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Emperor Daoguang (Chinese: 道光; pinyin: Daòguāng, Wade-Giles: Tao-kuang) (September 16, 1782 - February 25, 1850) was the sixth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty to rule over China (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 Emperor Qianlong 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 Emperor Jiaqing 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.
Emperor 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.
- Temple name: Xuanzong (宣宗)
- Posthumous name (full): Emperor Xiotian Fuyun Lizhong Tizheng Zhiwen Shengwu Zhiyong Renci Jianqin Xiaomin Kuanding Cheng (效天符運立中體正至文聖武智勇仁慈儉勤孝敏寬定成皇帝). The first 22 characters are the honorific names (徽號) given to him during his reign (on 11 occasions, 2 characters at a time). The last character, Cheng (成 - meaning "the Completer" ) is the posthumous name (謚號) proper, given to him shortly after his death in 1850.
- Posthumous name (short): Emperor Cheng (成皇帝)
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