Emperor Yingzong of Ming

For the PRC diplomat, see Zhu Qizhen (diplomat).
Zhengtong Emperor
6th and 8th Ming 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 the Ming Empire
Reign 11 February 1457 – 23 February 1464
Predecessor Jingtai Emperor
Successor Chenghua Emperor
Born (1427-11-29)29 November 1427
Died 23 February 1464(1464-02-23) (aged 36)
Burial Yuling, Ming Dynasty Tombs, Beijing
Spouse Empress Xiaozhuangrui
Empress Xiaosu
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
Surname: 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 Xiaogongzhang

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 "obedience to Heaven". His temple name is Yingzong (英宗).

First reign

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

Imprisonment by the Mongols

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

At the age of 21, in 1449, the Zhengtong Emperor 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 empire 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 the Zhengtong Emperor 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 the Zhengtong Emperor's imperial status and he was granted the title of Tàishàng Huángdi (emperor emeritus).

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. His son, who later became the Chenghua Emperor, was stripped of the title of crown prince and replaced by the Jingtai Emperor's own son. This act greatly upset and devastated the former Zhengtong Emperor but the heir apparent died shortly thereafter. Overcome with grief, the Jingtai Emperor fell ill and the former Zhengtong Emperor decided to depose his brother by a palace coup. The emperor emeritus was successful in seizing the throne from the Jingtai Emperor, after which he changed his regnal name to "Tianshun" (lit. "obedience to Heaven") 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, 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 generals Wu Jin and Wu Cong, who were alerted of the coup, immediately relayed a warning to the emperor.[6] Although alarmed, the Tianshun 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 Cao himself received wounds to both arms. With the failure of the coup, in order to escape being executed, Cao 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) mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty Tombs.

Personal information

Consorts

Sons

Number Name Formal Title Born Died Mother Spouse Issue Notes
1 Zhu Jianshen
朱見深
The Chenghua Emperor 9 December 1447 9 September 1487 Empress Xiaosu Empress Wu
Empress Xiaozhenchun
Empress Xiaomu
Empress Xiaohui
14 concubines
unnamed son
Zhu Youji, Crown Prince Daogong
Zhu Youcheng, Hongzhi Emperor
Zhu Youyuan, Prince Xian of Xing
Zhu Youlun, Prince Hui of Qi
Zhu Youbin, Prince Duan of Yi
Zhu Youhui, Prince Gong of Heng
Zhu Youyun, Prince Jing of Yong
Zhu Youqi, Prince Ding of Shou
unnamed son
Zhu Youheng, Prince An of Ru
Zhu Youshun, Prince Jian of Jing
Zhu Youshu, Prince Zhuang of Rong
Zhu Youkai, Prince Yi of Shen
Princess Renhe
Princess Yongkang
Princess Deqing
unnamed daughter
Princess Changtai
Princess Xianyou
2 Zhu Jianlin
朱見潾
Prince Zhuang of De
德莊王
7 May 1448 7 September 1517 Consort Jingzhuang'anmuchen Zhu Yourong, Prince Yi of De Initially created Prince of Rong (榮王) on 21 May 1452;
Title changed to Prince of De (德王) on 30 March 1457
3 Zhu Jianshi
朱見湜
2 August 1449 30 August 1451 Consort Jingzhuang'anmuchen none none
4 Zhu Jianchun
朱見淳
Prince Dao of Xu
許悼王
3 April 1450 3 January 1453 Consort Duanjing'anhehui none none Created Prince of Xu on 20 May 1452
5 Zhu Jianshu
朱見澍
Prince Huai of Xiu
秀懷王
12 March 1452 13 October 1472 Consort Zhuangjing'anrongshu Lady Wang (王氏)
(daughter of Wang Yu (王昱))
none Created Prince of Xiu (秀王) on 30 March 1457
6 Zhu Jianze
朱見澤
Prince Jian of Chong
崇簡王
2 May 1455 27 August 1505 Empress Xiaosu Zhu Youmi, Prince Jing of Chong Created Prince of Chong (崇王) in 1457
7 Zhu Jianjun
朱見浚
Prince Jian of Ji
吉簡王
11 July 1456 16 August 1527 Consort Jingzhuang'anmuchen Zhu Youfu, Prince Dao of Ji Created Prince of Ji (吉王) on 30 March 1466
8 Zhu Jianzhi
朱見治
Prince Mu of Xin
忻穆王
18 March 1458 2 April 1472 Consort Jingzhuang'anmuchen none none Created Prince of Xin (忻王) on 21 September 1466
9 Zhu Jianpei
朱見沛
Prince Zhuang of Hui
徽莊王
2 March 1462 13 June 1505 Consort Gongduanzhuanghuide none Zhu Youtai, Prince Jian of Hui Created Prince of Hui (徽王) in 1466

Daughters

Number Title Born Died Date Married Spouse Issue Mother Notes
1 Princess Chongqing
重慶公主
1446 1499 1461 Zhou Jing
周景
Zhou Xian
周賢
Empress Xiaosu
2 Princess Jiashan
嘉善公主
1499 1466 Wang Zeng
王增
Consort Duanjing'anhehui
3 Princess Chun'an
淳安公主
1466 Cai Zhen
蔡震
Consort Jingzhuang'anmuchen
4 Princess Chongde
崇德公主
1489 Yang Wei
楊偉
Consort Zhuangxiduansu'an
5 Princess Guangde
廣德公主
1484 1472 Fan Kai
樊凱
Consort Jingzhuang'anmuchen Personal name Zhu Yanxiang (朱延祥)
6 Princess Yixing
宜興公主
1514 1473 Ma Cheng
馬誠
Consort Gongduanzhuanghuide
7 Princess Longqing
隆慶公主
1455 1479 1473 You Tai
遊泰
Consort Zhuangjing'anrongshu
8 Princess Jiaxiang
嘉祥公主
1483 1477 Huang Yong
黃鏞
9 unnamed none none none Consort Gongduanzhuanghuide Died young
10 unnamed none none none Consort Gonghe'anjingshun Died young

See also

Notes

  1. Captured by the Mongols, he was succeeded by his brother, the Jingtai Emperor, who conferred on him the title Taishang Huang, a title reserved for the retired emperors and which he held until 1457.
  2. Tianshun (天順) was also the name of a reign era in the Yuan dynasty.
  3. Leo K. Shin (2006), The Making of the Chinese State: Ethnicity and Expansion on the Ming Borderlands, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-85354-5
  4. 1 2 Robinson, 97.
  5. 1 2 Robinson, 79.
  6. Robinson, 101–102.
  7. Robinson, 102.
  8. Robinson, 105.
  9. Robinson, 107–108.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zhengtong Emperor.
Emperor Yingzong of Ming
Born: 29 November 1427 Died: 23 February 1464
Regnal titles
Preceded by
The Xuande Emperor
Emperor of China (First Time)
1435–1449
Succeeded by
The Jingtai Emperor
Preceded by
The Jingtai Emperor
Emperor of China (Second Time)
1457–1464
Succeeded by
The Chenghua Emperor
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