Info Center \ Culture \ History \

Hongxi Emperor

The Hongxi Emperor (洪熙 [xʊ̌ŋɕí]; 16 August 1378–29 May 1425) was the fourth emperor of the ming dynasty in China. He succeeded his father, the Yongle Emperor, in 1424. His era name means "Vastly bright".

Biography

Hongxi 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.

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 became the Hongxi Emperor in September 1424, canceled Zheng He's maritime expeditions permanently 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 Yongle'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. Hongxi 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. Hongxi appointed a commission to investigate taxes. He overruled his secretaries by ordering that grain should be sent immediately to relieve disaster areas.

Emperor Hongxi 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 Hongxi had a short reign, he is credited with reforms that made lasting improvements, and his liberal policies were continued by his son.

Personal information

Father

Yongle Emperor

Mother

Empress Ren Xiao Wen (birth name: Xu Yihua)

Consorts

Formal Title	Maiden Name	Died	Issue
Empress Cheng Xiao Zhao 誠孝昭皇后	Zhang (張)	1442	Zhu Zhanji, Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanyong, Prince Jing of Yue Zhu Zhanshan, Prince Xian of Xiang Princess Jiaxing
Noble Consort Gong Su 恭肅貴妃	Guo (郭)	1425	Zhu Zhankai, Prince Huai of Teng Zhu Zhanji, Prince Zhuang of Liang Zhu Zhanyan, Prince Gong of Wei
Consort Zhen Hui Su 貞惠淑妃	Wang (王)	1425	-
Consort Hui An Li 惠安麗妃	Wang (王)	1425	-
Consort Gong Xi Shun 恭僖順妃	Tan (譚)	1425	-
Consort Gong Jing Chong 恭靖充妃	Huang (黃)	1425	-
Consort Zhen Jing Jing 貞靜敬妃	Zhang (張)	-	-
Consort Dao Xi Li 悼僖麗妃	Li (李)	-	-
Consort Zhen Jing Shun 貞靜順妃	Zhang (張)	-	-
Consort Xian 賢妃	Li (李)	-	Zhu Zhanxun, Prince Jing of Zheng Zhu Zhanyin, Prince Xian of Qi Zhu Zhanyu, Prince Jing of Huai Princess Zhending
Consort Shun 順妃	Zhang (張)	-	Zhu Zhangang, Prince Xian of Jing
Consort Hui 惠妃	Zhao (趙)	-	Zhu Yuantong, Princess Qingdou

Sons

Name	Formal Title	Born	Died	Mother	Spouse	Issue	Notes
Zhu Zhanji 朱瞻基	The Xuande Emperor	16 Mar 1399 Beijing	31 Jan 1435	Empress Cheng Xiao Zhao	Hu Shanxiang, Empress Gong Rang Zhang Lady Sun, Empress Xiao Gong Zhang fourteen concubines	Zhu Qizhen, Zhengtong Emperor Zhu Qiyu, Jingtai Emperor Princess Shunde Princess Yongqing Princess Changde
Zhu Zhanxun 朱瞻埈	Prince Jing of Zheng 鄭靖王	27 Mar 1404	8 June 1466	Consort Xian	-	Zhu Qiying, Prince Jian of Zheng	Was created Prince of Zheng on 1 Nov 1424
Zhu Zhanyong 朱瞻墉	Prince Jing of Yue 越靖王	9 Feb 1405	5 Aug 1439	Empress Cheng Xiao Zhao	Lady Wu (daughter of Wu Sheng (吳昇))	none	Was created Prince of Yue 1 Nov 1424
Zhu Zhanyin 朱瞻垠	Prince Xian of Qi 蘄獻王	1406	7 Nov 1421	Consort Xian	none	none	Was posthumously created Prince of Qi on 10 Oct 1422
Zhu Zhanshan 朱瞻墡	Prince Xian of Xiang 襄憲王	4 April 1406	18 Feb 1478	Empress Cheng Xiao Zhao	-	Zhu Qiyong, Prince Ding of Xiang	Was created Prince of Xiang in 1424
Zhu Zhangang 朱瞻堈	Prince Xian of Jing 荊憲王	-	1453	Consort Shun	-	Zhu Qihao, Prince Jing of Jing Zhu Qijian, Prince Huijing of Duchang	Was created Prince of Jing in 1424
Zhu Zhanyu 朱瞻墺	Prince Jing of Huai 淮靖王	28 Jan 1409	30 Nov 1446	Consort Xian	Lady Xiao (daughter of Nancheng military commander Xiao Zhong (南城兵馬指揮肖忠))	Zhu Qiquan, Prince Kang of Huai Zhu Qibin, Prince Xi of Poyang Zhu Qiyue, Prince Gonghe of Yongfeng three daughters	Was created Prince of Huai on 1 Nov 1424
Zhu Zhankai 朱瞻塏	Prince Huai of Teng 滕懷王	Nov 1409	26 Aug 1425	Noble Consort Gong Su	none	none	Was created Prince of Teng on 1 Nov 1424
Zhu Zhanji 朱瞻垍	Prince Zhuang of Liang 梁莊王	7 July 1411	3 Feb 1441	Noble Consort Gong Su	Lady Ji (daughter of Ji Zhan (紀詹)) Consort Wei, concubine (daughter of Wei Heng (魏亨))	none	Was created Prince of Liang 1 Nov 1424
Zhu Zhanyan 朱瞻埏	Prince Gong of Wei 衛恭王	9 Jan 1417	3 Jan 1439	Noble Consort Gong Su	-	-	Was created Prince of Wei in 1424

Daughters

Title	Name	Born	Died	Date Married	Spouse
Princess Jiaxing 嘉興公主	Zhu (朱) (personal name unknown)	1409	9 Mar 1439	1428	Jing Yuan 井源
Princess Qingdou 慶都公主	Zhu (朱) Yuantong (圓通)	9 Oct 1409	12 June 1440	8 Dec 1428	Jiao Jing 焦敬
Princess Qinghe 清河公主	Zhu (朱) (personal name unknown)		1433	1429	Li Ming 李銘
Princess De'an 德安公主	Zhu (朱) (personal name unknown)
Princess Yanping 延平公主	Zhu (朱) (personal name unknown)
Princess Deqing 德慶公主	Zhu (朱) (personal name unknown)
Princess Zhending 真定公主	Zhu (朱) (personal name unknown)		1450	1429	Wang Yi 王誼