Tianqi Emperor
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| Tianqi Emperor | |||||||||||||||||
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| Emperor of China | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 1 October 1620 – 30 September 1627 (6 years, 364 days) | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Taichang Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Chongzhen Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
| Burial | Deling, Ming Dynasty Tombs, Beijing | ||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Empress Xiao Ai Zhe | ||||||||||||||||
| Issue | 3 sons and 3 daughters | ||||||||||||||||
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| House | Ming Dynasty | ||||||||||||||||
| Father | Taichang Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Empress Dowager Xiaohe | ||||||||||||||||
The Tianqi Emperor (23 December 1605 – 30 September 1627) was the 15th emperor of the Ming dynasty from 1620 to 1627. Born Zhu Youjiao, he was the Taichang Emperor's eldest son. His era name means "Heavenly opening".
Biography
Zhu Youxiao became emperor at the age of fifteen, on the death of his father who ruled less than a month. He did not pay much attention to affairs of state, and was accused of failing in his filial duties to his dead father by not continuing his father's wishes. It is possible that Zhu Youxiao suffered from a learning disability or something more. He was illiterate and showed no interest in his studies.
Because he was unable to read memorials and uninterested in the affairs of state, his head eunuch, Wei Zhongxian usurped the power along with Madam Ke, Zhu Youxiao's nanny. Zhu Youxiao apparently devoted his time to carpentry. Wei took advantage of the situation and began appointing the people he trusted to important positions in the palace. Meanwhile Madam Ke, who was the nanny of the young emperor sought to retain power by removing all other women from the emperor's harem by locking away the concubines of the emperor and starving them to death.
One Confucian moralist group, the Donglin Party, expressed distress at the conditions of the Imperial State. In response, the palace covertly ordered the execution of a number of officials associated with the Donglin. Living conditions worsened during his reign and Tianqi faced several popular uprisings.
Zhu Youxiao died in 1627 and was succeeded by his younger brother Zhu Youjian, the Chongzhen Emperor.
Dramatizations
In August & September 2009, a 42-hour prime-time TV series dramatizing the power of Wei Zhongxian & Madam Ke during the reign of the Tianqi Emperor was shown on Chinese television – two hours per night for 21 days. It vividly showed how a hereditary monarchy can lead to the rampant abuse of power. The series ended on Thursday, 17 September, just two weeks before the 60th anniversary (five 12-year cycles) of the establishment of the PRC.