A Monarch’s Parting Words

On the twenty-second day of the eighth month in the year 1487, the Ming Dynasty’s Emperor Xianzong passed away at the age of forty. Just three days prior, his senior cabinet ministers—Wan An, Liu Ji, and Yin Zhi—had expressed their deep concern for his declining health. The emperor, in a moment of characteristic reassurance, told them, “After taking medicine, my illness has already improved. Do not worry excessively; return to your duties with peace of mind.” Little did they know that these would be among his final utterances, as three days later, the sovereign breathed his last, leaving his court and empire in mourning.

In his final hours, Emperor Xianzong summoned his seventeen-year-old heir, Zhu Youcheng, to his bedside. With the gravity of the moment palpable, he instructed the young prince to ascend the throne without delay. He imparted crucial advice on governance, emphasizing the importance of revering heaven, following ancestral traditions, diligent administration, and caring for the people. These face-to-face instructions covered vital matters of state, reflecting a father’s earnest hope for his son’s successful reign.

Historical Assessments of Xianzong’s Rule

Contemporary and later historians have offered varied perspectives on Emperor Xianzong’s legacy. The Ming scholar Li Weizhen invoked an ancient verse from the Classic of Poetry to summarize the emperor’s tenure: “Nothing is without a beginning, but few things have a good end.” Li noted that Xianzong’s early reign showed promise and effective governance, but over time, his excessive favoritism toward eunuchs, Buddhist monks, and Daoist priests significantly undermined state affairs. In Li’s view, while such a decline might be seen as a common human failing, the emperor’s later missteps ultimately overshadowed his initial virtues.

In contrast, Tan Qian, compiler of the historical text Guoque, presented a more balanced appraisal. He described Xianzong’s era as one of relative peace and stability, with a simple and honest administrative style. Although Tan acknowledged problems such as the dominance of the eunuch Wang Zhi and the proliferation of irregularly appointed officials, he considered these mere blemishes on an otherwise respectable reign, arguing that they did not fundamentally tarnish the emperor’s virtue.

The Heir’s Perspective and Inheritance

For the crown prince, the evaluation of his father’s legacy was deeply personal and complex. Described in the Veritable Records of Emperor Xiaozong as a person of few words and great caution, the young heir was in no position to publicly critique his father. His position and temperament required him to express his views through action rather than words. Only after assuming power could he fully comprehend the challenges and contradictions of Xianzong’s rule.

The inheritance he received was mixed. On one hand, he was to lead an empire that had enjoyed periods of stability; on the other, he faced a depleted treasury and a court entangled with favoritism and corruption. This duality would profoundly shape his approach to governance once he took the throne.

Ascension and Immediate Reforms

Half a month after Xianzong’s death, on the sixth day of the ninth month, the crown prince formally ascended the throne as Emperor Xiaozong, declaring the following year would begin the Hongzhi era. The days that followed were consumed with elaborate ceremonial observances, essential for legitimizing his rule and honoring tradition.

By the fifth day of his reign, the new emperor issued a decisive edict that signaled a clear break from the past. He ordered the demotion and exile of officials associated with corruption and heterodox practices. Li Zisheng and Deng Chang’en, accused of leading the previous emperor astray with improper doctrines, were sent to distant garnisons in Ganzhou. The eunuchs Liang Fang, Wei Xing, and Chen Xi, who had recommended Li, were transferred to the secondary court at Nanjing.

Xiaozong also targeted the lavish religious titles and privileges granted during his father’s reign. So-called “Dharma Kings,” “Buddha Sons,” national preceptors, and Chan masters—many of whom had enjoyed excessive patronage—were subjected to strict review by the Ministry of Rites. Numerous irregularly appointed officials, including Left Transmission Commissioner Shi Qin, Right Transmission Commissioner Zhong Lan, imperial physicians Jiang Zongru and Zong Fu, and medical scholar Hu Tingyin, were either dismissed or demoted.

That same day, the family of Consort Wan, who had died earlier that year, faced repercussions. Her brother, Wan Xi, holding the rank of Vice Commissioner-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was reduced to the position of Commissioner. His brothers, Wan Da and Wan Xiang, also saw their ranks lowered significantly. These actions were not merely punitive but symbolized a broader effort to cleanse the court of perceived corruption and undue influence.

The Empty Treasury and Precedent for Reform

A critical factor driving Xiaozong’s early reforms was the dire state of the imperial treasury. By 1485, two years before his accession, the vast reserves of silver and gold accumulated over several reigns—reportedly filling seven vaults—had been completely exhausted. Historical records note that Emperor Xianzong himself had confronted the eunuchs Liang Fang and Wei Xing about this reckless expenditure. When Liang defended the spending as necessary for constructing temples and praying for the emperor’s longevity, Xianzong responded cryptically, “I will not punish you, but my successor will.”

This statement, whether apocryphal or not, hinted at the incoming emperor’s mandate to rectify financial mismanagement. Although it might have been imprudent for Xianzong to openly threaten his courtiers, the anecdote underscores the widespread recognition that a reckoning was inevitable.

Personal Grudges and Political Motivations

Xiaozong’s actions against certain individuals were also influenced by personal history. During his time as crown prince, Liang Fang and Wei Xing had conspired with Consort Wan to persuade Xianzong to depose him in favor of Prince Xing, Zhu Youyuan, the son of Consort Shao. The emperor had indeed ordered the influential eunuch Huai’en to proceed with the replacement, but Huai’en refused, declaring he would rather die for disobedience than be condemned by history for compliance. Subsequently exiled to Fengyang, Huai’en’s stand—coupled with ominous earthquakes on Mount Tai, interpreted as heavenly disapproval—ultimately persuaded Xianzong to abandon the plan.

This background explains Xiaozong’s particular animosity toward Liang Fang and his associates. Their efforts to undermine his position made their removal not only a political necessity but a personal vindication.

Expanding the Purge

In the month following the initial dismissals, Xiaozong extended his reforms, targeting over two thousand irregularly appointed officials. Among them were Right Transmission Commissioner Ren Jie, Vice Minister Kuai Gang, and Assistant Commander Wang Rong. This sweeping purge demonstrated the new emperor’s commitment to restoring merit-based appointments and eliminating the corruption that had plagued his father’s later years.

Conclusion: The Legacy of a Transition

The death of Emperor Xianzong and the ascension of his son marked a pivotal moment in Ming history. While Xianzong’s reign had its achievements, it was also marred by fiscal irresponsibility and courtly intrigue. Xiaozong’s rapid and decisive actions upon taking power set the tone for the Hongzhi era, which would later be remembered as a time of renewal, ethical governance, and relative prosperity. Through these early reforms, the young emperor not only addressed the immediate shortcomings of his inheritance but also laid the foundation for a reign that would strive to balance reverence for the past with the demands of the present.