Songgotu

Songgotu (Manchu: ; simplified Chinese: 索额图; traditional Chinese: 索額圖; pinyin: Suǒ'étú; 1636 – 1703) was a minister during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor in the Qing Dynasty. He was an uncle of the emperor's primary spouse, Empress Xiaochengren of the Hešeri clan, who died during childbirth. He was also the son of Sonin, one of the four regents appointed to assist the young Kangxi Emperor during his minority. He was therefore the great uncle of Yinreng, who was crown prince throughout most of the Kangxi Emperor's reign. Songgotu inherited the noble title First-class Duke from his father Sonin.

Songgotu helped the young Kangxi Emperor depose Oboi, a regent during the reign of the young emperor. Gradually, Songgotu gained more power and became one of the most prominent officials under Kangxi. He was involved in a long power struggle with Mingju, another leading official at Kangxi's court. He also acted as a diplomat and signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk with Russia.

During Kangxi's expedition against Dzungar khan Galdan, Songgotu advocated for a withdrawal, but was reprimanded by the emperor for suggesting such a strategy. Songgotu was later implicated in the heir-apparent crisis, and was imprisoned and executed. Kangxi rescinded recognition for all of Songgotu's achievements during the latter's life, with the sole exception of the Treaty with Russia.

In fiction

• The Deer and the Cauldron (鹿鼎記), a wuxia novel by Louis Cha. In the story, Songgotu was an aristocrat who befriended the protagonist Wei Xiaobao.

References

• Hummel, Arthur William, ed. Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period (1644-1912). 2 vols. Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1943.
• Spence, Jonathan. Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K'ang-hsi. Jonathan Cape (1974) ISBN 0-224-00940-0.