Chenghua Emperor

The Chenghua Emperor (; 9 December 1447 – 9 September 1487), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Xianzong of Ming, personal name Zhu Jianshen (朱見深), changed to Zhu Jianru (朱見濡) in 1457, was the ninth emperor of the Ming dynasty, who reigned from 1464 to 1487. He succeeded his father, Emperor Yingzong. His era name "Chenghua" means "accomplished change". He was born Zhu Jianshen to Emperor Yingzong in 1447. Two years later, his father was captured by the Mongols at the Battle of Tumu, deposed, and after returning from captivity by the new Jingtai Emperor, Yingzong's younger brother, relegated to seclusion and house arrest. At the time of his father's captivity, Zhu Jianshen was appointed crown prince, but after three years he lost the position of heir to the throne. It was only after the Jingtai Emperor's overthrow and death in 1457 that Yingzong returned to the throne and Zhu Jianshen, now renamed Zhu Jianru, once again became crown prince. He succeeded his father to the throne in February 1464 at the age of sixteen. In the first years of his reign, he introduced a new policy involving tax cuts and strengthening the power of the state. However, over time, the positive effects of the changes wore off, and in the last years of his reign, eunuchs, the infamous Wang Zhi and Liang Fang, began to dominate the Forbidden City. The positive aspects of the emperor's rule were gradually undermined by his tendency to favor favorites instead of promoting the able. This led to the spread of corruption and the enrichment of patrons at the expense of the state treasury. Peasant revolts broke out all over the country and were forcefully suppressed. The emperor ruled more autocratically than his predecessors, strengthening the secret police to monitor the mood of the country. Wan Zhen'er, a palace lady who was older than him, had great influence over the emperor. She became his favorite woman, especially after the birth of a son in 1464; the child soon died, but Lady Wan maintained her power over the emperor and his harem. With loyal eunuchs, she forced other women to have abortions if they became pregnant with the emperor, and did not hesitate to poison mothers and children if they gave birth. It was not until 1475 that the emperor learned of the existence of his five-year-old son, Zhu Youcheng, who had been living in secret until then.