Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period/Yin-t'i (禔)
YIN-t'i 胤禔, Mar. 12, 1672–1734, Nov. 25, was the eldest son of Emperor Shêng-tsu. He often accompanied the Emperor on the latter's tours, and in 1690 was sent to assist his uncle, Fu-ch'üan [q. v.], in the expedition against Galdan [q. v.] in Jehol. He was recalled, however, before the battle of Ulan-butung took place because he had disputed with Fu-ch'üan. At the time of the expedition against Galdan in Mongolia in 1696 he was sent with Songgotu [q. v.] to command the advance guard awaiting the Emperor at Torin, and after the Emperor returned to Peking he remained behind to make awards to the victorious troops. Made in 1698 a prince of the second degree with the designation Chih 直, he began to live outside the Palace in his own establishment.
Before long there ensued among the princes a struggle for the throne. Yin-jêng [q. v.], the Heir Apparent, was evidently unsuited for the position. Nevertheless it seems that he had the support of a brother, Yin-chih [q. v.], whereas Yin-t'i and several other princes took up the case of another brother, Yin-ssŭ [q. v.]. In 1708 when Yin-jêng, after a spell of insanity, was degraded as he was returning from Jehol, he was placed in the custody of Yin-t'i. While exercising this responsibility Yin-t'i reminded the Emperor that physiognomists had predicted Yin-ssŭ's succession to the throne and that it would be easy to get rid of Yin-jêng without leaving any imputation of blame upon the Emperor himself. For this malevolent suggestion Yin-t'i was severely reprimanded. Late in the same year (1708) he was accused by Yin-chih of employing a Lama sorceress to cast a spell on Yin-jêng. Investigation seemed to substantiate the accusation when certain objects believed to have caused Yin-jêng's insanity were dug up in Yin-t'i's courtyard. On this and other counts Yin-t'i was pleced under surveillance, and after being deprived of his titles, was imprisoned in his own courtyard where he died in 1734 and was buried with the rites accorded to a prince of the fourth degree. Most of his property and the Bannermen assigned as his slaves were given to the Emperor's fourteenth son, Yin-t'i [禵, q.v.].
[1/226/2a; Tung-hua lu, K'ang-hsi 47:9, 10, 11; Ch'ing Huang-shih ssŭ-p'u (see under Fu-lung-an) 3/12a.]
Fang Chao-ying