Ming · Ming eunuch conspirator

Huang Yan 黃儼

Attested AD 1399 - AD 1418

Passages: 5
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Huang Yan was a Ming eunuch conspirator.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1412 十年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 8, passage 33
AD 1399 宦寺黃儼等
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 8, passage 20
AD 1418 明年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 8, passage 35

Career and standing

Executed
AD 1418 事覺伏誅 · Executed
Directly stated · History of Ming 8, passage 37
Imprisoned
AD 1412 十年 · Imprisoned
Directly stated · History of Ming 8, passage 33

Events and relationships

Plotted to install Gao Sui
Political · Conspirator · With Zhu Gaosui (朱高燧)
Directly stated · History of Ming 8, passage 37
Relation Ally of · Person Zhu Gaosui (朱高燧)
Directly stated · History of Ming 8, passage 20

References in the histories

History of Ming, Chapter 8Volume 8 Annals 8: Renzong · 5 passages

而高煦從軍有功，宦寺黃儼等復党高燧，陰謀奪嫡，譖世子。 Gao Xu had campaigned with distinction; the eunuch Huang Yan and his faction backed Gao Sui, scheming in secret to supplant the heir and traducing him at court.

而儼先潛報成祖曰：「世子與朝廷通，使者至矣。」 Huang Yan had already whispered to Chengzu, "The heir is in league with the court—the envoy has arrived."

十年，北征還，以太子遣使後期，且書奏失辭，悉徵宮僚黃儼等下獄。 In Yongle 10, on returning from the north, Chengzu blamed the heir's late dispatch of envoys and lapses in memorial wording and threw Huang Yan and the rest of the household staff into prison.

明年，黃儼等復譖太子擅赦罪人，宮僚多坐死者。 The following year Huang Yan's party accused the heir of unauthorized amnesties, and many of his attendants were executed.

其後黃儼等謀立高燧，事覺伏誅，高燧以太子力解得免，自是太子始安。 Later Huang Yan's group tried to place Gao Sui on the throne; the plot was uncovered and they were put to death; Gao Sui was spared only because the heir pleaded for him, and at last the crown prince could rest secure.