Yan Tiemuer
PoliticsIn the Wenzong Dynasty, he served as Tai King Ping and Zhongshu You Prime Minister. He had great power and lived a luxurious life. After his death in 1333, his family was liquidated.
Dynasties of ChinaYuan dynastyYuan dynasty lineage
WenzongTugh Temür
Tianli · Zhishun · Reign 1328—1329 / 1329—1332
The winner of the battle between the two capitals came to the throne twice, established Kuizhang Pavilion and compiled the "Jingshi Dadian". During his reign, the powerful minister Yan Tiemuer specialized in government affairs.
IBiography
- Reign
- 4 years
- Reign era
- Tianli · Zhishun
- Order of accession
- Ruler #8 · Yuan dynasty lineage
- Life dates
- 1304—1332
- Titles
- Temple name Wenzong · Posthumous name Emperor Shengming Yuanxiao · Mongolian honorific name Zha Yadu Khan
Tugh Temür is the second son of Wuzong and the younger brother of Mingzong. He was sent to Hainan and Jiankang in his early years, and later lived in Jiangling. He had many contacts with Han literati. Emperor Taiding died in 1328. Yan Tiemuer launched a coup in Dadu, welcomed him to the capital, ascended the throne in September, changed the Yuan calendar, and then defeated the Shangdu army in the battle between the two capitals. In 1329, he gave way to his brother Kusala and was established as the Crown Prince. After Mingzong died violently, he was restored to the throne, still using the celestial calendar name, and in 1330 he changed the Yuan Dynasty to Zhishun.
Wenzong was fond of calligraphy and painting, and was good at poetry. He established Kuizhang Pavilion, hired Yu Ji and other Confucian officials, and ordered the compilation of the "Jingshi Dadian", which promoted the sinicization of the Mongolian court. He exiled Mingzong's son Toghon Temür to Korea and Guangxi, suspecting brother-killing. He deeply regretted it in his later years. He died of illness in August 1332. His last words were to raise Mingzong's son, but Queen Bo Dashili and Yan Tiemuer raised Mingzong's youngest son Rinchinbal first, and then Toghon Temür.
IITimeline
First reign · 1328—1329
PoliticsMost came to the throne
In September, he ascended the throne in Dadu and changed the Yuan calendar. Then he sent troops to fight with Xanadu's army. In October, Xanadu fell. The battle between the two capitals ended with Dadu's victory. He also executed Dao Lasha and other old ministers of Taiding.
PoliticsGive way and reset
He welcomed his brother Kusala to the throne and became the Crown Prince. In August, Mingzong died suddenly and he was restored to the throne in Xanadu, still using the calendar year name. The truth behind Mingzong’s death has always been unclear in history books.
CultureKuizhangge Bachelor's College was established
Wenzong established the Kuizhangge Academic Academy and hired Yu Ji, Ke Jiusi and others to collect and appreciate calligraphy and paintings, and to teach him classics and history. It was not only his literary and artistic salon, but also an important institution for Han scholars to participate in government affairs.
CultureCompilation of "The Classic of Classics"
Confucian officials were ordered to imitate the style of "Huiyao" of the Tang and Song Dynasties and compile Yuan dynasty rules and regulations. It was completed in 1331, with a total of 880 volumes. It has been lost today, and part of the content is preserved in "Yuan Wen Lei" and "Yongle Dadian".
SocietySevere drought in Guanzhong
From the second year of Tianli to the first year of Zhishun, there was severe drought and famine in Shaanxi and other places, and people ate each other. Although the imperial court provided relief many times, a large number of victims still died, and the vitality of Guanzhong was seriously damaged.
Second reign · 1329—1332
Politicsadopted the era name to Shun
In May of the third year of the Tianli calendar, Wenzong accepted the title from all officials in the Daming Hall, and issued an edict on the same day to change the Yuan Dynasty to Shun. The Yuan Dynasty changed in 1330, not the reset in 1329.
Sources:Volume 34 of "History of the Yuan Dynasty" Wenzong Benji 3 (checked 2026-10-16)
SocietyExile Toghon Temür
Out of suspicion, he exiled Mingzong's eldest son Toghon Temür to Daqingdao in Korea first, and then moved to Jingjiang, Guangxi the following year. This young man later became the last emperor of Yuan dynasty.
PoliticsDeath and last words
In August, Shangdu died of illness at the age of twenty-nine. Her last words were to raise her brother Mingzong's son. Although Queen Bo Dashili first raised Mingzong's youngest son Rinchinbal, she also welcomed Toghon Temür a few months later, finally returning the throne to the Mingzong line.
IIIPeople of this reign
Yu Ji
LiteratureWith the courtesy name Boxeng and the name Daoyuan, he was a lecturer at Kuizhang Pavilion in the Wenzong Dynasty. He participated in the compilation of the Classic of Classics. Together with Jiexisi, Liu Guan and Huang Shu, he was known as the "Four Yuan Confucian Schools". He was a leader in the literary world in the mid-Yuan Dynasty.
Bo Dashili
ConsortsQueen Wenzong, after the death of Wenzong, she co-founded Ningzong and Emperor Shun with Yan Tiemuer. Later, she was deposed and exiled when Bo Yan was in power, and was killed soon after.