The Imperial Concubine Chun (Chinese: 淳嬪), Birth Name Dongiya Er-Chun (Chinese: 董佳爾淳) was a Qing Dynasty

Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....

 concubine during the Jiaqing Emperor

Jiaqing Emperor

The Jiaqing Emperor was the seventh emperor of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and the fifth Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1796 to 1820....

 period.

Life

Lady Dongiya was the daughter of an Imperial official, and was given the title of Honoured Lady Chun (淳貴人) during the early years of the Jiaqing period. On April of Jiaqing 6 (1801), Lady Dongiya was elevated to become The Imperial Concubine Chun (淳嬪), where she remained until her death in 13 October, Jiaqing 24 (1819).

She was the fifth of the six Imperial Concubines (the highest number allowed at any time) to be elevated to the position, and was, according to various sources, much beloved by Jiaqing during her life as an Imperial Concubine.

Portrayal in Popular Media

In the 2004 Cantonese Chinese TV Series War and Beauty

War and Beauty

War and Beauty is a Hong Kong television series broadcast in 2004 on TVB Jade. It starred TVB Awards Best Actress winners Sheren Tang, Gigi Lai, Maggie Cheung and Charmaine Sheh, and TVB Awards Best Actor winners Bowie Lam and Moses Chan....

 (Chinese: 金枝慾孽), the Imperial Concubine was portrayed by Charmaine Sheh

Charmaine Sheh

Charmaine Sheh Sze-man is a Hong Kong TVB actress.Sheh is best known for her roles in TVB dramas, including Return of the Cuckoo, Country Spirit, Perish in the Name of Love, Angels of Mission, War and Beauty, The Dance of Passion,The Drive of Life, Maidens' Vow, Forensic Heroes II,Beyond the Realm...

. In the TV series, the Imperial Concubine was revealed to be a Han Chinese

Han Chinese

Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...

 who was given a false Manchu identity by her adoptive father to enter the Palace and actively gain the favour of the Emperor, which could, in turn, give the Imperial Concubine a chance to petition for a pardon for her adoptive father's treasonous acts in the past.

At the end of the series, The Imperial Concubine was seen leaving the Forbidden City

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum...

with a Palace Guard to start a new life.

Titles Held from Birth to Death

• Birth-1796?: Dongiya Er-Chun (董佳爾淳)
• 1796?-April, 1801: Lady Dongiya, The Honoured Lady Chun (淳貴人董佳氏)
• April, 1801-Death: Lady Dongiya, The Imperial Concubine Chun (淳嬪董佳氏)