Dynasties of ChinaMing dynastyMing dynasty lineage
Jingtai · Reign 1449—1457
He was appointed to ascend the throne during the national crisis and relied heavily on Yu Qian to defend Beijing and stabilize the crisis. However, he lost people's support due to his easy storage and lost his position in the coup.
Zhu Qiyu is the second son of Xuanzong and the half-brother of Yingzong. His mother is Concubine Wu Xian, who was granted the title of King of Yin in 1435. In 1449, Yingzong was captured in Tumubao. He was ordered by the Queen Mother to supervise the country. In the face of the proposal to move south, Yu Qian, the minister of the Ministry of War, advocated sticking to the capital. The ministers supported him on the throne in September and respected Yingzong as the Retired Emperor on the grounds that the national crisis was at the forefront and it was necessary to establish a eldest monarch. The following year was regarded as the first year of Jingtai.
He appointed Yu Qian as Minister of the Ministry of War and entrusted him with full power. In October, he repulsed Oirat's attack on Beijing. He then reorganized the Beijing camp, strengthened border defense, and ordered Xu Youzhen to control the breach of Shawan of the Yellow River. The situation gradually stabilized. In 1452, he deposed Yingzong's son Zhu Jianshen from the Crown Prince position and appointed his own son Zhu Jianji instead. Zhu Jianji died in infancy the next year, and he has not established a heir apparent since. When he was seriously ill in the first month of 1457, Shi Heng and others launched a coup to seize the door and supported Yingzong's restoration. He was deposed as king of Yingzong. He died in February. It is said that he was killed by others.
Emperor Jingtai came to the throne when the country was in danger. He credited Yu Qian to stabilize the capital and prevent Ming Dynasty from making the same mistake as Jingkang in the Northern Song Dynasty. His contribution is indispensable. However, he deposed his nephew from the Crown Prince position out of selfish motives, and imprisoned his brother for a long time. As a result, he was seized from the throne and restored to power while he was ill, and his imperial title was once stripped after his death. After Chenghua, his historical status was gradually confirmed.
PoliticsThe battle between prison and southward migration
The capital was shocked when news of the civil engineering defeat came. When King Yin was supervising the affairs of the country, Xu Jue, the minister of Hanlin, advocated moving south. Yu Qian, the minister of war, objected sharply: "Anyone who talks about moving south can be killed!" King Yin accepted the suggestion of sticking to it and mobilized soldiers and horses from all over the country to defend the capital.
PoliticsKill Ma Shun in court
In August, King Yin was discussing politics at the Meridian Gate, and the ministers asked Wang Zhen to be punished for his crimes. The Jinyiwei commanded Ma Shun to scold him, and Wang Hong led the crowd to kill him on the spot. King Yin was frightened and wanted to retreat. Yu Qian came forward and asked him to issue an edict to appease him. Everyone was finally convinced that Wang Zhen's family was confiscated.
MilitaryBattle of Beijing
In October Esen forced Yingzong to attack Beijing. Yu Qian sent his generals to line up outside the nine gates, and he and Shiheng guarded the Desheng Gate. They used firearms to ambush the Oula cavalry, and won successively at Xizhi Gate, Zhangyi Gate and other places. Esen continued to attack the city for five days and coerced Yingzong to withdraw from the fortress.
DiplomacyWelcoming the Emperor
Esen repeatedly fought without success and lost the bargaining chip of taking hostages, so he sent envoys to negotiate peace. Emperor Jingtai was worried about the instability of the throne, and his attitude was negative at first. After Yu Qian persuaded him that "the throne has been determined," he sent Yang Shan as an envoy. In August, Yingzong returned to Beijing and was placed in Nangong.
CultureCloisonné
The craft of copper-embedded filigree enamel was developed and matured in the Ming Dynasty court. It is said that the most exquisite ones were made by the imperial prison during the Jingtai period, and they were mostly glazed with blue glaze. Later generations called this type of enamel "cloisonné".
Lasting legacyCloisonné is still one of the most representative traditional crafts in Beijing. In 2006, "Cloisonne Making Technique" was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.
PoliticsEasy storage storm
In May, Yingzong's son Zhu Jianshen was deposed as Crown Prince, and his own son Zhu Jianji was replaced by Crown Prince. He also deposed Queen Wang who opposed Yi Chu. The following year Zhu Jianji died in infancy, but he still refused to reinstate Zhu Jianshen. Yushi Zhongtong, Langzhong Zhanglun and other officials asked him to reinstate him, but Zhongtong was beaten to death with a cane.
EconomyManage the Shawan breach
The Yellow River bursts repeatedly in the Zhangqiusha Bay area of Shandong Province, cutting through the river and blocking water transportation. Xu Youzhen, the censor of Zuoqiandu, was ordered to regulate the river, open canals to divert water, and build dams to block the mouth. It took nearly two years to complete the project and the canal was restored to smooth flow.
PoliticsLost the position
In the first month of the first month, Emperor Jingtai was seriously ill and the crown prince was undecided. Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, Cao Jixiang and others took advantage of the night to support Yingzong's restoration. Emperor Jingtai was deposed as King Yin and moved to the west. He died in February. It is said that he was killed by eunuchs and was buried as a prince in Xishan, Beijing.
PoliticsRestoring the Emperor's Name
After Xianzong ascended the throne, courtiers repeatedly asked him to rectify Emperor Jingtai's name. In the eleventh year of Chenghua, Xianzong, who had deposed him as Crown Prince, issued an edict to restore his imperial title, posthumously conferring the title of Emperor Gongrenkang Dingjing, and repair the mausoleum according to the regulations of imperial mausoleums.
He vigorously rejected the idea of moving south, supported Emperor Jingtai, presided over the defense of Beijing, and established regiments to rectify the Beijing army. After the incident of seizing the door, he was killed for the crime of "intention". When the house was ransacked, the family had no money left. During the Chenghua period, he was rehabilitated.
During the defense of Beijing, he and Yu Qian guarded Desheng Gate and were granted the title of Marquis of Wu Qing for their military exploits. Later, he had a disagreement with Yu Qian and launched a coup to seize the door. After his restoration, he was arrogant and monopolized power. He was imprisoned and died in 1460.
His original name was Xu Jue. During the Tumu Crisis, he advocated moving southward and was criticized. After changing his name, he revived and made great contributions in controlling the Shawan breach. After the incident of seizing the door, he joined the cabinet to take charge of military affairs. Soon he was ostracized by Shi Heng and others and was exiled.