Shunzhi Emperor

Also known as Shunzhi Di · Qingshi Zu · Ai Xin Jue Luo · Fu Lin

Fulin, the Shunzhi Emperor, was the ninth son of Hong Taiji by Consort Zhuang. When Hong Taiji died suddenly in 1643 the princes enthroned the child at Shengjing, and the Shunzhi reign began the next year under the regency of his uncles Dorgon and Jirgalang. In 1644 the Qing army passed the Great Wall, the court moved to Beijing, and the regents cancelled the three late-Ming surtaxes. Ruling in person from 1651, Fulin stripped the dead Dorgon of his titles, promoted Han officials, punished corruption, created the Thirteen Eunuch Offices in 1653 and set up an iron tablet barring eunuchs from government. He kept close company with Chan monks such as Yulin Tongxiu and Muchen Daomin, and grew withdrawn after his favourite, Consort Donggo, died. He died of smallpox in February 1661, with the temple name Shizu and the posthumous title Emperor Zhang. A later legend that he secretly became a monk on Mount Wutai is generally rejected by historians.