A brief introduction to Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, his life experience, how he died, and where is his mausoleum?
What is the life experience of Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of Ming Dynasty? What was the final outcome of Zhu Youtang? How did he die? Where is Zhu Youtang's tomb? Let’s find out together!
Introduction to Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty:
Zhu Youtang (July 30, 1470 - June 8, 1505) was the Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty (1487-1505). position), reign name Hongzhi, the ninth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the third son of Zhu Jianshen, Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty, and his biological mother was the Empress Dowager Xiaomuji. Ascending the throne in September of the 23rd year of Chenghua (1487), Zhu Youtang was generous and kind, practiced frugality, was not close to others, diligent in political affairs, valued justice, opened up his voice, worked hard to reverse the decline of the government, and expelled He was a treacherous man who was diligent in political affairs, worked hard to govern, and appointed upright ministers such as Wang Shu and Liu Daxia, which was called "Hongzhi Zhongxing" in history.
Although he favored the eunuch Li Guang in his later years, he immediately changed his ways. Historians of all ages spoke highly of him. Zhu Guozhen, the chief minister of the cabinet during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, said: "Those who are called wise rulers under the third generation, Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, Renzong of the Song Dynasty and Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty. In the 18th year of Hongzhi (1505), Zhu Youtang died in the Qianqing Palace. He reigned for 18 years at the age of 36. He was buried in Tailing with the temple name Xiaozong and the posthumous title "Jiantianming". "The Tao is pure, upright, holy, cultural, spiritual, martial, benevolent and virtuous, and respect the emperor."
An introduction to the life experience of Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty:
Early life
Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, had a very rough and unfortunate childhood. His biological mother, Ji, was the daughter of a chieftain named Ji in Guangxi. After the Ji rebellion subsided, the girl Ji was captured and brought into the palace to manage the emperor's private money. Occasionally, she passed by and saw Ji's beauty and intelligence, so she stayed overnight. After knowing that Ji was pregnant, Concubine Wan Guifei, who was the most favored harem, ordered a palace maid to perform an abortion for Ji's popularity. When he reported it to Concubine Wan, he lied that it was a tumor in his belly rather than pregnancy. Concubine Wan was still worried and ordered Ji to be demoted to the cold palace.
Concubine Ji was under the shadow of Concubine Wan. She secretly gave birth to Zhu Youtang in the cold palace. When Concubine Wan Gui learned about it, she sent the eunuch Zhang Min to drown the new prince. However, Zhang Min risked her life and helped Ji hide the baby secretly and feed it with rice flour every day. . Empress Wu, who was marginalized by Concubine Wan Gui, also helped to feed the baby. Concubine Wan Gui searched for it several times but could not find it. In this way, Zhu Youtang continued to eat from Baijia until she was six years old. When Zhang Min combed Xianzong's hair, Xianzong sighed and said, "I am getting old and I don't have a son yet." Zhang Min hurriedly said: "Long live already has a son." "Xianzong was shocked and hurriedly asked what happened, and Zhang Min told the truth. Emperor Xianzong heard the introduction of Daxi Zhu Youtang and immediately ordered to pick up the prince. When Emperor Xianzong saw him for the first time, he had not yet had his fetal hair due to long-term confinement. The thin son who was cut and dragged to the ground couldn't help but burst into tears and was filled with emotion.
He summoned all the officials that day to tell the truth. The next day, he issued an imperial edict to introduce Zhu Youtang to the world. As the crown prince, Ji was granted the title of Concubine Shu, but then she died violently in the palace, and the eunuch Zhang Min committed suicide by swallowing gold. Obviously, the deaths of Concubine Ji and Zhang Min were directly related to the persecution of Concubine Wan Guixian. Zong's mother, Empress Dowager Zhou, was worried that Concubine Wan Gui would kill the prince, so she personally adopted her grandson in her Renshou Palace so that the prince could live safely in the palace.
Succession to the throne
In the spring of the 23rd year of Chenghua (1487), Concubine Wan Gui died of illness, and Emperor Xianzong also died in August due to excessive grief. Crown Prince Zhu Youtang succeeded to the throne on Renyin Day in the next year. It was named "Hongzhi" for Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty. However, what Emperor Xianzong left to the 18-year-old prince Zhu Youtang was a country with chaotic government and declining national power. He used his tolerance and diligence to turn the tide and revive the Ming Dynasty.
Rational governance
Due to the rough life in his childhood, Xiaozong had always been weak and sick, but he was diligent in political affairs. Not only did he have to attend the morning court every day, but he also reopened the afternoon court, which gave ministers more opportunities to assist the emperor in handling government affairs. At the same time, he reopened the banquet service and consulted the ministers on how to govern the country. The role of the Wenhua Palace to discuss politics is to discuss governance and discuss political affairs with the cabinet ministers during the morning and afternoon periods.
Zhu Youtang advocated speaking out and giving advice, and he was a generous and kind man. , practice frugality, be aloof, diligent in political affairs, and pay attention to justice.
Emperor Xiaozong's diligence finally paid off. He promoted the rule of the court and governed the Qingming Dynasty, appointed talents, suppressed officials, worked diligently in administration, advocated thrift, and rested with the people. This was a peaceful period in the history of the Ming Dynasty when the economy was prosperous and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. It is called "Hongzhi Zhongxing" by historians.
Later in the reign
Due to Xiaozong's troubled childhood, his health has always been poor. He hoped to change his physical condition through Buddhism and Taoism. Therefore, some treacherous people sneaked into the palace again and disrupted the government again. The eunuch Li Guang was one of them, and he was deeply favored by Xiaozong. Later, Li Guang committed suicide in fear of guilt. Xiaozong thought that there was a heavenly book in Li Guang's home and ordered people to search for it. However, they found the account books of Li Guang's corruption and bribery, and Xiaozong finally came to his senses.
The Li Guang incident awakened the Emperor Xiaozong, who had been sleeping for many years and worked hard to govern, and he began the second and last period of diligence in his life. Zhu Youtang began to constantly reflect on his past actions, distanced himself from sycophant ministers and favored virtuous ministers such as Liu Daxia and Dai Shan, and vigorously rectified the imperial court. However, the excessive work intensity also completely exhausted his body.
How did Zhu Youtang, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, die?
In the eighteenth year of Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty (1505), Zhu Youtang died in the Qianqing Palace at the age of 36. When he was dying, he summoned Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian and others to the Qianqing Palace to accept his orders. The order was passed to the crown prince Zhu Houzhao, and he told the ministers: "The prince is very smart, but he is still young and loves to enjoy himself. You must assist him well so that he can take on important responsibilities, and I will die in peace." My last instruction to Prince Zhu Houzhao was to "appoint good ministers."
Where is Zhu Youtang’s tomb?
After the death of Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, he was buried in the Tailing Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty, and was buried in the same mausoleum with Queen Zhang. It was last repaired in the 50th to 52nd years of Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1785-1787), and has been basically in a natural state since then. The planning of the Tailing Mausoleum was after the death of Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty. "Records of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty" records that after Emperor Wuzong ascended the throne, he immediately began to prepare for Xiaozong's funeral. Li Jie, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, Ni Qian, the deputy of the Qintian Supervisor, and Dai Yi, the eunuch of the Ministry of Rites, said to Wu Zong: "There is a place called Shijiatai to the west of Maoling. It is an auspicious place to build a mausoleum. The mausoleum of Emperor Daxing can be Build it there. "
Xu Tianxi, who was on the right side of the Engineering Department, also suggested to Wu Zong that he should send someone from the court who was proficient in Feng Shui to go and have a second look. He also suggested: "If you have any doubts, move the article to Jiangxi and other places urgently. Seek out magicians and visit famous mountains to ensure that the main force is strong, the atmosphere is gathered, the water and soil are deep, the acupuncture methods are correct, and the power is complete, like the Confucian scholars of the Song Dynasty Zhu Xi said, "Common people can worship the gods and pray for eternal life for the country." The Ministry of Rites also agreed with this proposal. Therefore, Wu Zong ordered the eunuchs Fu'an, Li Xing, Qin Guan, and Wang Hua, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, to visit Shijiatai, and finally decided to build Xiaozong's mausoleum there.