Predecessor Yongle Emperor Role Emperor of China Name Hongxi Emperor | House House of Zhu Successor Xuande Emperor Children Xuande Emperor | |
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Reign 7 September 1424 – 29 May 1425 Born 16 August 1378 ( 1378-08-16 ) Burial Xianling, Ming Dynasty Tombs, Beijing Issue Xuande Emperor
Zhanxun, Prince Jing of Zheng
Zhanyong, Prince Jing of Yue
Zhanyin, Prince Xian of Qi
Zhanshan, Prince Xian of Xiang
Zhangang, Prince Xian of Jing
Zhanyu, Prince Jing of Huai
Zhankai, Prince Huai of Teng
Zhanji, Prince Zhuang of Liang
Zhanyan, Prince Gong of Wei
Princess Jiaxing
Yuantong, Princess Qingdou
Princess Qinghe
Princess De'an
Princess Yanping
Princess Deqing
Princess Zhending Died May 29, 1425, Beijing, China Spouse Consort Zhen Jing Shun, concubine Parents Yongle Emperor, Empress Xu Grandchildren Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Jingtai Emperor Similar People Yongle Emperor, Xuande Emperor, Zhu Gaoxu, Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Longqing Emperor | ||
The Hongxi Emperor (洪熙 [xʊ̌ŋɕí]; 16 August 1378 – 29 May 1425), personal name Zhu Gaochi (朱高熾), was the fourth emperor of the Ming dynasty of China. He succeeded his father, the Yongle Emperor, in 1424. His era name "Hongxi" means "vastly bright".
Contents
Life
Zhu Gaochi was born on 16 August 1378 and was educated by prominent Confucian tutors. He often acted as regent in Nanjing or Beijing during his father's northern military campaigns.
He was disinterested in military matters but had prowess in archery.
Already in May 1421, during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, an order was issued for the suspension of Zheng He's maritime expeditions, apparently on account of their cost (although the order apparently did not affect the 6th voyage of Zheng He, staged around that time). Zhu Gaochi, as soon as he was enthroned as the Hongxi Emperor in September 1424, cancelled Zheng He's maritime expeditions permanently, burned down the fleet, and abolished frontier trade of tea for horses as well as missions for gold and pearls to Yunnan and Vietnam. He restored disgraced Confucian officials, such as the Yongle Emperor's minister of revenue Xia Yanji (imprisoned since 1421), and reorganized the administration to give high ranks to his close advisors. Hanlin academicians became grand secretaries, and they dismantled his father's unpopular militaristic policies to restore civil government. The Hongxi Emperor improved finances by canceling requisitions for lumber, gold, and silver. Taxes were remitted so that vagrant farmers could return home, especially in the overburdened Yangtze River Delta. The Hongxi Emperor appointed a commission to investigate taxes. He overruled his secretaries by ordering that grain should be sent immediately to relieve disaster areas.
The Hongxi Emperor ordered that the capital be moved back to Nanjing from Beijing (which had been made the capital by the Yongle Emperor in 1421). However he died, probably of a heart attack, a month later in May 1425. His son had been declared heir apparent and became the Xuande Emperor at age 26. Although the Hongxi Emperor had a short reign, he is credited with reforms that made lasting improvements, and his liberal policies were continued by his son.