Ming · Ruler

Xianzong 憲宗

Xiànzōng

Attested AD 1464 - AD 1487

Passages: 17
Chapters: 2
Histories: 1

Overview

Xianzong was a ruler.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Regnal name	Chenghua	成化

Life and dates

Death

Age 41
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 193
Directly stated · History of Ming 58, passage 192

Age

41
Reckoning Stated
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 193

Attested activity

AD 1464 憲宗即位
Directly stated · History of Ming 58, passage 191
AD 1487 憲宗崩
Directly stated · History of Ming 58, passage 192
AD 1485 成化二十一年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 145
AD 1487 成化二十三年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 180
AD 1486 成化二十二年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 165
AD 1484 成化二十年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 127

Show 9 more source-backed claims

AD 1481 成化十七年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 78
AD 1477 成化十三年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 18
AD 1483 成化十九年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 109
AD 1476 成化十二年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 3
AD 1479 成化十五年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 50
AD 1482 成化十八年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 94
AD 1480 成化十六年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 65
AD 1478 成化十四年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 14, passage 34
AD 1464 英宗崩
Directly stated · History of Ming 58, passage 190

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Crown Prince (皇太子)
crown prince 皇太子 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 14, passage 192
Parent of Daughter of Xianzong
daughter 女 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 14, passage 55
Child of Emperor Yingzong (英宗)
heir apparent 東宮
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 58, passage 190
Parent of Zhu Youbin (祐檳)
imperial son 皇子 · paternal line
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 190
Parent of Zhu Youyuan (祐杬)
imperial son 皇子 · paternal line
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 190
Parent of Zhu Youyun (祐橒)
imperial son 皇子 · paternal line
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 190
Parent of Zhu Youlun (祐棆)
imperial son 皇子 · paternal line
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 190
Parent of Zhu Youhui (祐楎)
imperial son 皇子 · paternal line
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 190
Parent of Xiaozong (孝宗)
Xiaozong 孝宗
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 58, passage 192

Key source chapters

History of Ming, Chapter 14 Volume 14 Annals 14: Xianzong 2 14 passages
History of Ming, Chapter 58 Volume 58 Treatises 34: Rites 12 3 passages

Career and standing

temple name Xianzong 廟號憲宗
Granted
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 194
Fell ill
Ill
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 191
Held
Heir apparent
Directly stated · History of Ming 58, passage 190
Directly stated · History of Ming 58, passage 191

Places and affiliations

Ming 明
Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 14, passages 1, 194
Polity Ming 明 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Ming 58, passage 191
At Maoling 茂陵 · Relation Buried at
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 194

Works and attributed material

Wenhua Grand Instructions 文華大訓
Relation Author
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 106
Edict · Author
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passage 126

Assessments and attributes

Assessment true ruler's measure; later deluded by eunuchs · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Ming 14, passages 195, 198

References in the histories

Search passages

History

17 passages

History of Ming, Chapter 14Volume 14 Annals 14: Xianzong 2 · 14 passages

甲午，敕羣臣修省。 On jiawu the emperor ordered his ministers to undertake court-wide self-examination.

乙丑，躬禱天地於禁中，以用度不節、工役勞民、忠言不聞、仁政不施四事自責。 On yichou the emperor prayed to Heaven and Earth within the palace, taking blame for four faults—wasteful spending, corvée that wearied the people, loyal counsel ignored, and humane rule not carried out.

秋八月壬戌，錦衣衞官校執工部尚書張文質繫獄，帝知而釋之。 In the eighth month of autumn, on renxu, Brocade Guard agents seized Minister of Works Zhang Wenzhi and threw him into prison; when the emperor learned of it he ordered him freed.

十二月庚午，御製文華大訓成。 In the twelfth month, on gengwu, the Emperor's Wenhua Grand Instructions were completed.

十九年春正月丙午，大祀天地於南郊。 In the first month of spring, on bingwu, the Emperor offered the great sacrifice to Heaven and Earth at the Southern Suburb.

丁酉，大祀天地於南郊。 On dingyou the Emperor offered the great sacrifice to Heaven and Earth at the Southern Suburb.

乙未，大祀天地於南郊。 On yiwei the Emperor offered the great sacrifice to Heaven and Earth at the Southern Suburb.

二十二年春正月己未，大祀天地於南郊。 In the first month of spring, on jiwei, the Emperor offered the great sacrifice to Heaven and Earth at the Southern Suburb.

庚戌，大祀天地於南郊。 On gengxu the Emperor offered the great sacrifice to Heaven and Earth at the Southern Suburb.

八月庚辰，帝不豫。 In the eighth month, on gengchen, the Emperor fell gravely ill.

己丑，崩，年四十有一。 On jichou the Emperor died, aged forty-one.

九月乙卯，上尊諡，廟號憲宗，葬茂陵。 In the ninth month, on yimao, posthumous honors were granted, the temple name Xianzong was bestowed, and he was buried at Maoling.

贊曰：憲宗早正儲位，中更多故，而踐阼之後，上景帝尊號，卹于謙之冤，抑黎淳而召商輅，恢恢有人君之度矣。 The appraisal says: Xianzong had been confirmed as heir early and weathered many trials before he took the throne; once enthroned he honored the Jingtai Emperor with a posthumous title, cleared Yu Qian's wrongful death, suppressed Li Chun and recalled Shang Lu—acts that showed the measure of a true ruler.

時際休明，朝多耆彥，帝能篤於任人，謹於天戒，蠲賦省刑，閭里日益充足，仁、宣之治於斯復見。 His age was bright and settled, and the court held many seasoned worthies; the Emperor was steadfast in appointing men, heedful of Heaven's warnings, and generous in remitting levies and easing punishments, so that villages grew ever more prosperous and the governance of Renzong and Xuanzong seemed to return.

History of Ming, Chapter 58Volume 58 Treatises 34: Rites 12 · 3 passages

英宗崩，遺命東宮過百日成婚，不得以宮妃殉葬。 When Emperor Yingzong died, his final command was that the heir apparent should marry after one hundred days and that palace consorts must not be buried alive in sacrifice.

憲宗即位，百日御奉天門視朝，禮儀悉用吉典。 When Emperor Chenghua acceded, at one hundred days he held court at the Gate of Receiving Heaven, with all ritual following auspicious regulations.

憲宗崩，孝宗既除服，仍素翼善冠、麻衣、腰絰視朝，不鳴鐘鼓，百官素服朝參，百日後如常。 When Emperor Chenghua died, Emperor Hongzhi, though his mourning period had ended, still held court wearing a plain Yishan cap, hemp garments, and waist mourning bands; bells and drums were not sounded; all officials attended court in plain dress; after one hundred days affairs returned to normal.