Ming Shizong Zhu Houcong (September 16, 1507 - January 23, 1567), was born in Anluzhou, Huguang Chief Secretary (today's Zhongxiang, Hubei), grandson of Xianzong of Ming Dynasty, nephew of Xiaozong of Ming Dynasty, The son of Zhu Youqi, King of Xingxian, and the cousin of Emperor Wuzong of Ming Dynasty.
The eleventh emperor of the Ming Dynasty, reigned from the 16th year of Zhengde (1521) to the 45th year of Jiajing (1566), with the reign name Jiajing.
On April 20, the 16th year of Zhengde (1521), Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty passed away. Since Wuzong died without heirs, Empress Dowager Zhang (the mother of Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty) and Yang Tinghe, the chief minister of the cabinet, decided to change the situation from recent times to Zhu Houcong, a cousin of the imperial family and Wu Zong's cousin, succeeded to the throne.
At the beginning of Zhu Houcong's accession to the throne, he gradually gained control of the imperial power through great ritual discussions. In the early days of his reign, he was wise and strict in controlling officials, governing the people with leniency, rectifying the government, reducing taxes and servitude, and revitalizing state affairs. He created the Jiajing Zhongxing situation and laid the foundation for the Longqing New Deal, Zhang Juzheng's reform, and Jialong's Wanda Reform.
In the later period, he believed in Taoism and favored Yan Song and others, which led to corruption in the government. In the 21st year of Jiajing (1542), he almost died at the hands of a palace maid during the "Renyin Palace Rebellion". After that, Ming Shizong ignored government affairs for a long time, superstitious the alchemists, wasted people's power, and eventually provoked a peasant uprising.
At the same time, the Mongolian Tatars attacked the border with the Khan invaders, and in the 29th year of Jiajing (1550), they came to Beijing with their troops, which was known as the "Gengxu Incident" in history; Japanese pirates also invaded the southeastern coast of China, and the "Southern Japanese pirates" "Beilu" has always been troubled, causing a great negative impact.
Ming Shizong was a smart man, especially in calligraphy and literary literacy. At the same time, he is very sensitive, but he is also very diligent. He often reviews memorials until late at night.
In the forty-fifth year of Jiajing (1566), Emperor Jiajing died in Qianqing Palace at the age of 60. The temple name is Shizong, and the posthumous title is Emperor Qintianludaoyingyishenxuanwenguangwuhongrendaxiaosu. He was buried in the Yongling Tombs of the Thirteen Tombs in Beijing, and passed down the throne to his third son, King Yu Zhu Zaihe.
Extended information:
Introduction to the major events in the life of Emperor Jiajing:
1. The Great Etiquette Dispute
The Great Etiquette Dispute refers to the event that took place in Zhengde From the 16th year of Jiajing (1521) to the 3rd year of Jiajing (1524), there was a political dispute on the issue of imperial succession. The reason was that Ming Shizong replaced his parents with a local vassal king who ascended the throne. This was the second incident in the history of the dynasty that a small sect entered a large sect.
Not long after Ming Shizong ascended the throne, issues arose between Ming Shizong and the old ministers of Ming Wuzong headed by Yang Tinghe and Mao Cheng about who should be the emperor of Shizong (that is, the father in the patriarchal sense) and the title of Shizong's biological father. Controversy and struggle, the "successors" headed by Yang Tinghe, the chief minister of the cabinet, asked Emperor Shizong to change his parents.
At that time, Zhang Cong, a scholar in charge of government affairs, criticized the court officials for their mistakes and put forward the theory of "succession." In the third year of Jiajing (1524), it ended with the Great Ceremony of Emperor Shizong.
The core of the Great Ceremony was the major debate over whether Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty could change his parents, that is, the issue of how to interpret the imperial edict of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty. It was a major event in the history of the Ming Dynasty.
In the Great Ceremony, Zhang Cong used the imperial edict of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty as a weapon to break the court discussion manipulated by Yang Tinghe, and through a reasonable interpretation of the textual logic and content of the imperial edict of Ming Emperor Wuzong, Maintained the father-son relationship between Ming Shizong and King Xingxian
Fruited the plot of Yang Tinghe and his dependents to force Ming Shizong to change his parents in accordance with the old Han and Song Dynasty practices, regardless of the fact that Ming Shizong succeeded to the throne, and ensured the law of the Ming Dynasty. dignity and political order, and thus created a new situation in the Great Reform of Jialong
2. Renyin Palace Incident
The Renyin Palace Incident, also known as palace maid regicide, is An incident occurred during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, when palace ladies attempted to kill Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty. Since this incident occurred in the Renyin year of Jiajing, it was called the Renyin Palace Incident
Emperor Jiajing. To seek immortality, one must practice the method of "breathing wind and drinking dew" to become an immortal. You can plant several banana plants in the garden. Every morning, the broad leaves will be covered with nectar. When you wake up in the morning and your mouth is dry, suck a few pieces. It is sweet and refreshing, and it is said to prolong life and longevity. Emperor Jiajing ordered the palace ladies to go to the imperial garden to collect the dew in the early morning in order to drink it, which caused a large number of palace ladies to fall ill from exhaustion.
In the 21st year of Jiajing (1542), Yang Jinying and a dozen other palace maids took advantage of the fact that Emperor Jiajing was sleeping, wrapped a yellow silk cloth around his neck, and then pulled with their hands in an attempt to kill him. Death of Emperor Jiajing. Later, Emperor Jiajing could not be killed because of the knot, so he stabbed Emperor Jiajing with hairpins, hairpins and other objects. ?
At this time, one of the timid palace maids was afraid and reported it to Queen Fang. Empress Fang arrived, subdued the maids, and ordered Ling Chi to be executed. The first offender, Ling Chi, was executed and the nine tribes were annihilated. Moreover, even Concubine Duan and Concubine Wang Ning, who served Emperor Jiajing at that time, were also beheaded.
The Renyin Palace Incident was a unique palace maid uprising in Chinese history.