Jerjer (哲哲; translated as "lady"/"beauty"; 31 May 1599 – 28 May 1649), of the Khorchin Mongol Borjigit clan, was the consort of Hong Taiji. She was seven years his junior. Jerjer was empress consort of Qing from 1636 until her husband's death in 1643, after which she was known as Empress dowager. She was posthumously honoured with the title Empress Xiaoduanwen.
Life
Family background
Father: Manggusi (莽古思), held the title of a first rank prince (親王)
Paternal grandfather: Namusai (納穆賽), held the title of a third rank prince (貝勒)
On 28 May 1614, Jerjer married Hong Taiji and became one of his multiple wives.
Tianming era
In 1623, Hong Taiji divorced his second primary consort, and elevated Jerjer to the position.
Lady Borjigit's niece, Bumbutai, the future Empress Dowager Zhaosheng, would marry Hong Taiji in March or April 1625.
Jerjer gave birth in 1625 to Hong Taiji's second daughter, Princess Wenzhuang of the First Rank, on 2 August 1628 to his third daughter, Princess Jingduan of the First Rank, and on 7 October 1634 to his eighth daughter, Princess Yong'an of the First Rank.
Another niece, Harjol, the future primary consort Minhui, would marry Hong Taiji on 6 December 1634.
Chongde era
When Hong Taiji conferred titles on his five primary spouses in August 1636, he instated Jerjer as his empress.
Shunzhi era
Following Hong Taiji's death on 21 September 1643, Jerjer was honoured as "Mother Empress, Empress Dowager" by the Shunzhi Emperor, Hong Taiji's ninth son and successor. The emperor's birth mother, Bumbutai, was similarly honoured as "Holy Mother, Empress Dowager".
Jerjer died on 28 May 1649 and was interred in the Zhao Mausoleum. She was posthumously honoured with the title "Empress Xiaoduanwen".
Titles
During the reign of the Wanli Emperor (r. 1572–1620):
Wan, Yi; Shuqing, Wang; Yanzhen, Lu; Scott, Rosemary E. (1988). Daily Life in the Forbidden City: The Qing Dynasty, 1644-1912 (Illustrated ed.). Viking. ISBN0670811645.
