Dynasties of ChinaMing dynastyMing dynasty lineage
Jianwen · Reign 1398—1402
The emperor's grandson was kind, gentle and literary. After he came to the throne, he relaxed his sentences and reduced his taxes, and he was determined to reduce the feudal vassals. Four years later, he lost his country in the Jingnan Campaign, and his whereabouts are a mystery.
Zhu Yunwen is the second son of Yiwen Crown Prince Zhu Biao. His eldest brother Zhu Xiongying died young. Zhu Biao died of illness in 1392, and Zhu Yuanzhang made him the emperor's grandson. He ascended the throne in the leap fifth month of 1398, and the following year was regarded as the first year of Jianwen. He had a benevolent temperament and made important use of Confucian ministers such as Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng and Fang Xiaoru to change the excessive clauses in laws and regulations, reduce heavy taxes in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and changed the harsh style of the Hongwu Dynasty, which is known as the "Jianwen New Deal" in history.
In order to eliminate the threat of the kings supporting their troops, he adopted the suggestions of Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng to implement the reduction of vassal states. Within one year, he deposed the five kings of Zhou, Qi, Xiang, Dai, and Min. In 1399, King YanZhu Di raised an army in the name of "Qing Jun Side", and the imperial army suffered repeated defeats. In 1402, when the Yan army crossed the river, Li Jinglong and Zhu Su, the king of the valley, opened the Jinchuan gate to welcome the surrender. A fire broke out in the palace. Emperor Wen's whereabouts are unknown since then. Some say he died by self-immolation, while others say he died as a monk.
PeopleEstablished as the grandson of the emperor
Crown Prince Zhu Biao died of illness, and Zhu Yuanzhang finally selected Zhu Biao's son Zhu Yunwen as the emperor's grandson. According to the "History of the Ming Dynasty", he stayed with his father day and night when he was ill. He lost weight in grief during the mourning period, and was deeply loved by his grandfather.
PoliticsAscending to the throne and lenient punishment
In the fifth month of leap month, Zhu Yuanzhang died of illness and the emperor's grandson ascended the throne. He believed that Hongwu's laws and regulations were often too heavy, so he ordered the execution officials to change the seventy-three extremely heavy articles, pardoned a group of prisoners, and exempted them from arrears in taxes, which was praised by the government and the public as lenient.
PoliticsCutting off feudal clans
Adopting the strategies of Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng, they successively deposed King Zhou, King Qi, King Dai, and King Min as common people on various charges. King Zhu Bai of Xiang could not bear the humiliation and burned himself in the palace. The kings were all in danger, and the spearhead of cutting down the feudal vassal was ultimately directed at the most powerful King Yan.
MilitaryKing Yan raises troops
In July, King Yanzhu Di raised an army in Peiping to punish Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng in the name of "Qingjun side", known as "Jingnan". The imperial court successively sent veteran general Geng Bingwen and Cao Guogong Li Jinglong on the Northern Expedition, but they were both defeated by the Yan army. The army led by Li Jinglong retreated under the walls of Beiping City.
EconomyEqualizing the Land Fu of Jiangsu and Zhejiang
During the Hongwu period, the tax on official land in Suzhou, Songjiang and other places was extremely heavy. The edict described it as a "temporary punishment" and could not be customized. Emperor Wen issued an edict to equalize the land tax in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, stipulating that each mu should not exceed one dou.
MilitaryThe Battle of Jinan and Dongchang
Tie Xuan, who participated in the political affairs of Shandong, and Sheng Yong, the governor, held Jinan for three months, but the Yan army retreated after being unable to attack for a long time. At the end of the same year, Sheng Yong defeated the Yan army again in Dongchang. General Zhang Yu of the Yan army was killed in the battle. This was the most important victory for the imperial court in the Jingnan Campaign.
PoliticsIncident of Jinchuan Gate
In June, the Yan army crossed the Yangtze River and approached Nanjing. Li Jinglong and the Valley King Zhu Su opened the Jinchuan Gate to welcome the surrender. A fire broke out in the palace immediately, and Emperor Wen's whereabouts are unknown: one theory is that he set himself on fire with Mahuanghou, another theory is that he became a monk and went into exile.
PeopleFang Xiaoru was martyred
Zhu Di ordered Fang Xiaoru, the most trusted Confucian official of Emperor Wen, to draft an edict on the throne. Fang Xiaoru threw the pen on the ground, cried and cursed: "Death means death, the edict cannot be ignored." Then he was banned from the city, and many relatives and disciples were implicated. Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, Tie Xuan and others were also killed.
PoliticsRestoration of Jianwen era name
After Zhu Di came to the throne, he abolished the Jianwen reign and renamed it the 4th year of Jianwen as the 35th year of Hongwu. Many historical events during the Jianwen dynasty were deleted. It was not until the 23rd year of Wanli that the Ming court issued an edict to restore the Jianwen era name.
A disciple of Song Lian, he was famous for his knowledge and integrity. Emperor Wen was established as a teacher of etiquette, served as a lecturer, and participated in the revision of the canon system and the drafting of Yan's edicts. After the city of Nanjing was destroyed, he refused to draft an edict for Emperor Zhu and was killed.
At the end of Hongwu's reign, he was ordered to assist the emperor's grandson. During the Jianwen period, he and Huang Zicheng were in charge of state affairs and advocated the reduction of vassal states. King Yan raised an army and took the name of Zhu Qi and Huang. They were killed after the city of Nanjing was broken.
In his early years, he was the companion of the East Palace and had a close relationship with Emperor Wen. He presided over the reduction of vassal states and recommended Li Jinglong to lead the Northern Expedition, which led to the defeat of the army. He was killed after the city of Nanjing was captured.
He participated in politics in Shandong and supervised the transportation of grain and grass. He and Sheng Yong stayed in Jinan, defeated the Yan army, and was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of War. He was captured after the fall of Nanjing and died unyieldingly.