Life

Hongjiao was born on 17 June 1713 to lady Joogiya, primary princess consort Yixian of the First Rank. In 1730, Hongjiao was granted a title of Prince Ning of the Second Rank. He had 2 biological sisters, including Princess Hehui of the Second Rank who was adopted into the palace since young, and 2 surviving biological brothers, including Hongxiao, Prince Yixi of the First Rank. In 1739, Hongjiao formed a fraction together with Prince Li Hongxi, Hongsheng (son of Prince Heng Yunqi), Hongchang and Yunlu (prince Zhuang of the First Rank) aimed to oust Qianlong Emperor from power and set Hongxi as an emperor. The fraction failed to achieve its aim as Hongpu dispatched a messenger to report an urgent secret matter to the Emperor who stayed in Rehe at that time. Hongpu was arrested and demoted to grace defender duke after the imperial hunt. Hongxi and Hongsheng were stripped of their titles and imprisoned while Hongjiao received lighter punishment. Some sources state that he was only deprived of his allowance.

In 1749, Hongjiao was ordered to make sacrifices in the Jing'anzhuang (静安庄). In 1750 and in 1760, Hongjiao was sent to make sacrifices at the Temple of Heaven. In 1752, Hongjiao was stripped of his position in the Ministry of Revenue due to several delicts.

Hongjiao was a renowned poet. His works included "Stories of Chrysantemums" and "Series of the Prosperous Dynasty" in 13 volumes.

Hongjiao died on 9 September 1764 and was posthumously honoured as Prince Ningliang of the Second Rank (宁良郡王, meaning "tranquil and gentle"). He was succeeded by the second son, Yongfu.

Former residence

Hongjiao's former residence was called "Little Prince Yi Manor" as one of his descendants, Zaidun, was transferred into Prince Yi of the First Rank peerage. The mansion was built in 1730 in Dongcheng District of Beijing. The residence is not preserved in the Siheyuan style due to modern-day reconstructions. After the Xinhai revolution, the opera stage, stables and outer courtyard were converted into storehouses. During the Qianlong era, the prince Ning manor was described as one of the most luxurious and beautiful princely manors in Beijing.

Family

Hongjiao was married to lady Sirin Gioro, daughter of secretary Zhuolintai (卓林泰). Later, he married lady Ula Nara, daughter of Grand Secretary of the Wenhua hall Chalang'a. As Ula Nara clan was made extinct in 1703, official Qing dynasty records write the name of the clan as "Nara".

• Primary consort, of the Sirin Gioro clan

　• Prince of the Third Rank Yongxi, first son

• Second primary consort, of the Ulanara clan

• Mistress, of the Ding clan

　• Prince Gongke of the Third Rank Yongfu, Prince Yi of the First Rank

生平

康熙五十二年五月二十五日（1713年6月17日）出生，生母為馬爾漢之女嫡福晉兆佳氏。雍正八年（1730年）八月，受封為寧郡王。乾隆二十九年八月十四日（1764年9月9日）去世，虛齡五十二歲，諡良。由次子永福襲封寧郡王系第二代，惟需遞降為貝勒襲封。

著有《菊譜》一卷(附《菊表》)，正黃旗漢軍詩人李鍇校，乾隆二十二年（1757）北京春暉堂刻本。卷前有慎親王胤禧丁丑（1757）冬日序，果親王弘瞻乾隆丁丑長至前二日「秋明主人東園菊譜序」，怡親王弘曉乾隆歲次「東園菊譜序」，李鍇序，乾隆甲子（1744）冬十月下澣鑲藍旗滿洲、雍正十一年（1733年）癸丑科進士鄂容安「題辭」；卷後有宗室詩人塞爾赫的「菊譜跋」。

為鑲白旗滿洲詩人哈達納喇氏馬長海的《雷溪草堂集》作序。

家庭

• 父怡賢親王允祥（又胤祥），康熙帝第十三子。母兆佳氏，其父正白旗滿洲、兵部尚書恭勤公馬爾漢。

• 胞弟怡僖親王弘曉。

• 胞姊愛新覺羅氏，嫁正黃旗滿洲、散秩大臣伊爾根覺羅氏福增額，其父山西巡撫伊都立，祖父康熙朝文華殿大學士伊桑阿。

• 嫡福晉西林覺羅氏，中書鄂臨泰之女。雍正十二年七月十六日成婚，弘晈於同年九月初三日娶第一側福晉，九月二十八日娶第二側福晉。胞兄鑲藍旗滿洲、雍正八年進士鄂樂舜。妻胞姊西林覺羅氏，嫁鑲黃旗滿洲、雍正元年(1723)癸卯恩科進士文端公章佳氏尹繼善。

• 繼福晉烏拉那拉氏；其父鑲白旗滿洲、文華殿大學士查郎阿，胞兄乾隆辛酉科舉人查克殫（字承齋），胞姊烏拉那拉氏嫁佟佳氏嗣存（其胞姊佟佳稚心，著有《寶善堂家訓》，嫁追封睿恪親王如松，子睿恭親王淳穎；其父鑲黃旗漢軍都統榮靖公納穆圖，祖父工部尚書誇岱）。

• 子永福；嫡福晉富察氏，其父兵部尚書、三等襄勇侯明亮 (清朝)，祖父廣成，姑祖母富察氏系乾隆帝孝賢純皇后，曾祖莊慤公李榮保。

• 女愛新覺羅氏（母烏拉納喇氏），嫁鑲藍旗滿洲、襄勤伯西林覺羅氏鄂岳，其父雍正十一年進士、襄勤伯鄂容安，祖父一等襄勤伯鄂爾泰。

• 孫兒綿譽；嫡福晉富察氏，其父文襄公福康安，祖父一等忠勇公傅恆，曾祖莊慤公李榮保。