Ortai

Ortai's portrait

Ortai (Manchu: ᠣᡵᡨᠠᡳ; Möllendorff: ortai; Chinese: 鄂爾泰; pinyin: È'ěrtài) (1677–1745) was an eminent Chinese official at court from the Silin Gioro clan, belonging to the Bordered Blue Banner, during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). He was a famous mandarin during the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor (1722–1735) of the Qing Dynasty, who was also served Yongzheng in governing the southern areas in his role in various regional governing positions. The Qianlong Emperor highly praised Ortai, saying that “[h]e was the No. 1 of doctors from the Qing Dynasty.”

He was appointed the Viceroy of Yun-Gui in 1726. Along with Tian Wenjing and Li Wei, Manchu Ortai was one of the Emperor's most trusted officials. In September 1745, while visiting Qinling tombs with the Qianlong Emperor, he fell ill and died at the age of 68. The Emperor commemorated Ortai.

Family

Ortai was originally wed to a woman of the Guwalgiya clan, until she died. Then he married the daughter of Mai Zhu, the Minister of the Board of Punishments. Ortai then refused to take on secondary spouses despite polygamous customs of aristocratic men of his generation. They had two daughters and six sons. His fourth son Oning (Chinese: 鄂寧; pinyin: È níng) also served as Viceroy of Yung-Gui for a short period in 1768.

Fame and military campaigns

• Viceroy of Yun-Gui (1723–1726)
• Councillor of Grand Council (1730–1740)
• Chief Councillor of Grand Council and Defence minister (1737)
• Grand Secretariat (1737)

Awards

He was created Three Excellencies, Crown prince's military first class master (太子太保) and Crown prince's literature and politic first class master (太子太傅).

External links