Draft:Nayantu

File:​那彦图

Nayantu (Chinese: 那彥圖 Nǎyàntú, Courtesy name: 矩甫 Jǔfǔ; December 2, 1867 – April 1938) was a prominent Mongolian political and military figure during the late Qing dynasty and the early Republican era. He held the hereditary title of Jasagh Khoshoi Chin Wang (State Prince of the First Rank) of the Setsen Jasag Banner in the Sain Noyon Khan Aimág of Khalkha.

As a 27th-generation direct descendant of Genghis Khan and a lineage descendant of the Khalkha Efü (Prince Consort) Tseren, he served as a high-ranking official in the Qing court and a military general commanding the Imperial Guards (Chamberlain of the Guards Army). He later received a princely title from Yuan Shikai. Permanently residing in Beijing, Nayant was one of the most influential Mongolian nobles of his time and is often referred to in history simply as "Prince Na" (Na Wang). Service and Historical Events during the Qing Dynasty From his youth, Prince Nayant consecutively held top political and military positions in the Qing state:

1893: Appointed as the Imperial Chamberlain of the Keshigten (Imperial Guard) and Commander of the Mongol Bordered White Banner Army.

1898: Appointed as the Commander of the Manchu Plain Red Banner Army, and in June of the same year, promoted to Minister of Military Inspection.

1900: In August, during the Boxer Rebellion when the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, Prince Nayant commanded his troops and risked his life to protect Empress Dowager Cixi and the Guangxu Emperor during their flight to Xi'an. Evaluating this absolute loyalty, Empress Dowager Cixi placed extraordinary trust in him and treated him with great favor.

1903: When his father-in-law, Prince Yikuang, became the Minister of the Grand Council, he transferred his own concurrent posts—Commander of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Army and Minister of Palace Security—to his son-in-law, Prince Nayant.

1908: Appointed as the Commander of the "Jianrui Ying" (Elite Elite/Scouting Force).

The "Beijing Daily" Scandal (1905) In August 1905, an atrocious incident occurred at Prince Nayant’s palace in Beijing and was leaked to the press. The Jinghua Daily (Capital Vernacular Newspaper / 京话日报), edited by the progressive thinker Peng Yizhong, published a sensational article exposing that Prince Nayant had ordered his manor manager to bury one of his concubines alive in a dry well within the palace grounds without any justifiable cause, resulting in her death.

Attempting to cover up the crime, Prince Nayant threatened the newspaper and offered a large sum of money to demand a retraction, claiming the news was false. However, the editor Peng Yizhong refused, standing firmly for the truth by stating, "Our reporter witnessed it with his own eyes, and the local residents will all testify to it." A year after this incident, in 1906, the Qing government shut down the newspaper and exiled Peng Yizhong to Xinjiang, an action widely believed to have been heavily influenced by Prince Nayant.

Reforms and Politics during the Republican Era January 1909: Prince Nayant, along with other Mongolian princes residing in Beijing, obtained permission to establish the "Zhibian Xuetang" (Borderland Reclamation Academy / 殖边学堂) to educate and develop the frontier regions.

1910: Elected as a member of the Advisory Council (Zizhiyuan), the first parliamentary body of the Qing dynasty.

1911: When the Xinhai Revolution broke out, he co-founded the "Association of Mongolian Princes and Nobles" with Prince Gungsannorov of the Kharachin and served as its leader. Although their initial stance was to preserve the Qing monarchy and oppose the republican system, as times changed, they threw their support behind Yuan Shikai, sending him a telegram of congratulations when he became the Provisional President.

1912: Following the establishment of the Republic of China (ROC), Yuan Shikai appointed him as the Military Governor (Jiangjun) of Uliastai and granted him a top military rank. However, because Outer Mongolia had already declared its independence, he was unable to assume his post.

During the ROC period, he held numerous positions, including Deputy Chief of the Presidential Bodyguard, Member of the National Assembly, and Vice Chairman of the association that supported Yuan Shikai's brief monarchical restoration in 1916. Even after the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) came to power, they sought to utilize his influence; in 1932, he was invited to the National Crisis Conference in Luoyang and appointed as a member of the Mongolian Autonomy Commission.

Luxury Lifestyle and Culinary Culture Throughout his life, Prince Nayant lived an incredibly extravagant, lavish lifestyle in his luxurious Beijing estate. He was deeply passionate about Chinese culinary arts, and his table was constantly set with the rarest delicacies from land and sea.

He learned the art of distilling "Xiangbaijiu" (Fragrant White Liquor / 香白酒) from his father-in-law, Prince Yikuang, and distilled it within his own palace for personal consumption.

His absolute favorite dish was the exceptionally rare "Weishui Silverfish" (卫水银鱼), caught only in the waters near Tianjin and reserved as a tribute to the imperial court at the time. Every Lunar New Year, the Governor-General of Zhili Province would specially prepare and deliver this fish to the prince's manor to win his favor.

Even during the ROC era when his political influence waned, his luxurious consumption habits remained unchanged. Wu Junsheng, the military governor of Heilongjiang Province, regularly sent Heilongjiang bear paws and rare fish to Prince Nayant's palace in Beijing as gifts.

Family Prince Nayant (那彥圖), the Setsen Chin Wang of Sain Noyon Khan Aimag, had one primary wife (Fujin), six concubines, five sons, and three daughters.

Wife and Concubines Primary Wife (Fujin), Lady Aisin Gioro: The eldest daughter of Prince Yikuang (the 5th-generation descendant of the Daoguang Emperor and later Prime Minister of the Qing Dynasty). Her biological mother was Yikuang's legal primary wife. She gave birth to the third son Qi Keshen, the fourth son Qi Pusen, as well as the third and fourth daughters. However, historical records note that her mother was actually a maid of Yikuang, falsely declared to be born of the Fujin. After marrying Nayant, she suffered great emotional distress because Nayant constantly belittled and insulted her origins. Known for her gentle and quiet demeanor, she passed away in the 25th year of Guangxu (1899).

First Concubine: Originally a dowry maid who accompanied the primary wife, Lady Aisin Gioro. She gave birth to the eldest son Qi Chengwu, the second son Qi Ketan, and the fifth daughter. After the death of the primary wife, she took charge of managing the palace's internal affairs until her death in 1914.

Second Concubine: A Mongolian woman who passed away at a young age.

Third Concubine, Jinping: A Manchu woman whom Nayant purchased as a concubine. In the summer of 1905, she had an argument with Nayant. Enraged, Prince Nayant ordered his manor manager, Chang Shuande, to murder Jinping and bury her in the back garden. Due to this incident, Nayant was severely reprimanded by Empress Dowager Cixi. Upon returning to his manor, he had Jinping's body exhumed and reburied elsewhere. The founder of the Jinghua Daily resolutely reported this case, refusing to accept bribes from Nayant’s palace.

Fourth Concubine: A concubine purchased by Nayant.

Fifth Concubine: A regular concubine who gave birth to the fifth son, Qi Ketai.

Sixth Concubine: A concubine.

Children Eldest Son, Qi Chengwu (祺誠武): Born to the First Concubine. His wife was the seventh daughter of Prince Yuchand (the eldest son of Prince Pusxu of Ding). He also took two concubines named Ruhua and Jian Xiaoluan. He had one son and one daughter, but his only son passed away prematurely at the age of 17. His daughter married Runliang, the brother of Empress Wanrong (wife of Puyi) and son of Rongyuan.

Second Son, Qi Ketan (祺克坦): Born to the First Concubine. He worked as the Chief of the Beijing Police Department. His wife was the twelfth daughter of Prince Puyun. They had five sons and two daughters, though one son and two daughters died in childhood.

Third Son, Qi Keshen (祺克慎): Born to the primary wife, Lady Aisin Gioro. He served as a member of Parliament (Senate). His first wife was the daughter of Congli, with whom he had one son and one daughter. His next wife was the daughter of Bi Guifang, who bore him a son. He passed away in 1951 at the age of 55.

Fourth Son, Qi Pusen (祺璞森): Born to the primary wife, Lady Aisin Gioro. He served in the administration of Manchukuo. He had three daughters.

Fifth Son, Qi Ketai (祺克泰): Born to the Fifth Concubine when Nayant was 50 years old. He graduated from "Cixi" Middle School, worked as a staff member at the Mongolian and Tibetan School, and later worked in the Mengjiang (Mongolian Autonomous Government). After the founding of the PRC, he worked in a Beijing blueprint reproduction factory and a medical supplies factory, retiring in 1973 at the age of 69. His wife, Jin Wenrong, was the third daughter of Chengkun, the last Prince Li. They had one son and three daughters.

First and Second Daughters: Died in childhood.

Third Daughter: Born to the primary wife, Lady Aisin Gioro.

Fourth Daughter: Born to the primary wife, Lady Aisin Gioro. She became the legal primary wife of Zhongquan, the last Prince Rui.

Fifth Daughter: Born to the First Concubine. She married the eldest son of the Jasagh (Governor) of the East Sonid Banner.

Later Life In his final years, Prince Nayant lost his grand palace located at Guoxiang Hutong in Beijing after mortgaging it to cover immense debts. He passed away in Beijing in April 1938 (some sources record his age at death as 66, while others state it as 72 according to the lunar calendar). His residence, "Prince Na's Palace," still stands in Beijing today and is recognized as a protected historical site.

Prince Na's Palace in Beijing (那王府) Prince Na's Palace in Beijing (Chinese: 那王府 - Na Wangfu), historically known as the Palace of Prince Nayant of Khalkha Sain Noyon Khan Aimag, is one of Beijing's highly significant historical and cultural landmarks. It remains the largest surviving estate of a Mongolian noble in Beijing.

Historical Origin: The palace was originally constructed by the imperial court in 1770 for the Qianlong Emperor’s seventh daughter, State Princess Hexiao, when she married Prince Lavandorji, the grandson of Efü Tseren (the Setsen Chin Wang of Khalkha). Prince Lavandorji was highly esteemed by the Qing state for his military merit in suppressing the rebellion of Chingünjav, the Shadar Wang of the Khotgoid. Over generations, the estate was inherited down the lineage until it came into the possession of the last prince of the line, Prince Nayant of Sain Noyon Khan Aimag. Consequently, the residents of Beijing began calling it "Prince Na's Palace," using the first syllable of his name.

Location and Structure: It is located at No. 2, Guoxiang Hutong, inside Andingmen, Dongcheng District, Beijing. Originally built with over 240 rooms and compartments, the massive estate incorporates all the architectural hallmarks of a Qing Princely Mansion (including a grand main gate, inner courtyards, stables, stone lions, etc.) enclosed within a beautiful four-sided compound wall.

Connection to Mongolian History: This palace was not merely Prince Nayant’s residence; it served as the primary gathering hub for Khalkha and Inner Mongolian nobles in Beijing. During the 1911–1912 period, when Mongolians declared their independence and established the Bogd Khanate of Mongolia, the Mongolian nobles in Beijing founded the "Mongolian Princely Alliance" (蒙古王公联合会) right inside this palace. They held sessions and made historic decisions aimed at preventing the total collapse of the Qing or safeguarding Mongolian ethnic interests. Furthermore, a historic 9-clause agreement to transfer the 226-volume Mongolian Tanjur (the ancestral Buddhist canon kept by his family) to the Institute of Scripture and Manuscripts of Mongolia was signed in this very palace in 1914.

The Later Fate of the Estate and Its Tragic Ending The palace met a grim conclusion. In his later years, Prince Nayant became severely addicted to gambling and sank into immense debt. To pay off his debts, he and his son Sechimed mortgaged this vast estate to a Catholic church in Beijing. Failing to repay the mortgage and losing the subsequent legal battle in court, they were evicted from their own palace in 1933. Following this, Prince Na's family was reduced to renting a small courtyard in Beijing, living out their lives in poverty.

After acquiring the palace, the Catholic church sold it to Jincheng Bank in the 1940s. Later, it was repurposed to house a psychiatric hospital, a kindergarten, and other facilities.

Current Status: Today, although most interior sections of Prince Na's Palace have been demolished or heavily altered, the main perimeter walls of the palace compound remain excellently preserved. This surviving section is officially registered within Beijing's Historical and Cultural Conservation Zone. It currently houses the History Museum of the Beijing Branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).