhism: Qing rulers like Qianlong (who identified as a reincarnated bodhisattva) and the devoutly Buddhist Shunzhi Emperor viewed the body as a transient vessel.
– Taoism: The Yongzheng Emperor’s obsession with alchemical immortality paradoxically neglected corpse preservation.

### The Medical Hypothesis

– Starvation and Empty Digestive Tracts: Empress Xiaozhe’s prolonged fasting before death may have slowed decomposition.
– Poison and Metal Ingestion: Consorts who ingested arsenic (used in makeup) or swallowed gold (a suicide method) might have inadvertently preserved tissues.

The Case of Empress Xiaoyi: A Postmortem Enigma

### Rise of the “Smiling” Consort

Born Wei Jia Shi (魏佳氏), this daughter of a Han Bannerman official climbed from lowly Noble Lady to Empress Dowager posthumously:

– Fertility as Power: She bore Qianlong six children—including the Jiaqing Emperor—between ages 30–40, a rarity in an era of imperial polygamy.
– Political Savvy: Her 1765 victory over the disgraced Empress Ulanara (who剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪发抗议剪