Zhengtong Emperor

Zhengtong Emperor
Emperor of China
Reign	7 February 1435 – 1 September 1449[1]
Predecessor	Xuande Emperor
Successor	Jingtai Emperor
Retired Emperor of China
Reign	1 September 1449 – 11 February 1457
Emperor of China
Reign	11 February 1457 – 23 February 1464
Predecessor	Jingtai Emperor
Successor	Chenghua Emperor
Spouse	Empress Xiao Zhuang Rui Empress Xiao Su
Issue	Princess Chongqing Zhu Jianshen, Chenghua Emperor Zhu Jianlin, Prince Zhuang of De Zhu Jianshi Zhu Jianchun, Prince Dao of Xu Zhu Jianshu, Prince Huai of Xiu Zhu Jianze, Prince Jian of Chong Zhu Jianjun, Prince Jian of Ji Zhu Jianzhi, Prince Mu of Xin Zhu Jianpei, Prince Zhuang of Hui Princess Jiashan Princess Chun'an Princess Chongde Princess Guangde Princess Yixing Princess Longqing Princess Jiaxiang two unnamed daughters
Full name Family name: Zhu (朱) Given name: Qizhen (祁鎮) Era dates Zhengtong (正統): 18 January 1436 – 13 January 1450 Tianshun[2] (天順): 15 February 1457 – 26 January 1465 Posthumous name Emperor Fatian Lidao Renming Chengjing Zhaowen Xianwu Zhide Guangxiao Rui 法天立道仁明誠敬昭文憲武至德廣孝睿皇帝 Temple name Ming Yingzong 明英宗
House	House of Zhu
Father	Xuande Emperor
Mother	Empress Xiao Gong Zhang
Born	(1427-11-29)29 November 1427
Died	23 February 1464(1464-02-23) (aged 36)
Burial	Yuling, Ming Dynasty Tombs, Beijing

Zhu Qizhen (Chinese: 朱祁鎮; 29 November 1427 – 23 February 1464) was the sixth and eighth emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor (Chinese: 正統; pinyin: Zhèngtǒng) from 1435 to 1449, and as the Tianshun Emperor (Chinese: 天順; pinyin: Tiānshùn) from 1457 to 1464.^[3] His first era name means "Right governance" and the second one means "Obedient to Heaven".

First reign

Zhu Qizhen was the son of the Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji and his second wife, Empress Sun. At the beginning of Zhengtong's reign, the Ming Dynasty was prosperous and at the height of its power as a result of Xuande Emperor's able administration. Zhengtong's accession at the age of eight made him the first child emperor of the dynasty hence Zhengtong was easily influenced by others, especially the eunuch Wang Zhen. Zhengtong completely relied on Wang for advice and guidance.

Imprisonment by the Mongols

Stele commemorating rebuilding of the Temple of Yan Hui in Qufu in Year 6 of Zhengtong era (1441 AD)

At the age of 22, in 1449, he was imprisoned by the Mongols when, advised by Wang Zhen, he personally directed and lost the Battle of Tumu Fortress against the Mongols under Esen taishi (d.1455). His capture by the enemy force shook the Ming dynasty to its core and the ensuing crisis almost caused the dynasty to collapse had it not been for the capable governing of a prominent minister named Yu Qian. Although Zhengtong was a prisoner of the Mongols, he became a good friend to both Tayisung Khan Toghtoa Bukha (1416–1453) and his grand preceptor (taishi) Esen. Meanwhile, to calm the crisis at home, his younger brother Zhu Qiyu was installed as the Jingtai Emperor. This reduced Zhengtong's imperial status and he was granted the title of "grand emperor".

House arrest and second reign

The Zhengtong Emperor was released one year later in 1450 but when he returned to China, he was immediately put under house arrest by his brother for almost seven years. He resided in the southern palace of the Forbidden city and all outside contacts were severely curtailed by the Jingtai Emperor. Zhengtong's son (later Chenghua Emperor) was stripped of the title of crown prince and replaced by Jingtai's own son. This act greatly upset and devastated Zhengtong but the heir apparent died shortly thereafter. Overcome with grief, the Jingtai Emperor fell ill and Zhengtong decided to depose Jingtai by a palace coup which eventually reinstalled Zhu Qizhen as emperor, who named his second reign Tianshun ("heavenly obedience") and went on to rule for another seven years.

On 6 August 1461, the Tianshun Emperor issued an edict warning his subjects to be loyal to the throne and not to violate the laws.^[4] This was a veiled threat aimed at the general Cao Qin (d. 1461), who had become embroiled in a controversy when he had one of his retainers kill a man whom Ming authorities were attempting to interrogate (to find out about Cao's illegal foreign business transactions).^[4] On 7 August 1461, General Cao Qin and his cohorts of Mongol descent attempted a coup against the Tianshun Emperor.^[5] However, during the first hours of the morning of 7 August, prominent Ming Mongol generals, Wu Jin and Wu Cong, were alerted of the coup and immediately relayed a warning to the emperor.^[6] Although alarmed, the emperor and his court made preparations for a conflict and barred the gates of the palace.^[7] During the ensuing onslaught in the capital later that morning, the Minister of Works and the Commander of the Imperial Guard were killed, while the rebels set the gates of the Forbidden City on fire.^[5] The eastern and western gates of the imperial city were only saved when pouring rains came and extinguished the fires.^[8] The fight lasted for nearly the entire day within the city; during which three of Cao Qin's brothers were killed, and Qin himself received wounds to both arms. With the failure of the coup, in order to escape being executed, Qin fled to his residence and committed suicide by jumping down a well within the walled compound of his home.^[9]

The Tianshun Emperor died at the age of 37 in 1464 and was buried in the Yuling (裕陵) tomb of the Ming Dynasty Tombs.

Personal information

• Father
  • Xuande Emperor
• Mother
  • Empress Xiao Gong Zhang

Consorts

• Empress Xiao Zhuang Rui (孝莊睿皇后), family name Qian (錢) (died 1468), married the Zhengtong Emperor in 1442, lost her position as empress when her husband was stripped of the position of emperor in 1449, reinstated as empress in 1457, created Empress Dowager Ciyi (慈懿皇太后) during the reign of her stepson
• Empress Xiao Su (孝肅皇后), family name Zhou (周) (died 1504), daughter of Zhou Neng (周能), held the rank of Noble Consort (貴妃), created Empress Dowager Sheng Ci Ren Shou (聖慈仁壽皇太后) in 1487, created Grand Empress Dowager (太皇太后) during the reign of her grandson, never held the title of empress in life but was posthumously honored as an empress, mother of Princess Chongqing and the Chenghua Emperor
• Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen (靖莊安穆宸妃), family name Wan (萬)
• Consort Duan Jing An He Hui (端靖安和惠妃), family name Wang (王)
• Consort Zhuang Jing An Rong Shu (莊靜安榮淑妃), family name Gao (高)
• Consort Gong Duan Zhuang Hui De (恭端莊惠德妃), family name Wei (韋)
• Consort Gong He An Jing Shun (恭和安靜順妃), family name Fan (樊) (1414–1470), entered the imperial court in 1427, created a concubine of the Zhengtong Emperor in 1457
• Consort Zhuang Xi Duan Su An (莊僖端肅安妃), family name Yang (楊)
• Consort Zhao Su Jing Duan Xian (昭肅靖端賢妃), family name Wang (王)
• Consort Zhen Shun Yi Gong Jing (貞順懿恭敬妃), family name Liu (劉)
• Consort An He Rong Jing Li (安和榮靖麗妃), family name Liu (劉)
• Consort Duan Zhuang Zhao (端莊昭妃), family name Wu (武)
• Consort Gong An He (恭安和妃), family name Gong (宮)
• Consort Zhao Jing Gong (昭靜恭妃), family name Liu (劉)
• Consort Zhao Shun Li (昭順麗妃), family name Zhang (張)
• Consort Zhao Yi Xian (昭懿賢妃), family name Li (李)
• Consort Gong Jing Zhuang (恭靖莊妃), family name Zhao (趙)
• Consort Gong Xi Cheng (恭僖成妃), family name Zhang (張)
• Consort Gong Hui He (恭惠和妃), family name Liang (梁)
• Consort Xi Ke Chong (僖恪充妃), family name Yu (余)
• Consort Hui He Li (惠和麗妃), family name Chen (陳)
• Consort Rong Jing Zhen (榮靖貞妃), family name Wang (王)

Sons

Daughters

See also

• Tumu Crisis
• Rebellion of Cao Qin

Notes

References

• Robinson, David M. "Politics, Force and Ethnicity in Ming China: Mongols and the Abortive Coup of 1461," Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies (Volume 59: Number 1, June 1999): 79–123.