Zhu Yutan ( July 30, 1470 - June 8, 1505 ) is the ninth emperor of China from 1487 to 1505 of the Ming dynasty . Rules under the motto of Hongzhi ( Chinese: 弘治 , Hóngzhì “ Generous Government ”), the temple posthumous name is Xiao-tsung (孝宗).
| Zhu Yutan | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale. 朱 祐 樘 | |||||||
 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Predecessor | Zhu Jianshen | ||||||
| Successor | Zhu Houzhao | ||||||
| Birth | July 30, 1470 Beijing , China | ||||||
| Death | June 8, 1505 (34 years) Beijing , China | ||||||
| Burial place | Tombs of the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty | ||||||
| Rod | Min | ||||||
| Father | Zhu Jianshen | ||||||
| Mother | Xiao Mu | ||||||
| Spouse | Chen | ||||||
| Children | 2 sons and 1 daughter | ||||||
| Religion | Buddhism | ||||||
Biography
Born July 30, 1470 . His mother was a representative of the Yao tribe (later became the empress Mu). Until 1475, he was hidden because the main empress Wang tried to destroy the sons of Zhu Jianshen . But in 1475, 5-year-old Zhu Yutan was introduced to his father and declared heir to the throne. Received an excellent Confucian education.
In September 1487, after the death of his father Zhu Jianshen, 17-year-old Zhu Yutang took the imperial throne under the name of Hongzhi. Zhu Yutan carefully followed all government affairs, tax cuts and government spending cuts.
Zhu Yutan expelled his father's favorites from leadership positions and the imperial palace. More than a thousand former dignitaries were sent into exile. New people were promoted to leadership positions, mainly Confucianists from the Hanlin Academy . Under him, the practice of distributing to numerous imperial relatives and high dignitaries of land together with the peasants that they were treated was discontinued, and the severity of the labor or working duties of the population that was practiced in the country was reduced. It has become available more funds to help areas affected by droughts and floods. It was also ordered to reduce the amount of funds allocated to the daily life of the imperial court.
The effective fight against corruption contributed to improving governance, improving the quality of the judicial system (decrees for the consideration of criminal cases in 1500 and 1502 ). To improve the situation with frequent flooding on the Yellow River , 120 thousand people were sent to build a system of canals and dams on this river. As a result, the Yellow River was transferred to a new channel that existed until the XIX century . This in turn contributed to trade and agriculture. The population from 1488 to 1504 increased by 10 million people.
However, soon Emperor Zhu Yutan fell under the influence of the palace eunuch Li Guyan, who introduced him to mystical activities, distracting him from real affairs. Empress Chen began to intervene in political affairs.
On June 8, 1505, 34-year-old Zhu Yutan passed away; he was succeeded by his eldest son, Zhu Houzhao .
Unlike his father, Zhu Yutan (Hongzhi) had two sons (one died in infancy) and one daughter.
Sources
- Brook, Timothy. ( 1998 ). The Confusions of Pleasure: Commerce and Culture in Ming China. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-22154-0