Empress Xiaocigao (Qing dynasty)

Empress Xiaocigao (1575 – 31 October 1603), of the Manchu Yehe Nara clan, personal name Monggo Jerjer, was a consort of Nurhaci. She was 16 years his junior.

Family background

 * Father: Yangginu (楊吉努; d. 1584), held the title of a third rank prince (貝勒)
 * Paternal grandfather: Taicu (台杵), held the title of a third rank prince (貝勒)
 * Paternal uncle: Cinggiyanu (清佳砮; d. 1584), held the title of a third rank prince (貝勒), the father of Bujai (d. 1593)
 * Two elder brothers
 * First elder brother: Narimbulu (納林布祿; d. 1609), held the title of a third rank prince (貝勒)
 * Second elder brother: Gintaisi (d. 1619), held the title of a third rank prince (貝勒)

Wanli era
In October or November 1588, Lady Yehe Nara married Nurhaci, becoming one of his multiple wives. On 28 November 1592, she gave birth to Nurhaci's eighth son, Hong Taiji. Lady Yehe Nara died on 31 October 1603.

Chongde era
On 16 May 1636, after Hong Taiji proclaimed the Qing dynasty, Lady Yehe Nara was posthumously elevated to "Empress Xiaociwu".

Kangxi era
In 1662, Lady Yehe Nara's posthumous title was changed from "Empress Xiaociwu" to "Empress Xiaocigao", reflecting her status as a consort of Nurhaci (Emperor Gao).

Titles

 * During the reign of the Wanli Emperor (r. 1572–1620):
 * Lady Yehe Nara (from 1575)
 * Secondary consort (側福晉; from October/November 1588 )
 * Primary consort (大福晉)
 * During the reign of Hong Taiji (r. 1626–1643):
 * Empress Xiaociwu (孝慈武皇后; from 16 May 1636 )
 * During the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (r. 1661–1722):
 * Empress Xiaocigao (孝慈高皇后; from 1662)

Issue

 * As secondary consort:
 * Hong Taiji (皇太極; 28 November 1592 – 21 September 1643), Nurhaci's eighth son, enthroned on 20 October 1626

In fiction and popular culture

 * Portrayed by Mak Tsui-han in The Rise and Fall of Qing Dynasty (1987)
 * Portrayed by Shi Xiaoqun in Taizu Mishi (2005)