Longqing Emperor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Longqing Emperor |
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Palace portrait on a hanging scroll, kept in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
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| Emperor of the Ming dynasty | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 4 February 1567 – 5 July 1572 | ||||||||||||||||
| Enthronement | 4 February 1567 | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Jiajing Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Wanli Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
| Prince of Yu | |||||||||||||||||
| Tenure | March 1539 – 23 January 1567 | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 March 1537 Jiajing 16, 23rd day of the 1st month (嘉靖十六年正月二十三日) |
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| Died | 5 July 1572 (aged 35) Longqing 6, 26th day of the 5th month (隆慶六年五月二十六日) |
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| Burial | Zhaoling Mausoleum, Ming tombs, Beijing | ||||||||||||||||
| Consorts |
Empress Xiaoyizhuang
(m. 1553; died 1558)Empress Xiao'an
(m. 1558) |
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| Issue Detail |
Wanli Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
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| House | Zhu | ||||||||||||||||
| Dynasty | Ming | ||||||||||||||||
| Father | Jiajing Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Empress Xiaoke | ||||||||||||||||
The Longqing Emperor (simplified Chinese: 隆庆帝; traditional Chinese: 隆慶帝; pinyin: Lóngqìng Dì; 4 March 1537 – 5 July 1572) was the 12th emperor of the Ming dynasty. His personal name was Zhu Zaiji (朱載
When the Longqing Emperor became ruler, China was facing many problems. Years of poor management and corruption had left the country in a difficult state. The new emperor quickly started working to fix things. He brought back skilled officials who had been sent away and removed those who were corrupt. He also ended the ban on foreign trade, which helped the economy grow. To make the country safer, he improved the border troops and strengthened seaports against pirates. He even successfully pushed back the Mongol army led by Altan Khan from the Great Wall. After this, a peace treaty was signed, allowing trade to restart.
However, like many Ming emperors, Longqing relied heavily on court eunuchs. One eunuch, Meng Cong, gained a lot of power later in his reign. Despite a strong start, the Longqing Emperor soon lost interest in his duties. He spent more time on personal pleasures, which disappointed his advisors. He also made some confusing decisions, like bringing back Taoist priests he had banned earlier.
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Becoming Emperor: Early Life of Zhu Zaiji
Zhu Zaiji was born on March 4, 1537. He was the third son of the Jiajing Emperor. His older brother had died as a baby, and his second brother, Zhu Zairui, was only six months older than him.
In 1539, his second brother, Zhu Zairui, was named the crown prince. On the same day, Zhu Zaiji received the title of Prince of Yu. When Crown Prince Zhu Zairui died in 1549, the Jiajing Emperor was very sad. He believed a Taoist priest's warning that "two dragons should not face each other." Because of this, he avoided Zhu Zaiji and did not name a new crown prince for a long time.
In 1552, Zhu Zaiji began his education. He got married in 1553 and moved out of the Forbidden City to his own palace. He lived outside the Forbidden City for 13 years. This experience helped him understand the country's problems better. His father treated Zhu Zaiji and his younger brother equally, which made people wonder who would become the next emperor. Even when Zhu Zaiji's mother died, his father did not give her special honors.
In 1560, someone suggested Zhu Zaiji should be the next emperor. The Jiajing Emperor was furious and ordered the person executed. However, later that year, he sent Zhu Zaiji's younger brother away. This made Zhu Zaiji's position stronger. Still, his father did not like him much. Even though Zhu Zaiji was 29 when he became emperor and had a good education, he wasn't fully prepared to lead the empire.
Starting His Reign: Reforms and New Policies
The Jiajing Emperor died on January 23, 1567. Twelve days later, Zhu Zaiji became the new emperor.
The Longqing Emperor's reign began with big changes. Senior Grand Secretary Xu Jie and Zhang Juzheng wrote the "final orders" of the Jiajing Emperor. These orders, approved by Longqing, aimed to "remove the bad" and "introduce the new." They canceled many unpopular policies from the previous reign. Taoist priests, who had a lot of power, were arrested, and their rituals were banned. Buildings created for Taoist practices were torn down. Officials who had been punished for disagreeing with the Jiajing Emperor were set free. Those still alive got their jobs back, and those who had died received special honors. These changes were very popular.
A key event early in Longqing's reign was choosing Zhang Juzheng as Grand Secretary. Zhang had been the emperor's teacher since 1563. The emperor saw him as a very capable person. Zhang's power grew during Longqing's reign. After the emperor's death, Zhang became the most powerful politician in the Ming government for ten years. Many considered him the best administrator of the late Ming dynasty.
Reforms continued in the following years. The Longqing Emperor approved changes suggested by experienced leaders like Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng. Government officials were reviewed. Good officials were promoted, and bad ones were removed. Taxes were lowered for people affected by natural disasters. Land records were updated, and limits were placed on imperial household spending.
However, there were also conflicts among the top officials. Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and others struggled for power. This led to some officials being dismissed.
The Emperor's Personality
Information about the Longqing Emperor is a bit unclear. Official history says he was thrifty and kind. He was not as strong or ambitious as his father. He was known for being friendly, and during his rule, fewer high officials faced harsh punishments. He also didn't have his father's strong belief in Taoism. The Longqing Emperor had a speech problem, so he mostly spoke only to his eunuchs. In public, he was usually silent, and his grand secretaries would speak for him.
He was thought to have average intelligence, but he wanted to be taken seriously. He brought in reforms and policy changes. He made his government stronger by working with capable politicians, which was rare in the Ming dynasty. Even though he didn't get involved much in daily state affairs, it didn't cause problems. This was because skilled ministers and grand secretaries handled everything. However, it did lead to power struggles among these top officials. Gao Gong, who had been one of Longqing's mentors, became very powerful.
Within months of becoming emperor, he became less interested in state matters. He spent much of his time on lavish parties and living extravagantly. Some believed he was trying to make up for years of neglect. Concerned officials worried about his health and how tired he seemed.
Trade and Economy
During the Longqing era, the government became more open to trade. In 1567, the ban on sea trade, called the Haijin policy, was lifted. This made foreign trade legal again, mainly in Yuegang (Moon Port) in Fujian. However, trade with Japan remained forbidden. This relaxation of rules led to a big increase in trade.
Besides the southeast coast, the northern borders were also opened for trade with the Mongols. This was part of a new peace policy.
Regarding money, bronze coins were mainly used along the Grand Canal in the mid-1500s. This caused a shortage in other areas and made trade difficult. In 1567, the Minister of Revenue suggested making more coins. He believed that controlling the currency was important for controlling the economy. However, others argued that it was too expensive to make new coins.
Later, around 1569–1570, the emperor was convinced to reopen the mints. Supporters argued that more money was needed during a silver shortage. They believed this would lower silver prices and increase the value of goods. They also thought it would prevent wealthy people from hoarding silver. However, this idea faced opposition. Despite the arguments, the mints were only open for a short time, until the Longqing Emperor's death.
Military and Foreign Policy
In foreign affairs, the Longqing era was mostly peaceful. Pirate raids, which had been very damaging in the previous era, greatly reduced.
A huge military parade was held in the autumn of 1569. This was a very important event. During the parade, officers who weren't good at their jobs were dismissed. The army units also received intense training. Even though it cost a lot, the parade greatly improved the spirits of the soldiers and everyone watching. This impressive show was carefully planned by Zhang Juzheng, who wanted to strengthen border defenses. The parade also gave the emperor a break from his usual palace life.
Soon after the parade, the Mongol army led by Altan Khan broke through the Great Wall. They attacked the northern border regions. Before this, there had been some fighting in 1567-1568. During that time, Ming troops defended their land and even went into Mongolian areas. However, in the early 1570s, the Ming dynasty changed its policy towards the Mongols. Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng worked to strengthen the border troops. They also sought peace with Altan Khan, and a treaty was signed in 1571. As part of the agreement, the Ming dynasty opened border markets. Here, Mongols could trade their horses and other goods for Chinese products. The Longqing Emperor also gave Altan Khan the title of Prince of Shunyi, meaning "The prince who conforms to righteousness."
Death and Legacy
The emperor died on July 5, 1572, when he was 35 years old. Before he passed away, he asked his ministers, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Gao Yi, to manage state affairs. He wanted them to be loyal advisors to his ten-year-old son, who would become the Wanli Emperor.
The Longqing Emperor was buried in Zhaoling, one of the Ming tombs near Beijing. He was given the posthumous name Emperor Zhuang and the temple name Muzong.
Family
The Longqing Emperor had four sons and seven daughters. His first son died young. His third son, Zhu Yijun, became the next emperor. His fourth son, Zhu Yiliu, became the Prince of Lu. Only four of his seven daughters lived to adulthood.
Consorts and Issue:
- Empress Xiaoyizhuang, of the Li clan (孝懿莊皇后 李氏; d. 1558)
- Zhu Yiyi, Crown Prince Xianhuai (憲懷皇太子 朱翊釴; 15 October 1555 – 11 May 1559), first son
- Zhu Yiling, Prince Dao of Jing (靖悼王 朱翊鈴), second son
- Princess Penglai (蓬萊公主; 1557), first daughter
- Empress Xiao'an, of the Chen clan (孝安皇后 陳氏; d. 1596)
- Princess Taihe (太和公主; d. 1560), second daughter
- Empress Dowager Xiaoding, of the Li clan (孝定皇太后 李氏; 1545 – 18 March 1614)
- Zhu Yijun, the Wanli Emperor (萬曆帝 朱翊鈞; 4 September 1563 – 18 August 1620), third son
- Princess Shouyang (壽陽公主; 1565–1590), personal name Yao’e (堯娥), third daughter
- Married Hou Gongchen (侯拱辰) in 1581
- Princess Yongning (永寧公主; 11 March 1567 – 22 July 1594), personal name Yaoying (堯媖), fourth daughter
- Married Liang Bangrui (梁邦瑞; d. 9 May 1582) in 1582
- Zhu Yiliu, Prince Jian of Lu (潞簡王 朱翊鏐; 3 March 1568 – 4 July 1614), fourth son
- Princess Rui'an (瑞安公主; 1569–1629), personal name Yaoyuan (堯媛), fifth daughter
- Married Wan Wei (萬煒; d. 1644) in 1585, and had issue (one son)
- Consort Duanjingshu, of the Qin clan (端靜淑妃 秦氏)
- Princess Qixia (棲霞公主; 1571–1572), personal name Yaolu (堯𡞱), seventh daughter
- Consort Gonghuizhuang, of the Liu clan (恭惠莊妃 劉氏; d. 1582)
- Consort Zhuangxirong, of the Wang clan (莊僖榮妃 王氏; d. 1580)
- Consort De, of the Li clan (李德妃 李氏; d. 1632)
- Consort Duan, of the Dong clan (端妃 董氏)
- Consort Hui, of the Ma clan (惠妃 馬氏)
- Consort He, of the Zhao clan (和妃 趙氏; d. 1581)
- Consort An, of the Yang clan (安妃 楊氏; d. 1576)
- Consort Rong, of the Han clan (容妃 韓氏; d. 11 September 1630)
- Consort Jing, of the Zhuang clan (敬妃 莊氏; d. 1580)
- Consort Zhaoronggong, of the Li clan (昭榮恭妃 李氏)
- Consort Yi, of the Yu clan (懿妃 於氏)
- Consort Qi, of the Ye clan (奇妃 葉氏; d. 1621)
- Consort Xian, of the Jiang clan (賢妃 江氏)
- Consort Gong, of the Wu clan (恭妃 吳氏)
- Consort Jing, of the Qi clan (敬妃 齊氏)
- Consort Ying, of the Xu clan (英妃 許氏)
- Consort An, of the Qian clan (安妃 錢氏)
- Unknown
- Princess Yanqing (延慶公主; b. 1570), personal name Yaoji (堯姬), sixth daughter
- Married Wang Bing (王昺) in 1587
- Princess Yanqing (延慶公主; b. 1570), personal name Yaoji (堯姬), sixth daughter
See also
- Chinese emperors family tree (late)
