Prince Fu’s Mansion

Prince Fu’s Mansion

Prince Fu’s Mansion is a protected cultural heritage site of Beijing.

Prince Fu’s Mansion is located at No. 137, Chaoyangmennei Street, Dongcheng District. It was originally the new residence of Prince Yi. After the death of Yinzhi, the thirteenth son of Emperor Kangxi and Prince Yi, his original mansion was converted into Xianliang Temple, and the emperor granted this site to his second successor, Hongxiao. To distinguish it from the old residence, it was commonly referred to as the new residence of Prince Yi. When it passed to the sixth-generation prince, Zaiyuan, who, along with Prince Zheng Duanhua, served as a regent and was stripped of his title and executed by Empress Dowager Cixi, the mansion was reclaimed by the imperial court. In the 30th year of Emperor Daoguang’s reign (1850), his youngest son Yixin was granted the title of Prince Fu and moved out of the Forbidden City to reside here in the 3rd year of Emperor Tongzhi’s reign (1864), hence it became known as Prince Fu’s Mansion. Because he was the ninth son, it was commonly called the Ninth Prince’s Mansion. After Yixin’s death, Zaisu was adopted as his heir and inherited the title of Beile (lord), so the mansion was also known as Shu Beile Mansion. The original entrance gate was on Chaonei North Small Street. The current street-facing gate was established during the Republican era. It is a key protected cultural relic of Beijing.

Prince Fu’s Mansion

Prince Fu Mansion, also known as Prince Fu’s Mansion, was originally the new residence of Prince Yi. This mansion was a hereditary and descending princedom mansion, located on the north side of Chaoyangmennei Street, Dongcheng District. After the death of Yinzhi, the thirteenth son of Emperor Kangxi and Prince Yi, the original mansion was converted into Xianliang Temple, and the emperor granted this site to his second successor, Hongxiao. To distinguish it from the old residence, it was commonly referred to as the new residence of Prince Yi. When it passed to the sixth-generation prince, Zaiyuan, who, along with Prince Zheng Duanhua, served as a regent and was stripped of his title and executed by Empress Dowager Cixi, the mansion was reclaimed by the imperial court. In the 30th year of Emperor Daoguang’s reign, his youngest son Yixin was granted the title of Prince Fu and moved out of the Forbidden City to reside here in the 3rd year of Emperor Tongzhi’s reign, hence it became known as Prince Fu’s Mansion. Because he was the ninth son, it was commonly called the Ninth Prince’s Mansion. After Yixin’s death, Zaisu was adopted as his heir and inherited the title of Beile, so the mansion was also known as Shu Beile Mansion.

Ning Prince’s Mansion is located north of Beijiao Street, on the northern side of Beiji Ge San Tiao, facing North Dongdan Avenue. Its first owner was Hongjiao, the fourth son of Yinzhi, Prince Yi, during the Yongzheng era. After Yinzhi’s death in the 7th year of Yongzheng, the emperor personally visited the mansion several times to mourn him and posthumously honored him with the title “Xian.” The title of Prince Yi was hereditary without reduction, and Yongzheng also ordered that another son of Prince Yi be granted the title of prince, descending hereditarily. This son was Hongjiao. He was granted the title of Ning Prince in the 8th year of Yongzheng. The exceptional favor shown by Yongzheng to Prince Yi was rare in the Qing Dynasty. However, in the 4th year of Qianlong, Ning Prince Hongjiao was implicated in an unsuccessful coup plotted by Prince Li Hongshi. Hongshi, the son of the deposed crown prince of Kangxi’s reign, conspired with Prince Zhuang Yunlu and others to usurp the throne from Qianlong. Later, Hongshi was imprisoned for life within the high walls, and although Ning Prince Hongjiao should have been stripped of his title, because the title was specially granted by Yongzheng, it was retained leniently. In the early years of Tongzhi, Hongjiao’s great-grandson Zaidun inherited the title of Prince Yi, and Ning Prince’s Mansion was thus renamed Prince Yi Mansion.

The mansion grounds extend from Chaoyangmennei Street northward to the south side of Dongsi Santiao Road. The original street gate was on Chaonei North Small Street. The current street-facing gate was established during the Republican era. The architectural layout of the courtyard can be divided into three sections: east, middle, and west. The main central buildings include: the main hall (Yin’an Hall), fronted by a stone stairway flanked by stone railings, with side pavilions of seven bays on each side; behind it lies a five-bay rear hall, a seven-bay bedroom, and finally a seven-bay rear enclosed building. On either side of the rear enclosed building are standalone courtyards. To the west of the main courtyard are several siheyuan (courtyard houses) that served as residential areas for the royal family. The eastern section originally housed the treasury, kitchens, stables, and quarters for servants. Before liberation, it was used as the campus of the Women’s College of Arts and Sciences of Peking University. It is now occupied by several state-owned institutions and hundreds of households.

The central section consists of the main structures: a five-bay main gate with stone lions on both sides; a seven-bay main hall with a protruding stone stairway and white stone railings; side pavilions on the left and right, each seven bays wide; a five-bay rear hall with east and west wing rooms; a seven-bay bedroom with east and west wing rooms; and a final seven-bay rear enclosed building. The main gate, halls, and bedrooms are all covered with green glazed tiles, with ridge decorations of mythical creatures. The western section is composed of several courtyard houses forming the residential area. Most of the original buildings are preserved, though many additions have been made. The eastern section was originally for servants and storage, kitchens, and stables, but its original appearance has been completely lost. On either side of the rear enclosed building are small independent courtyards shaded by trees, offering a quiet environment that compensates for the lack of a garden. The arrangement of the corridors and halls in the eastern courtyard is particularly well done.

Prince Fu’s Mansion features a rigorous and orderly layout and is a typical example of Qing Dynasty princely architecture. It is also one of the few relatively well-preserved princely mansions in Beijing.

The “Medium- and Long-Term Plan for the Restoration and Protection of Cultural Heritage Buildings in Beijing (2008–2015)” has been submitted by the Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics to relevant departments for approval. According to the plan, Beijing’s famous Prince Gong’s Mansion, Prince Fu’s Mansion, and Ning Prince’s Mansion will complete vacating and restoration by 2015 and gradually open to the public.

Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development

The 13th Prince, Aisin-Gioro Yinzhi (1686–1730), son of Emperor Kangxi, also known as the 13th Prince or Yinzhi, of the Manchu Plain Blue Banner, was granted the title of Prince Yi. Yinzhi assisted Emperor Yongzheng in governing the court. During Yongzheng’s reign, the Imperial Household Department under Prince Yi took full responsibility for weapons production, covering everything from nails to cannons. Yongzheng placed immense trust in Yinzhi and assigned him numerous tasks. In 1730, Yinzhi passed away at the age of 44 and was posthumously honored with the title “Xian” and enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Due to their close relationship, Yongzheng restored his original name…   More info on Aisin-Gioro Yinzhi++

Aisin-Gioro Hongxiao (1722–1778), courtesy name Xiuting, alias Bingyu Daoren, posthumous title Xi. The seventh son of Prince Yi, Aisin-Gioro Yinzhi, he inherited the title of Prince Yi and served as an imperial guard at the Qianqing Gate. He was a renowned bibliophile and poet of the Qing Dynasty.

Prince Yi Xi, Aisin-Gioro Hongxiao, the seventh son of Prince Yi Yinzhi, born to the principal wife Zhaohao, was the fourth legitimate son, as well as the full brother of Yinzhi’s second daughter (a princess), third son (Beile Hongtun), fourth son (Prince Ning Hong?), fourth daughter (Princess Heshuo Hui), fifth son Hong? (Rikou), and eighth son Shou’en. In the 61st year of Kangxi’s reign (172…)   More info on Aisin-Gioro Hongxiao++

Aisin-Gioro Zaiyuan (1816–1861), a Qing imperial clan member and high-ranking official. He was the sixth-generation descendant of Emperor Shengzu Aisin-Gioro Xuanye, the fifth-generation descendant of Prince Yi Yinzhi, and inherited the title of Prince Yi. He was one of the twelve hereditary Iron-Capped Princes and the foremost of the Eight Regents during Emperor Xianfeng’s reign. He had served as an attendant to the emperor and was entrusted with important duties. After Emperor Xianfeng ascended the throne, he gradually gained the emperor’s trust and rose through the ranks to become Left Zongzheng, Zongling, and leader of the Imperial Guards.

In the 11th year of Xianfeng, he, along with Aisin-Gioro Duanhua and Sushun among eight others, was appointed as a regent and Grand Councilor, holding real power. …   More info on Aisin-Gioro Zaiyuan++

Emperor Daoguang, Aisin-Gioro Minning (1782–1850), originally named Mianning, was the eighth emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the only one to inherit the throne as the eldest legitimate son. During his reign, he suppressed the Dzungar rebellion, reformed the bureaucracy, salt laws, and river transport systems, and banned opium, but could not reverse the decline of the Qing Dynasty. In 1840, the Opium War broke out, and the Treaty of Nanjing was signed with Britain. Thereafter, Emperor Daoguang became even more disheartened and sought only temporary peace. He passed away in 1850 at the age of 69 and was posthumously titled…   More info on Aisin-Gioro Minning++

Aisin-Gioro Yixin (Huì), granted the title of Prince Fu Jing, was the ninth son of Emperor Daoguang. Lifespan: October 16, 1831 (25th year of Daoguang) to February 8, 1877 (3rd year of Guangxu); lived to 33 years.

His mother was Empress Dowager Zhuangshun, Lady Wuya, daughter of clerk Lingshou. In the 25th year, she gave birth to the ninth son, Prince Fu Jing Yixin. He shared the same mother with the seventh son, Prince Chun Yixin, the eighth son, Prince Zhong Yizhi, the ninth daughter, Princess Heshuo Huigong, and the fifth son Yikuang (Rikou).

Prince Fu Jing Yixin, the ninth son of Emperor Xuanzong. After Emperor Wenzong ascended, he was granted the title of Prince Fu. …   More info on Aisin-Gioro Yixin++

Aisin-Gioro Zaisu (1870–?), the great-grandson of Emperor Kangxi’s first son Aisin-Gioro Yinreng, son of Yijian, originally named Zaiji. In 1878, he was adopted as the successor of the ninth son of Emperor Daoguang, Prince Fu Yixin, and renamed Zaisu, granted the title of Beile. In 1897, he was stripped of his title and imprisoned permanently by the Imperial Clan Court. In February 1901, an imperial decree pardoned him but forbade his return to Prince Fu’s Mansion. On December 10, 1908, another decree allowed him to return to the mansion. Zaisu…   More info on Aisin-Gioro Zaisu++