Chenghua Emperor

Chenghua Emperor
Emperor of China
Reign	28 February 1464 - 9 September 1487 (&1000000000000002300000023 years, &10000000000000193000000193 days)
Predecessor	Tianshun Emperor
Successor	Hongzhi Emperor
Spouse	Empress Wu
Issue
Zhu Youtang, Hongzhi Emperor
Full name
Family name: Zhu (朱) Given name: Jianjun (見濬), later Jianshen (見深)[1]
Era name and dates
Chénghuà (成化): 27 January 1465 – 13 February 1488
Posthumous name
Emperor Jitian Ningdao Chengming Renjing Chongwen Suwu Hongde Shengxiao Chun 繼天凝道誠明仁敬崇文肅武宏德聖孝純皇帝
Temple name
Ming Xianzong 明憲宗
House	Ming Dynasty
Father	Zhengtong Emperor
Mother	Empress Xiao Su
Born	9 December 1447(1447-12-09)
Died	9 September 1487(1487-09-09) (aged 39)
Burial	Ming Dynasty Tombs, Beijing

The Chenghua Emperor (pronounced [tʂʰɤ̌ŋxwâ]; December 9, 1447 – September 9, 1487) was Emperor of the Ming dynasty in China, between 1464 and 1487. His era name means "Accomplished change".

Childhood

Born Zhu Jianshen, he was the Zhengtong Emperor's son. He was only 2 years old when his father, the Zhengtong emperor, was captured by the Oirat Mongols and held captive in 1449. After that his uncle, the Jingtai Emperor took over whilst his father was put under house arrest for almost 7 years. During this time, Chenghua lived under his uncle's shadow and even had his title of crown prince removed while Jingtai installed his own son as heir. Chenghua was only reinstated as crown prince on the eve of the death of Emperor Jingtai in 1457.

Reign as Emperor

Chenghua ascended the throne at the age of 16. During the early part of his administration, Chenghua carried out new government policies to reduce tax and strengthen the dynasty. However these did not last and by the closing years of his reign, governmental affairs once again fell into the hands of eunuchs, notably Wang Zhi. Peasant uprisings occurred throughout the country; however, they were violently suppressed. Chenghua's reign was also more autocratic than his predecessors' and freedom was sharply curtailed when Chenghua established institutes such as the Xi Chang (to complement the existing Dong Chang), monitoring all civilians' actions and words. This institute, not unlike a spy agency, would administer punishment to those whom they suspected of treason. The Xi Chang would eventually be shut down but it was the start of a dangerous trend and Chenghua's descendants would again revive the Xi Chang during the 16th century.

Chenghua was also under the influence of Lady Wan who was an imperial concubine more than twice his age. Lady Wan had been a mother figure to young Chenghua but after ascending the throne she quickly became Chenghua's favourite consort after giving birth to a child in 1464. The child soon died however Lady Wan held sway over the imperial harem and prevented the young emperor from bearing any offspring. Lady Wan and her eunuchs would either induce abortion to those who were about to bear the emperor's child or administer poison to mother and child if birth had occurred ¹.

A Song Dynasty (960–1279) painting of a mother hen and chicks, with a written eulogy at the top inscribed by the Chenghua Emperor describing his fondness for this work.

It was not until 1475 that Chenghua discovered that he had a son (later Hongzhi Emperor) who survived and was raised in secrecy.

Chenghua died in 1487, after 23 years on the throne. He was buried in Maoling (茂陵)。

Personal Information

Empress

• Empress Wu, deposed but outlived him
• Empress Wang, later honored Empress Dowager, posthumously honored Empress Xiaozhenchun(孝贞纯皇后) and buried with him

Consorts

• Consort Ji, mother of Hongzhi Emperor, posthumously honored Empress Xiaomu(孝穆皇后)
• Consort Shao, before her death her paternal grandson became Jiajing Emperor, and she was posthumously honored Empress Xiaohui(孝惠皇后)
• Consort Wan Zhen'er
• Consort Bai
• Consort Zhang (张)
• Consort Yao
• Consort Wang, styled Consort Jing
• Consort Yang
• Consort Pan
• Consort Wang, styled Consort Shun
• Consort Tang
• Consort Zhang (章) (note different character than the Consort Zhang above)
• Consort Liang
• Consort Guo
• Consort Yue
• Consort Wang, styled Consort Zhao
• Lady Han

Sons

• Unnamed son, born by Consort Wan Zhen'er, died early
• Zhu Youji, born by Consort Bai, died 1472, posthumously honored Crown Prince Daogong
• Hongzhi Emperor
• Zhu Youyuan, Prince Xian of Xing, born by Consort Shao and fathered Jiajing Emperor, posthumously honored Emperor Xian of Xing and Emperor Ruizong of Ming
• Zhu Youlun, Prince Hui of Qi, born by Consort Shao
• Zhu Youbin, Prince Duan of Yi, born by Consort Zhang (张)
• Zhu Youhui, Prince Gong of Heng, born by Consort Zhang (张)
• Zhu Youyun, Prince Jing of Yong, born by Consort Shao
• Zhu Youqi, Prince Ding of Shou, born by Consort Yao
• Unnamed son, born by Consort Zhang with the style Consort Jing on August 19, 1483 and died October 8 the same year
• Zhu Youheng, Prince An of Ru, born by Consort Zhang (张)
• Zhu Youshun, Prince Jian of Jing, born by Consort Yang
• Zhu Youshu, Prince Zhuang of Rong, born by Consort Pan
• Zhu Youkai, Prince Yi of Shen, born by Consort Yang

Daughters

• Princess Renhe, married Qi Shimei in 1489 and died 1544
• Princess Yongkang, married Cui Yuan
• Princess Deqing, married Lin Yue
• Princess, died early
• Princess Changtai, died 1487
• Princess Xianyou, died 1492

Legacy

Emperor Chenghua's reign can be distinguished by his early attempts to reform the government and trying his best to rule the country. His reign also saw a cultural flourishing with famous Ming personnel such as Hu Juren and Chen Baisha dominating the academic scene. However Chenghua's reign was prone to dominating individuals in the government and Chenghua was easily influenced into granting favours based on who he liked rather than their abilities. This led to the degradation of the ruling class and wasteful spending by corrupt individuals which eventually depleted the empire's coffer.

Notes

1. ^ His original given name Jianjun was changed into Jianshen in 1457 when his father was restored on the throne as Emperor Tianshun.

Source

¹ Imperial China - 900-1800, F.W. Mote, Page 630, First Harvard University Press, 2003.

Chenghua Emperor House of Zhu Born: December 9 1447 Died: September 9 1487
Regnal titles
Preceded by The Tianshun Emperor	Emperor of China 1464–1487	Succeeded by The Hongzhi Emperor

Persondata
Name	Emperor, Chenghua
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	9 December 1447
Place of birth
Date of death	9 September 1487
Place of death