Shunzhi Emperor of China

The Shunzhi emperor (March 15, 1638 - February 5, 1661) was the second emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China proper. He ascended to the throne aged five (six sui according to traditional Chinese count) in 1643 upon the death of his father, Huang Taiji, but actual power during the early part of his reign lay in the hands of the appointed regents, Princes Dorgon and Jirgalang. With the Qing pacification of the former Ming provinces almost complete, he died still a young man, although in circumstances that have lended themselves to rumour and speculation.

In the midst of much upheaval, the Manchus seized control of Beijing in June 1644, and in October of the same year the Shunzhi emperor's uncle, the chief regent Prince, proclaimed the Qing dynasty to be the legitimate successor to the Ming dynasty. Therefore, although the Shunzhi emperor was not the founder of the Qing dynasty, he was the first Qing emperor of China.

His mother was Xiaozhuangren Grand Empress Dowager who was an excellent politician during the period. The young emperor disliked his uncle, the chief regent Prince Dorgon, and after Dorgon's death in 1650 the emperor stripped both him and Dorgon's brother, Prince Dodo, of their titles, although he was only 12 years old at the time.

During his short reign, the Shunzhi emperor encouraged the Han Chinese to participate in government activities. He was a scholar and employed Han Chinese to teach his children.

The emperor married his mother's niece, but demoted the empress several years later. Four months after his favourite concubine passed away, he died of smallpox. Before he passed away, he appointed four regents to help his son, Hiowan Yei. They were Oboi, Sonin, Suksaha and Ebilun.

It was believed that the young emperor did not pass away but left the palace to become a monk.

Personal information
Given Name	Fu-lin (福臨 fu2 lin2 in Chinese)
Era name	Ijishūn Dasan in Manchu Shunzhi (順治 shun4 zhi4) in Chinese
father	ninth son of Huang Taiji
mother	secondary consort Xiao Zhuang, later became Xiaozhuangren Grand Empress Dowager (Hiyoo?ungga Ambalinggū Genggiyen?u Hūwanghu), the daughter of a Mongol prince
wife	1) Empress Xiao Hui Zhang (Hiyoo?ungga Fulehun Eldembuhe Hūwanghu) (d. 1718) from the Borjijite clan 2) Empress Xiao Kang Zhang(Hiyoo?ungga Nesuken Eldembuhe Hūwanghu) (1639-1663) from the Tunggiya clan 3) major concubine: consort from the Donggo clan (董鄂妃) (d. 1660), posthumously raised to empress Xiao Duan Jing
children	8 sons (4 died young) and 6 daughters (5 died young)
tomb	Hiyoo?ungga Munggan in Manchu Xiaoling (孝陵) in Chinese, Eastern Tombs (东陵) at Zunhua County (遵化县), Hebei
Temple name	?idzu in Manchu Shi Zu (世祖 shi4 zu3) in Chinese (lit. meaning: sage progenitor)
Posthumous name	Emperor Tǐtīan lóngyùn dìngtŏng jìanjí yīngrùi qīnwén xĭanwŭ dàdéhónggōng zhìrénchúnxìao zhāng(體天隆運定統建極英睿欽文顯武大德弘功至仁純孝章皇帝), given in 1736
Posthumous name (short)	Eldembuhe Hūwangdi in Manchu Emperor Zhang (章皇帝 zhang1 huang2 di4) in Chinese