Prince Xian of the First Rank, or simply Prince Xian, was the title of a princely peerage used in China during the Manchu-led Qing dynasty (1644–1912). As the Prince Xian peerage was not awarded "iron-cap" status, this meant that each successive bearer of the title would normally start off with a title downgraded by one rank vis-à-vis that held by his predecessor. However, the title would generally not be downgraded to any lower than a feng'en fuguo gong except under special circumstances.
The first bearer of the title was Yunbi (允祕; 1716–1773), the 24th son of the Kangxi Emperor. In 1733, he was awarded the title "Prince Xian of the First Rank" by his fourth brother, the Yongzheng Emperor, who succeeded their father. The title was passed down over seven generations and was held by six persons.
Members of the Prince Xian peerage
Yunbi (允祕; 1716–1773), the Kangxi Emperor's 24th son, held the title Prince Xian of the First Rank from 1733 to 1773, posthumously honoured as Prince Xianke of the First Rank (諴恪親王)
Hongchang (弘暢; 1741–1795), Yunbi's eldest son, initially a buru bafen zhenguo gong from 1757 to 1774, held the title Prince Xian of the Second Rank from 1774 to 1795, posthumously honoured as Prince Xianmi of the Second Rank (諴密郡王)
Yongzhu (永珠; 1759–1837), Hongchang's eldest son, initially a third class zhenguo jiangjun from 1784 to 1788, held the title of a beile from 1795 to 1836, stripped of his title in 1836
Hongwu (弘旿; 1743–1811), Yunbi's second son, held the title of a second class zhenguo jiangjun from 1753 to 1774, promoted to beizi in 1774, stripped of his title in 1778, reinstated as a feng'en jiangjun in 1794, stripped of his title in 1799 but restored in 1809
Yongsong (永松; 1782–1827), Hongwu's fifth son, held the title of a feng'en jiangjun from 1811 to 1827, posthumously honoured as a beizi in 1837
Mianxun (綿勳; 1817–1893), Yongsong's second son, held the title of a feng'en jiangjun from 1827 to 1836, promoted to beizi in 1836
Yijun (奕均; 1836–1871), Mianxun's second son, held the title of a zhenguo jiangjun from 1868 to 1871
Yongchun (永純), Hongkang's eldest son, held the title of a fengguo jiangjun from 1811 to 1814, became a fuguo jiangjun from 1814 to 1841, stripped of his title in 1841
Hongchao (弘超; 1755–1808), Yunbi's fourth son, held the title of a third class fuguo jiangjun from 1775 to 1777, stripped of his title in 1777
Family tree
Yunbi 允祕 (1716–1773) Prince Xianke of the First Rank 諴恪親王 (1733–1773)
Hongchang 弘暢 (1741–1795) Prince Xianmi of the Second Rank 諴密郡王 (1774–1795)