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{{Short description|Qing dynasty prince and statesman (1833–1898)}}
{{other people}}
{{family name hatnote|Yixin|[[Aisin Gioro]]|lang=Manchu}}{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Yixin
| title        = Prince Gong of the First Rank
| image        = File:Felice Beato (British, born Italy - Portrait of Prince Kung, Brother of the Emperor of China, Who Signed the Treaty - Google Art Project.jpg
| image_size   = 
| alt          = 
| caption      = Prince Gong, shortly after the signing of the [[Convention of Peking]], 1860
| succession   = [[Prince Gong (peerage)|Prince Gong of the First Rank]]
| reign        = 25 February 1850 – 29 May 1898
| reign-type   = Tenure
| successor    = [[Puwei]]
| succession1  = [[Grand Council (Qing dynasty)|Chief Grand Councillor]]
| reign-type1  = In office
| reign1       = 1853 – 1855
| predecessor1 = [[Qi Junzao]]
| successor1   = [[Wenqing (official)|Wenqing]]
| reign-type2  = In office
| reign2       = 1861 – 1884
| predecessor2 = [[Muyin]]
| successor2   = [[Shiduo, Prince Li|Shiduo]]
| reign-type3  = In office
| reign3       = 1894 – 1898
| predecessor3 = Shiduo
| successor3   = Shiduo
| spouse       = {{Marriage|Lady Gūwalgiya|1848|1880|end=d}}
| spouse-type  = Consorts
| issue        = [[Zaicheng]]<br/>[[Zaiying]]<br/>[[Princess Rongshou of the First Rank]]
| full name    = Aisin Gioro Yixin (愛新覺羅 奕訢)<br/>[[Manchu language|Manchu]]: I-hin ({{ManchuSibeUnicode|ᡳ ᡥᡳᠨ}})
| posthumous name = Prince Gongzhong of the First Rank
| house        = [[Aisin Gioro]]
| father       = [[Daoguang Emperor]]
| mother       = [[Empress Xiaojingcheng]]
| birth_date   = {{Birth date|1833|1|11|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Beijing]], [[Qing dynasty]]
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|1898|5|29|1833|1|11|df=y}}
| death_place  = Beijing, Qing dynasty
}}

'''Yixin'''<!--Chinese in infobox; see WP:MOS-ZH--> (11{{nbsp}}January 1833{{nbsp}}– 29{{nbsp}}May 1898), better known in English as '''Prince{{nbsp}}Gong'''<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.pgm.org.cn/newenglish/index.shtml|title=''Official site''|publisher=Prince Kung's Palace Museum|date=2014|location=Beijing|access-date=2017-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829110151/http://www.pgm.org.cn/newenglish/index.shtml|archive-date=2018-08-29|url-status=dead}}.</ref> or '''Kung''', was an imperial prince of the [[Aisin Gioro]] clan and an important statesman of the [[Manchu people|Manchu]]-led [[Qing dynasty]] in China. He was a [[regent]] of the empire from 1861 to 1865 and wielded great influence at other times as well. He was one of the [[House of Aisin Gioro#Iron-cap princes and their descendants|twelve iron cap princes]] of the Qing Dynasty.

Yixin was a man of great talent, excelling in both literature and martial skills, and was among the most capable members of the imperial family. However, he was never favored by his father, the [[Daoguang Emperor]], to succeed to the throne, which meant he spent his life in the role of a political aide rather than a ruler. In 1860, during the [[Second Opium War]], when the British and French forces invaded Beijing, Yixin was entrusted with negotiating peace and signed the Treaty of Beijing on behalf of the Qing court. In 1861, after the death of his elder brother, the [[Xianfeng Emperor]], Yixin, in collaboration with [[Empress Dowager Cixi]], launched the [[Xinyou Coup]], seizing power from the eight regents appointed in the late emperor's will. He and Empress Dowager Cixi jointly took charge of the state affairs. In 1881, after the death of his supporter, [[Empress Dowager Ci'an]], Yixin's position began to weaken. In 1884, Cixi removed him from all his positions, forcing him into political retirement. In 1894, during [[the First Sino-Japanese War]], Yixin was called back into service, and he died four years later in 1898.

Yixin was an important figure and leader of the [[Self-Strengthening Movement]] during the late Qing period. He supported figures like [[Zhang Zidong]], [[Li Hongzhang]], and [[Zeng Guofan]] in their efforts to modernize military industries, procure advanced weaponry, and promote the development of modern military infrastructure. He also helped establish the [[Zongli Yamen]], which was responsible for foreign affairs, and set up Chinese embassies abroad. His diplomatic and modernization efforts gained the recognition of foreign powers. Yixin played a significant role in resolving the crises of the Second Opium War and the [[Taiping Rebellion]], and he actively promoted modernization, which led to a brief period of political stability and revitalization for the Qing government. However, his considerable influence and abilities often made him a target of the ruling elites and conservatives, leading to repeated conflicts with Emperor Xianfeng, [[Emperor Tongzhi]], and Empress Dowager Cixi. As a result, his political career was marked by a series of ups and downs, ultimately ending with his complete dismissal.

Yixin's tomb is located in [[Changping District]], [[Beijing]]. After his death, the title of Prince Gong was passed on to his eldest grandson, [[Puwei]].

{{anchor|Name|Title|Titles|Names and titles}}

==Names==
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Personal names
| altname = Yixin
| t2 = {{linktext|奕|訢}}
| s2 = {{linktext|奕|䜣}}
| p2 = Yìxīn
| w2 = I-hsin
| mnc = {{ManchuSibeUnicode|ᡳ ᡥᡳᠨ}}
| mnc_rom = I-hin
| w = I<sup>4</sup>-hsin<sup>1</sup>
| altname3 = Art Name
| t3 = {{linktext|樂|道|堂|主人}}
| s3 = {{linktext|乐|道|堂|主人}}
| p3 = Yuèdàotáng zhǔrén<!--no cap in pinyin-->
| l3 = Master of the Hall of the Way of Music
| altname4 = Devil #6
| c4 = {{linktext|鬼子|六}}
| p4 = Guǐzǐ Lìu
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
|title=Titles
|altname=Prince Gong |t2={{linktext|恭|親王}} |s2={{linktext|恭|亲王}} |p2=Gōng qīnwáng<!--no cap in pinyin--> |w2=Kung Ch‘in-wang |l2=[[Prince Gong (peerage)|The Respectful Prince of the Blood]]
|altname3=Sixth Prince |c3={{linktext|六|皇子}} |p3=Lìu huángzǐ<!--no cap in pinyin--> 
|altname4=Posthumous Name |t4=恭忠親王|s4=恭忠亲王|p4=Gōngzhōng qīnwáng<!--no cap in pinyin--> |w4=Kung-chung Ch‘in-wang |l4=The Respectful and Loyal Prince of the Blood
}}
Yixin is the [[pinyin]] [[Romanization of Chinese|romanization]] of the [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]] pronunciation of his [[Manchu language|Manchu]] name I-hin. He shared his [[surname]] [[Aisin Gioro]] with the other members of the [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] imperial family. His [[courtesy name|courtesy]] or [[art name]] was "Master of the Yuedao Hall" or "Hall of the Way of Music".

''Kung'' is the [[Wade-Giles]] romanization of Mandarin pronunciation of the same [[Chinese character]] {{lang|zh|{{linktext|恭}}}}, now spelt ''Gōng'' in [[pinyin]]. It is not really a name but a part of a descriptive title — "[[Prince Gong (peerage)|The Respectful Prince of the Blood]]" — previously borne by [[Changning (prince)|Changning]], the fifth son of the [[Shunzhi Emperor]]. The Chinese title {{lang|zh|{{linktext|王}}}} translates literally as "king" but is usually understood as a "prince" in terms of the [[Chinese titles|imperial Chinese nobility]]. Because Changning's rank had not been given [[Aisin Gioro#Iron-cap princes and their descendants|"iron-cap" status]], each generation of his descendants were reduced in rank unless they somehow proved themselves anew and earned a new title of their own. Yixin, however, was given "iron-cap" status and his direct heirs inherited his full title as well. In English, however, it is usually misunderstood as a name: Prince{{nbsp}}Kung in older sources and Prince{{nbsp}}Gong in newer ones. He was also sometimes known as the "Sixth Prince" or, less flatteringly, "Devil #6". He was [[Posthumous name|posthumously known as]] "the Respectful and Loyal Prince of the Blood": Prince Kung-chung or Gongzhong.

{{anchor|Biology|History}}

==Life==
===Early life===
Yixin was born in the [[Aisin Gioro]] clan, the imperial clan of the [[Manchu people|Manchu]]-led [[Qing dynasty]], as the sixth son of the [[Daoguang Emperor]].<ref>(恭忠親王奕訢，宣宗第六子。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref> He was the third son of his mother, [[Empress Xiaojingcheng|Imperial Noble Consort Jing]], who was from the [[Khorchin Mongols|Khorchin Mongol]] [[Borjigin|Borjigit]] clan.<ref name="Empress Xiaojingcheng">(孝靜成皇后，博爾濟吉特氏，刑部員外郎花良阿女。後事宣宗為靜貴人。累進靜皇貴妃。 ... 文宗即位，尊為皇考康慈皇貴太妃，居壽康宮。咸豐五年七月，太妃病篤，尊為康慈皇太后。越九日庚午，崩，年四十四。上謚，曰孝靜康慈弼天撫聖皇后，不系宣宗謚，不祔廟。葬慕陵東，曰慕東陵。 ... 子三：奕綱、奕繼、奕訢。女一，下嫁景壽。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 214.</ref><ref name="ECCP">{{cite ECCP|last=Fang|first=Chao-ying|title=I-hsin|pages=380–384}}</ref> He studied in the imperial library and practised martial arts with his fourth brother, [[Xianfeng Emperor|Yizhu]]. He created 28 [[Qiang (spear)|''qiang'' (spear)]] movements and 18 [[Dao (Chinese sword)|''dao'' (sword)]] movements, which were respectively named "Lihua Xieli" (棣華協力) and "Bao'e Xuanwei" (寶鍔宣威) by his father. His father also gave him a White Rainbow Sword (白虹刀) as a gift.<ref>(與文宗同在書房，肄武事，共制槍法二十八勢、刀法十八勢，宣宗賜以名，槍曰「棣華協力」，刀曰「寶鍔宣威」，並以白虹刀賜奕訢。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

Yixin was mentored by [[Zhuo Bingtian]] (卓秉恬) and [[Jia Zhen (Qing dynasty)|Jia Zhen]] (賈楨), two eminent [[scholar-official]]s who obtained the position of ''jinshi'' (進士; successful candidate) in the [[imperial examination]] in 1802 and 1826 respectively.<ref>''Qing Shi Liezhuan'' vol. 40.</ref><ref>(賈楨，字筠堂，山東黃縣人。 ... 十六年，入直上書房，授皇六子讀。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 390.</ref>

In 1850, when the Daoguang Emperor became critically ill, he summoned [[Zaiquan]] (載銓), [[Zaiyuan]], [[Duanhua]], [[Sengge Rinchen]], [[Mujangga]], [[He Rulin]] (何汝霖), [[Chen Fu'en]] (陳孚恩) and [[Ji Zhichang]] (季芝昌) to Shende Hall (慎德堂) in the [[Old Summer Palace]], where he revealed to them a secret edict he wrote previously. According to the edict, the Fourth Prince, Yizhu, would become the new emperor while Yixin, the Sixth Prince, would be made a [[Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty#Male members|''qinwang'' (first-rank prince)]]. He died on the same day.<ref>(丙午，上不豫。丁未，上疾大漸。召宗人府宗令載銓，御前大臣載垣、端華、僧格林沁，軍機大臣穆彰阿、賽尚阿、何汝霖、陳孚恩、季芝昌，總管內務府大臣文慶公啟鐍匣，宣示御書「皇四子立為皇太子」。是日，上崩於圓明園慎德堂苫次。硃諭「封皇六子奕訢為親王」。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 19.</ref> However, it is rumored that Yixin was the real successor emperor, and the secret decree have been tampered with.

===Under the Xianfeng Emperor===
[[Xianfeng Emperor|Yizhu]] ascended the throne in 1850 after the death of the Daoguang Emperor and adopted the [[Chinese era name|regnal title]] "Xianfeng"; he is thus historically known as the Xianfeng Emperor. In accordance with their father's secret edict, the newly enthroned Xianfeng Emperor granted Yixin the title "[[Prince Gong (peerage)|Prince Gong of the First Rank]]" (恭親王) in the same year. In 1851, the Xianfeng Emperor established an office for Prince Gong, gave him permission to enter the inner imperial court, assigned him to be in charge of patrol and defence matters, and ordered him to continue carrying the White Rainbow Sword given to him by their father.<ref>(文宗即位，封為恭親王。咸豐二年四月，分府，命仍在內廷行走。內大臣辦理巡防，命仍佩白虹刀。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

In October 1853, as the [[Taiping Rebellion|Taiping rebels]] closed in on Jinan (畿南; the area south of the [[Hai River]]), Prince Gong was appointed to the [[Grand Council (Qing dynasty)|Grand Council]], which was in charge of military affairs. The following year, he received three additional appointments: ''dutong'' (都統; [[Eight Banners|Banner]] Commander), ''you zongzheng'' (右宗正; Right Director of the [[Imperial Clan Court]]) and ''zongling'' (宗令; Head of the [[Imperial Clan Court]]). He was publicly praised in May 1855 after the Taiping rebels were driven out of Jinan.<ref>(三年九月，洪秀全兵逼畿南，以王署領侍命在軍機大臣上行走。四年，迭授都統、右宗正、宗令。五年四月，以畿輔肅清，予優叙。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

When Prince Gong's mother died in August 1855, the Xianfeng Emperor reprimanded Prince Gong for failing to observe court protocol and removed him from the Grand Council and his ''zongling'' and ''dutong'' appointments. However, Prince Gong was still permitted to enter the inner imperial court and the imperial library. He was restored to his position as a ''dutong'' in June 1856, and further appointed as an Interior Minister (內大臣) in May 1859.<ref>(七月，孝靜成皇后崩，上責王禮儀疏略，罷軍機大臣、宗令、都統，仍在內廷行走，上書房讀書。七年五月，復授都統。九年四月，授內大臣。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

===Second Opium War===
{{further|Second Opium War|Convention of Peking}}

In September 1860, during the [[Second Opium War]], as British and French forces closed in on the capital [[Beijing]], the Xianfeng Emperor ordered [[Zaiyuan]] and [[Muyin]] (穆廕) to negotiate for peace at [[Tongzhou District, Beijing|Tongzhou]] with British and French officials. An Anglo-French delegation sent to negotiate with Chinese officials, which included [[Harry Smith Parkes]] and [[Henry Loch, 1st Baron Loch|Henry Loch]], was taken prisoner by soldiers led by Mongol general [[Sengge Rinchen]] during the negotiations. Rinchen then led mounted Mongol troops to attack a Franco-British force at the [[Battle of Palikao]] but was defeated. The Xianfeng Emperor recalled Zaiyuan and Muyin from Tongzhou, fled from Beijing with most members of his imperial court to [[Rehe Province]], and appointed Prince Gong as an [[Imperial Commissioner (China)|Imperial Commissioner with Discretion and Full Authority]] (欽差便宜行事全權大臣).<ref>(十年八月，英吉利、法蘭西兵逼京師，上命怡親王載垣、尚書穆廕與議和，誘執英使巴夏禮，與戰，師不利。文宗幸熱河，召回載垣、穆廕，授王欽差便宜行事全權大臣。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

Prince Gong moved to Changxindian (長辛店; in present-day [[Fengtai District]], Beijing) and called for an assembly of the troops stationed there to enforce greater discipline and raise their morale. On one hand, [[Qinghui]] (慶惠) suggested to the Xianfeng Emperor to release Parkes and let Prince Gong continue negotiating. On the other hand, [[Yidao (Qing dynasty)|Yidao]] (義道) urged the emperor to surrender Beijing to the British and French. In the meantime, Anglo-French expeditionary forces captured the [[Old Summer Palace]] in the northwest of Beijing, which they proceeded to sack and burn.<ref>(王出駐長辛店，奏請飭統兵大臣激勵兵心，以維大局。克勤郡王慶惠等奏釋巴夏禮，趣王入城議和。英、法兵焚圓明園。豫親王義道等奏啟城，許英、法兵入。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

On 24 October 1860, Prince Gong concluded the negotiations with British, French and Russian officials, signing the [[Convention of Peking]] on behalf of the Qing dynasty. He subsequently wrote a memorial to the Xianfeng Emperor, requesting to be punished for signing an [[unequal treaty]]. The emperor replied, "The responsibility assigned to Prince Gong to carry on peace negotiations is not an easy one to shoulder. I deeply understand the difficult situation he was put into. There is no need to punish him." Prince Gong settled the diplomatic affairs in Beijing by the end of 1860.<ref>(王入城與議和，定約，悉從英、法人所請，奏請降旨宣示，並自請議處。上諭曰：「恭親王辦理撫局，本屬不易。朕深諒苦衷，毋庸議處。」十二月，奏通商善後諸事。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

In 1861, Prince Gong set up the [[Zongli Yamen]], which functioned as the Qing government's ''de facto'' foreign affairs ministry, and placed [[Guiliang]] (桂良) and [[Wenxiang]] in charge of it. He wrote a memorial to the Xianfeng Emperor, proposing to enhance the training of [[Eight Banners|Banner Troops]] in Beijing and let Qing troops stationed in [[Jilin]] and [[Heilongjiang]] provinces train with the [[Imperial Russian Army]] and stockpile military supplies. The generals [[Shengbao]] (勝保), [[Jingchun (Qing dynasty)|Jingchun]] (景淳) and others were ordered to oversee training of Qing troops stationed in Beijing and [[northeast China]].<ref>(初設總理各國事務衙門，命王與大學士桂良、侍郎文祥領其事。王疏請訓練京師旗兵，並以吉林、黑龍江與俄羅斯相議練兵籌餉。上命都統勝保議練京兵，將軍景淳等議練東三省兵。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

===Under the Tongzhi Emperor===
{{see also|Tongzhi Restoration}}

====Xinyou Coup====
Before the [[Xianfeng Emperor]] died in August 1861 in the [[Chengde Mountain Resort]], he appointed a group of eight regents – led by [[Zaiyuan]], [[Duanhua]] and [[Sushun (Qing dynasty)|Sushun]] – to assist his underage son and successor, [[Tongzhi Emperor|Zaichun]]. Yixin's flexible attitude towards dealing with the Western powers had put him at odds with the eight regents, who were politically conservative and opposed to Western influence.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Leung|editor1-first=Edwin Pak-Wah|title=Political Leaders of Modern China: A Biographical Dictionary|date=2002|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|location=Westport, CT|isbn=0313302162}}</ref> Upon request, Prince Gong was granted permission to travel to Chengde to attend the funeral. In Chengde, he met the Empress Dowagers [[Empress Dowager Ci'an|Ci'an]] and [[Empress Dowager Cixi|Cixi]] and told them about how the eight regents monopolised state power. When the Xianfeng Emperor's coffin arrived back in Beijing in November 1861, Prince Gong and the two empress dowagers launched a coup – historically known as the [[Xinyou Coup]] (辛酉政變) – to oust the eight regents from power. The regents were arrested and removed from their positions of power.<ref>(十一年七月，文宗崩，王請奔赴，兩太后召見，諭以贊襄政務王大臣載垣、端華、肅順等擅政狀。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

====As Prince-Regent====
Zaichun, who was enthroned as the "Tongzhi Emperor", appointed Prince Gong as [[Prince regent|Prince-Regent]] (議政王) and granted him some special privileges. These privileges included: [[Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty#Rule of inheritance|"iron-cap" status]] awarded to the [[Prince Gong (peerage)|Prince Gong title/peerage]]; an increment in salary to twice that of a normal [[Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty#Male members|''qinwang'' (first-rank prince)]]; exemptions from having to [[kowtow]] in the emperor's presence and having to write his name on memorials submitted to the emperor. Prince Gong firmly declined to accept the "iron-cap" privilege, and instead sought to be concurrently appointed as ''zongling'' (宗令; Head of the [[Imperial Clan Court]]) and put in charge of the [[Peking Field Force|Shenjiying]] (a firearms-equipped unit in the Qing army). The two empress dowagers also ordered Prince Gong to supervise Hongde Hall (弘德殿; a hall in the [[Forbidden City]]), where the Tongzhi Emperor studied.<ref>(穆宗侍兩太后奉文宗喪還京師，譴黜載垣等，授議政王，在軍機處行走，命王爵世襲，食親王雙俸，並免召對叩拜、奏事書名。王堅辭世襲，尋命兼宗令、領神機營。同治元年，上就傅，兩太后命王弘德殿行走，稽察課程。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

In 1864, Qing forces finally suppressed the [[Taiping Rebellion]] after a war lasting more than a decade, and recaptured Jiangning (江寧; in present-day [[Nanjing]]) from the rebels. The imperial court issued a decree to praise Prince Gong for his effective leadership in the regency that led to the end of the rebellion – in addition to conferring more prestigious titles on his sons Zaicheng, Zaijun and Zaiying.<ref>(三年，江寧克復。上諭曰：「恭親王自授議政王，於今三載。東南兵事方殷，用人行政，徵兵籌餉，深資贊畫，弼亮忠勤。加封貝勒，以授其子輔國公載澂，並封載濬輔國公、載瀅不入八分輔國公。」) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

As the longstanding leader of the [[Zongli Yamen]], which he established in 1861, Prince Gong was responsible for spearheading various reforms in the early stages of the [[Self-Strengthening Movement]], a series of measures and policy changes implemented by the Qing government with the aim of modernising China.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} He also founded the [[Tongwen Guan]] in 1862 for Chinese scholars to study technology and foreign languages.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

====Fall from grace====
[[File:Prince Gong.JPG|thumb|right|Photo of a 39- or 40-year-old Prince Gong, taken by [[John Thomson (photographer)|John Thompson]] in 1872 at the [[Prince Gong Mansion|prince's residence]].]]

Around April 1865, an official, Cai Shouqi (蔡壽祺), accused Prince Gong of "monopolising state power, accepting bribes, practising favouritism, behaving arrogantly, and showing disrespect towards the Emperor".{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} The Empress Dowagers Ci'an and Cixi publicly reprimanded Prince Gong and stripped him of his position as Prince-Regent. [[Yishen]] (奕脤), [[Yixuan, Prince Chun|Yixuan]], [[Wang Zheng (Qing dynasty)|Wang Zheng]] (王拯), [[Sun Yimou]] (孫翼謀), [[Yin Zhaoyong]] (殷兆鏞), [[Pan Zuyin]], [[Wang Weizhen]] (王維珍), Guangcheng (廣誠) and others pleaded with the empress dowagers to pardon Prince Gong and make him Prince-Regent again. Although the empress dowagers did not restore Prince Gong as Prince-Regent, they permitted him to remain in the inner imperial court and continue running the [[Zongli Yamen]]. Prince Gong personally thanked the empress dowagers and made a tearful apology. The empress dowagers issued a decree announcing: "The Prince practised favouritism. As we are bound by a common cause and have high expectations of him, we cannot show leniency in punishing him. He will still be allowed to oversee the [[Grand Council (Qing dynasty)|Grand Council]]."<ref>(四年三月，兩太后諭責王信任親戚，內廷召對，時有不檢，罷議政王及一切職任。尋以惇親王奕脤、醇郡王奕枻及通政使王拯、御史孫翼謀、內閣學士殷兆鏞、左副都御史潘祖廕、內閣侍讀學士王維珍、給事中廣誠等奏請任用，廣誠語尤切。兩太后命仍在內廷行走，管理總理各國事務衙門。王入謝，痛哭引咎，兩太后復諭：「王親信重臣，相關休戚，期望既厚，責備不得不嚴。仍在軍機大臣上行走。」) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

In March 1868, as the [[Nian Rebellion|Nian rebels]] approached the suburbs of Beijing, Prince Gong was tasked with mobilising troops and managing defence arrangements. He was also appointed as ''you zongzheng'' (右宗正; Right Director of the [[Imperial Clan Court]]).<ref>(七年二月，西捻逼畿輔，命節制各路統兵大臣。授右宗正。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

In 1869, [[An Dehai]], a court [[eunuch]] and close aide of Empress Dowager Cixi, was arrested and executed in [[Shandong|Shandong Province]] by [[Ding Baozhen]], the provincial governor. This was because it was a capital crime for eunuchs to travel out of the [[Forbidden City]] without authorisation. The empress dowager became more suspicious of Prince Gong because she believed that he instigated Ding Baozhen to execute An Dehai.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

====Demotion and restoration====
In October 1872, when the Tongzhi Emperor married the [[Empress Xiaozheyi|Jiashun Empress]], he granted Prince Gong the "iron-cap" privilege again. He officially took over the reins of power from his regents in around February 1873.<ref>(十一年九月，穆宗大婚，復命王爵世襲。十二年正月，穆宗親政， ...) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref> In the same year, Prince Gong displeased Empress Dowager Cixi when he strongly opposed her plan to rebuild the [[Old Summer Palace]].{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

In August 1874, Prince Gong was reprimanded and punished again for failing to observe court protocol. This time, he was demoted from a ''qinwang'' (first-rank prince) to a [[Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty#Male members|''junwang'' (second-rank prince)]]. Zaicheng, Prince Gong's eldest son, also lost his [[Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty#Male members|''beile'']] title. Despite his demotion, Prince Gong was still allowed to remain in the Grand Council. The following day, the empress dowagers ordered Prince Gong and Zaicheng to be restored as a ''qinwang'' and ''beile'' respectively. Towards the end of the year, the Tongzhi Emperor increased Prince Gong's salary by more than twice that of a normal ''qinwang'', but died not long later in around December.<ref>(.... 十三年七月，上諭責王召對失儀，降郡王，仍在軍機大臣上行走，並奪載澂的貝勒。翌日，以兩太后命復鐵帽子親王世襲及載澂爵。十二月，上疾有間，於雙俸外復加賜親王俸。旋復加劇，遂崩。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

===Under the Guangxu Emperor===
The [[Guangxu Emperor]], who succeeded the Tongzhi Emperor in 1875, continued the practices of exempting Prince Gong from having to [[kowtow]] in the emperor's presence and having to write his name on memorials submitted to the emperor. Prince Gong was also appointed as ''zongling'' (宗令; Head of the [[Imperial Clan Court]]).

====Sino-French War====
{{main|Sino-French War}}

In 1884, when the French invaded Vietnam, Prince Gong and the members of the [[Grand Council (Qing dynasty)|Grand Council]] were unable to arrive at a decision on whether or not to intervene in Vietnam and go to war with the French. As a consequence, [[Empress Dowager Cixi]] reprimanded Prince Gong and his colleagues for their dispirited and indecisive attitude towards the war, and removed them from their positions. Prince Gong stopped receiving his double salary and was ordered to retire to recuperate from illness. However, he started receiving his double salary again from November 1886 and was allowed to receive his share of the offerings from ceremonial events.<ref>(德宗即位，復命免召對叩拜、奏事書名。光緒元年，署宗令。十年，法蘭西侵越南，王與軍機大臣不欲輕言戰，言路交章論劾。太后諭責王等委靡因循，罷軍機大臣，停雙俸。家居養疾。十二年十月，復雙俸。自是國及甲數，歲時祀事賜神糕，節序輒有賞賚，以為常。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref> He remained in [[Jietai Temple]] in western Beijing for most of the time.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

Prince Gong's seventh brother, [[Yixuan, Prince Chun|Yixuan (Prince Chun)]], replaced him as the head of the Grand Council. Some officials such as [[Baojun (Qing dynasty)|Baojun]] (寶鋆), [[Li Hongzao]], [[Jinglian]] (景廉) and [[Weng Tonghe]], who previously served in Prince Gong's administration, were also dismissed from office. The incident is known as the "Cabinet Change of Jiashen" (甲申易樞) or "Political Change of Jiashen" (甲申朝局之變) because it took place in the ''jiashen'' year according to the Chinese [[sexagenary cycle]].{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

====First Sino-Japanese War====
{{main|First Sino-Japanese War}}

In October 1894, after the Japanese invaded Korea and the situation became dire, Empress Dowager Cixi summoned Prince Gong back to the imperial court, and made him, along with [[Yikuang|Prince Qing]], the co-head of the [[Zongli Yamen]], the Admiralty, and the board of war operations. He was also made high commissioner of the [[Peking Field Force]], putting him in overall command of the capital's defenses. In December 1894 Prince Gong was also made the president of the Grand Council.<ref>{{cite book |last = Paine |first = S.C.M. |title = The Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895: Perceptions, Power, and Primacy |publisher = Cambridge University Press |year = 2003 |page=217 |isbn = 978-0-521-81714-1 }}</ref> Although Prince Gong had been recalled to politics, Empress Dowager Cixi also decreed that since he had not yet recovered from illness, he was exempted from having to constantly attend court sessions.<ref>(二十年，日本侵朝鮮，兵？有慶屢增護事急，太后召王入見，復起王管理總理各國事務衙門，並總理海軍，會同辦理軍務，內廷行走；仍諭王疾未癒，免常川入直。尋又命王督辦軍務，節制各路統兵大臣。十一月，授軍機大臣。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

===Death===
In 1898, Prince Gong was appointed as ''zongling'' again, but he became critically ill by the end of April. Empress Dowager Cixi visited him three times during this period of time. He eventually died at the age of 67 (by [[East Asian age reckoning]]) in May.<ref>(二十四年，授宗令。王疾作，閏三月增劇，上奉太后三臨視，四月薨，年六十七。) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

The Guangxu Emperor personally attended Prince Gong's funeral and, as a sign of mourning, cancelled imperial court sessions for five days and ordered mourning attire to be worn for 15 days. The emperor also granted Prince Gong the [[posthumous name]] "Zhong" (忠; literally "loyal"), gave him a place in the [[Imperial Ancestral Temple]], and issued an edict honouring Prince Gong as a role model of loyalty that all Qing subjects should learn from.<ref>(上再臨奠，輟朝五日，持服十五日。諡曰忠，配享太廟，並諭：「王忠誠匡弼，悉協機宜，諸臣當以王為法。」) ''Qing Shi Gao'' vol. 221.</ref>

== Family ==
[[File:《喜溢秋庭图》静贵妃部分.jpg|thumb|Empress Xiaojingcheng and Prince Gong]]
[[File:荣寿固伦公主.jpg|thumb|Gulun Princess Rongshou (centre, seated)]]

'''Primary Consort'''

* Imperial Princess Consort Gongzhong, of the [[Gūwalgiya]] clan (恭忠亲王妃 瓜爾佳氏; 1834 – 29 June 1880)
** [[Princess Rongshou of the First Rank]] (榮壽固倫公主; 28 February 1854 – 24 December 1924), first daughter, later adopted by [[Empress Xiaoqinxian]]
*** Married Zhiduan (志端; d. 1871) of the Manchu [[Fuca (clan)|Fuca]] clan on 15 October 1866
** [[Zaicheng]], Prince Guomin of the Third Rank (果敏貝勒 載澂; 12 September 1858 – 21 July 1885), first son
** ''Second daughter'' (15 March 1860 – 28 March 1864)
** ''Zaijun, Duke of the Second Rank'' (輔國公 載濬; 31 July 1864 – 6 June 1866), third son

'''Secondary Consort'''

* Secondary consort, of the Xuegiya clan (側福晉 薛佳氏)
** [[Zaiying]], Prince of the Third Rank (貝勒 載瀅; 11 March 1861 – 29 September 1909), second son
* Secondary consort, of the Liugiya clan (側福晉 劉佳氏)
** ''Third daughter'' (6 March 1879 – 12 June 1880)
** Lady of the First Rank (郡君; 24 July 1884 – 6 March 1909), fifth daughter
* Secondary consort, of the Liugiya clan (側福晉 劉佳氏)
** ''Zaihuang, Duke of the Fourth Rank'' (不入八分輔國公 載潢; 11 November 1880 – 3 March 1885), fourth son
* Secondary consort, of the Janggiya clan (側福晉 張佳氏; 1858 – 4 October 1883)
** ''Fourth daughter'' (31 August 1881 – 8 September 1882)

===Grandchildren===
* First grandson [[Puwei]] (溥偉, 1880-1936), Prince Gongxian of the First Rank (1880–1936), biological son of [[Zaiying]], adopted by [[Zaicheng]]
* Second grandson: [[Puru (artist)|Puru]] (溥儒, 1896-1963)
* Third grandson: [[Puyou]] (溥佑, 1899-1969)
* Fourth grandson: [[Puhui]] (溥僡, 1906-1963)

==Legacy==
[[File:2014.08.17.154948 Entrance Prince Gong's Mansion Beijing.jpg|thumb|Prince Gong Mansion]]
{{main|Prince Gong's Mansion}}
[[Prince Kung's Mansion|Prince Gong's former residence]] in [[Xicheng District]], [[Beijing]] is now open to the public as a museum and garden park. It was previously the residence of the notoriously corrupt official [[Heshen]].

In 2006, Prince Gong's life was adapted into a Chinese television series, ''[[Sigh of His Highness]]'', starring [[Chen Baoguo]] as the prince.

==See also==
* [[Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty]]
* {{section link|Ranks of imperial consorts in China|Qing}}

==References==
{{Commons category|Yixin, 1st Prince Gong}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite ECCP|last=Fang|first=Chao-ying|title=I-hsin|volume=I|pages=380–384}}
* {{cite book|editor=Wang, Zhonghan|editor-link=Wang Zhonghan|title=Qing Shi Liezhuan (Historical Biographies of Qing)|year=1987|location=China|publisher=[[Zhonghua Book Company]]}}
* {{cite book|last=Zhao|first=Erxun|author-link=Zhao Erxun|title=[[Draft History of Qing]] (Qing Shi Gao)|year=1928|location=China}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Qing dynasty]]|11 January|1833|29 May|1898}}
{{s-bef|before=None. Title created.}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prince Gong (peerage)|Prince Gong of the First Rank]]|years=1850-1898}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Puwei]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Qing regents}}
{{Chief Councillors of the Qing dynasty}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gong, Prince}}
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