The Historical Prototype of Prince Guojun in Empresses in the Palace:Yǔnlǐ True Life

Hello everyone, welcome to History and Culture. Many modern historical films and TV dramas have brought a Qing dynasty imperial clansman, who originally lay quietly in a corner of historical records, Prince Guo of the first rank, Yunli, back into the public eye. On screen, he is elegant and graceful, exceptionally talented, and deeply devoted in love. Appearing as a rare, ideal figure among the Qing imperial family. This has sparked curiosity among many viewers, was the historical Yunli truly as romantic and tragic as portrayed in these dramas? What exactly did he experience in his life, and what was his ultimate fate? If one has the opportunity to visit the area around Shengyuezhuang in Yi County, Hebei province, one can see the remains of Yunli's tomb. The grandeur of the past is long gone. Leaving only scattered relics. The stone bridge is enclosed by walls. Stone lions lie scattered on the ground. Only parts of the walls of the Xiang Hall remain. And the former palace gates are barely recognizable. However, a steel in front of the tomb is relatively well-preserved. And the outline of the mound still reveals the contours of a Qing prince's mausoleum, though the top is slightly tilted. According to historical experts, Yunli's tomb was a standard Qing prince's burial site. Originally complete with a Xiang Hall, palace gates, steel pavilion, and enclosing walls, fully compliant with regulations and meticulously laid out. In the First Historical Archives of China, a memorial submitted by Yunli regarding the construction of his mausoleum is still preserved. The document records that the project cost 80,000 tales of silver, required large quantities of timber, and used golden bricks. Golden bricks were not actually made of gold but were a high-grade kiln-fired brick of extremely fine texture. When struck, they produced a clear, metallic sound. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, only imperial palaces and the important sleeping halls of emperors and empresses were entitled to use this material. For a prince, such specifications were uncommon, indirectly reflecting Yunli's status at the time. To understand this, we must return to Yunli's background and experiences. Yunli was the 17th son of the Kangxi Emperor, and his mother came from a humble background. For this reason, he received little attention during the Kangxi reign. According to Qing regulations, imperial princes around the age of 15 were supposed to be recommended for ennoblement by the imperial clan court. But Yunli remained without any title into his twenties, performing only minor, unremarkable administrative duties in the palace. Among the many princes, his situation stood out as particularly isolated. Perhaps it was precisely these years spent away from the center of power that allowed Yunli to devote more energy to scholarship and self-cultivation. Historical records state that Yunli was proficient in multiple languages and scripts and had considerable accomplishments in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, a rare all-round talent among the imperial clan of his time. Yunli authored the collections Zhuanhe Tangji, Jingyuan Zhaiji, and Fengshirji Xingshirji. Later, when constructing the tailing mausoleum for the Yongzheng Emperor, Yunli not only participated in the overall planning but personally composed the inscription for the steel. The rigorously worded and extremely lengthy text on the Shengde Shengong steel still visible today at the Western Qing tombs was written by Yunli himself. The relationship between Yunli and the Yongzheng Emperor is often dramatized with much conflict in historical films and dramas. In reality, their relationship underwent a process, from suspicion to trust. In the late Kangxi years, competition among the princes for the succession grew increasingly fierce with clear factional divisions. After ascending the throne, Yongzheng remained wary of brothers who had previously been involved in the succession struggle. Yunli was once suspected of ties to certain political forces due to marriage connections and nearly faced repercussions. At a critical moment, the thirteenth prince, Yunxiang, vouched for him. Yunxiang was one of the brothers Yongzheng trusted most, and his judgment carried great weight with the Emperor. It was on the basis of this trust that Yongzheng gave Yunli an opportunity. Initially, however, these were only seemingly ordinary assignments, which Yunli handled methodically and without overstepping boundaries. Gradually, Yongzheng's attitude toward him shifted, from caution to appreciation, and finally to genuine trust. Beginning in the early Yongzheng reign, Yunli's career took a clear turn for the better. He was ennobled as prince Guo of the first rank and subsequently entrusted with important responsibilities, managing key institutions dealing with frontier and ethnic affairs. For the habitually cautious and suspicious Yongzheng Emperor, such trust was not easily bestowed on others. On some occasions, Yongzheng even proactively assured ministers that Yunli was a person worth associating with and that there was no need for concern in the political environment of the Qing dynasty. This was already an exceptionally high evaluation. In terms of romance, the historical Yunli did not have the complex and tortuous palace love affairs depicted in historical dramas. According to Qing regulations, prince's access to the inner palace was strictly limited. And those romantic plots are largely later artistic embellishments. However, Yunli's devotion in marriage is documented in historical sources. He shared deep affection with his primary consort and for a long time did not take additional wives. Only later, after confirming that his wife could not bear children, did he, in accordance with clan rules, marry a secondary consort to continue the lineage. This restraint and sense of responsibility were uncommon in the imperial family of the time. In the third year of the Qianlong reign, 1737 AD, Yunli died of illness at the age of 42. The site of his mausoleum had been selected during Yongzheng's lifetime, not far from the Yongzheng Emperor's tailing, symbolizing the trust and bond between the two. After Yunli's death, the Qianlong Emperor personally attended the mourning rites and made several arrangements for his funeral affairs. Since Yunli had no biological sons, the imperial clan ultimately arranged for the adoption of a relative to inherit the title. Thus, Qianlong's youngest brother, Hongzhou, was adopted as his son and inherited the title of Prince Guo of the first rank, allowing this branch of the bloodline to continue. According to comments from relevant historians, looking back on Yunli's life, he did not start out in a position of power and glory, ignored for many years in his youth. He only gradually gained recognition in middle age. Yet he always remained cautious and self-disciplined, never becoming arrogant upon gaining favor. Yunli possessed both talent and propriety, he could shoulder heavy responsibilities while understanding when to advance and retreat. Perhaps for this reason, among Kangxi's many sons, Yunli can be considered one with a relatively stable outcome. The historical Yunli lacked the extreme tragedy of the screen versions and had no legendary ups and downs. But it was precisely in this restraint, rationality, and sense of duty that he displayed a more authentic and thought-provoking life trajectory. This may be the greatest value he left to later generations. This is the History and Culture Channel. Liking and subscribing are the greatest help and support to us. 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