Daoguang

The Daoguang Emperor (September 16, 1782 - February 25, 1850) was the seventh Emperor of China|emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the sixth Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1820 to 1850.

He was born in the Forbidden City, Beijing, and was given the name Mianning (綿寧), changed into Minning (旻寧) when he became emperor: the first character of his private name was changed from Mian (綿) to Min (旻) so that his brothers and cousins of the same generation would not have to change the first character of their names (a character identical for all relatives of the same generation), which they should normally have done given that the private name of an emperor is taboo and cannot be written or pronounced. This novelty was introduced by his grandfather the Qianlong Emperor who thought it not proper to have a whole generation of people in the imperial family changing their names on an emperor's accession to the throne.

He was the second son of Yongyan (永琰), who became the Jiaqing Emperor in 1796. His mother, the principal wife of Yongyan, was Lady Hitara, of the (Manchu) Hitara clan, who became empress when Jiaqing ascended the throne in 1796. She is known posthumously as Empress Xiaoshu Rui (孝淑睿皇后).

During his reign China experienced major problems with opium, which was imported into China by British merchants. He made many edicts against opium in the 1820s and 1830s, which ultimately led to the First Opium War against Britain. China lost this war and was forced to surrender Hong Kong at the Treaty of Nanking.

Daoguang died on February 25, 1850 at the Old Summer Palace (圓明園), 8km./5 miles northwest of the walls of Beijing.

He was interred amidst the Western Qing Tombs (清西陵), 120 kilometers/75 miles southwest of Beijing, in the Muling (慕陵 - meaning "Tomb of longing", or "Tomb of admiration") mausoleum complex.