Tianqi Emperor

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Tianqi Emperor

Birth and death:	23 December 1605–30 September 1627
Family name:	Zhu (朱)
Given name:	Youjiao (由校)
Dates of reign:	1 October 1620–30 September 1627
Era name:	Tianqi (天啓)
Era dates:	22 January 1621–4 February 1628
Temple name:	Xizong (熹宗)
Posthumous name: (short)	Emperor Zhe (悊皇帝)
Posthumous name: (full)	Emperor Datian Chandao Dunxiao Duyou Zhangwen Xiangwu Jingmu Zhuangqin Zhe 達天闡道敦孝篤友章文襄武靖穆莊勤悊皇帝
General note: Dates given here are in the Gregorian calendar. They are not in the Julian calendar that was in use in England until 1752.

The Tianqi Emperor (December 23, 1605 - September 30, 1627) was the 15th emperor of the Ming dynasty from 1620 to 1627. Born Zhu Youjiao, he was the Taichang Emperor's eldest son.

Zhu Youxiao became emperor at the age of 15, on the death of his father who ruled less than a month. He did not pay much attention to affairs of state, and was accused of failing in his filial duties to his dead father by not continuing his father's wishes. It is possible that Zhu Youxiao suffered from a learning disability or something more. He was illiterate and showed no interest in his studies. Because he was unable to read memorials and uninterested in the affairs of state, his head eunuch, Wei Zhongxian usurped the power along with Madam Ke, Zhu Youxiao's nanny. Zhu Youxiao apparently devoted his time to carpentry. Wei took advantage of the situation and began appointing the people he trusted to important positions in the palace. Meanwhile Madam Ke, who was the nanny of the young emperor sought to retain power by removing all other women from the emperor's harem by locking away the concubines of the emperor and starving them to death. One Confucian moralist group, the Donglin, expressed distress at the conditions of the Imperial State. In response, the palace covertly ordered the execution of a number of officials associated with the Donglin. Living conditions worsened during his reign and Tianqi faced several popular uprisings.

Zhu Youxiao died in 1627 and was succeeded by his younger brother.