Case of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's Alleged Marriage to Prince Regent Dorgon

This case refers to the enduring historical rumor that Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang secretly married her brother-in-law, Prince Regent Dorgon, during the early Qing Dynasty. After the death of Emperor Hong Taiji, Dorgon acted as regent for the young Shunzhi Emperor. Unofficial histories claim that Xiaozhuang entered a marital union with Dorgon to secure her son’s throne, citing evidence such as Dorgon being addressed as "Imperial Father Regent" and Xiaozhuang's refusal to be buried alongside her husband in the imperial tomb. Official Qing records remain silent on the matter, and no definitive proof has been found, making it one of the "Three Great Mysteries of the Early Qing."

No formal judicial proceeding ever occurred. The matter is strictly a historiographical controversy with no legal verdict, remaining unresolved based on conflicting unofficial accounts and ambiguous official documents.

Whether the marriage actually took place, and whether the title "Imperial Father Regent" and anomalous burial practices constitute evidence of a political marriage or mere defamation by political rivals.

The controversy deeply influenced Qing historiography, symbolizing the cultural and ethical conflicts between Manchu levirate customs and Han Confucian norms. It became a core component of the "Three Great Mysteries of the Early Qing," inspiring centuries of academic debate, folk legends, and literary adaptations, while shaping public perceptions of early Qing palace politics.