Hongzhi Emperor

The Hongzhi Emperor () (30 July 1470 – 9 June 1505) was the tenth Emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigned from 1487 to 1505. Born Zhu Youcheng, he was the eldest surviving son of the Chenghua Emperor and his reign as emperor of China is called the "Hongzhi Restoration" (弘治中興). His era name, "Hongzhi", means "great governance". During his reign, he impeached a large amount of his officials from office as he considered them corrupt and incompetent. His transparent style of governance fostered prosperity among the people he ruled, and he was one of only two Chinese Emperors who had no concubines. Zhu Youcheng was born on 30 July 1470 to the Chenghua Emperor and Consort Ji (紀氏). Consort Ji was one of the Yao women captured during the suppression of an uprising in the southern Chinese province of Guangxi and then bought into the palace. Youcheng inherited a Southern appearance from his mother: a small figure and darker skin. He is also said to have intelligent and clear eyes and would grow a mustache and a thin beard. He was not physically strong, with his strength being lost in later years. Zhu was raised in secret by his mother, the abandoned Empress Wu, and various eunuchs who swore secrecy not to expose Zhu Youcheng and upset Emperor Chenghua's favourite concubine Consort Wan, who was trying to conceive a child of her own. To this end, Lady Wan would eliminate rival concubines and order any pregnancies to be forcibly aborted, as her own child died shortly after birth in 1466. Zhu Youcheng was only reunited with his father by 1475 at the age of five and was made crown prince. He had been a brilliant child early on and received the best education offered at that time; he was immersed in Confucian schooling and excelled in his studies. After the Hongzhi Emperor ascended the throne in 1487, his administration was modeled after Confucian ideology and he became a hardworking and diligent emperor. He closely supervised all affairs of state, lowered taxes, reduced government spending and made wise decisions when employing ministers to government posts.