In the long history of the Ming Dynasty, there is a story of a queen who is particularly eye-catching. She is the queen of Ming Yingzong, Qian, the first person to enter the palace from the middle gate of the Daming Gate, a loyal wife who self-harmed because her husband was captured, and a woman who always sticks to her heart in the political turmoil. Her life has been full of ups and downs, from a girl in her prime to a lame and blind queen, what kind of hardships have she experienced? How did she break two records? Why did Ming Yingzong still "make mistakes" for her before he died? The story of Empress Qian is not only a touching love legend, but also a historical picture that reflects the political ecology of the Ming Dynasty. In this royal arena full of scheming and calculation, what role did Queen Qian play?
Empress Qian's family origins can be traced back to the beginning of the Ming Dynasty. Her great-grandfather Qian Cheng was one of the heroes of the Ming Chengzu Zhu Di's martyrdom. In that year, Qian Cheng followed Zhu Di, the king of Yan, to raise troops and made great contributions in this battle that changed the fate of the Ming Dynasty. After the war, Zhu Di ascended the throne as emperor, and Qian Cheng won the honor of hereditary official position for his loyalty and courage.
This glory passed to Queen Qian's father, Qian Gui. Qian Gui lived up to the glory of his ancestors and inherited the family's martial tradition. He followed Zhu Di and Zhu Zhanji to the Northern Expedition many times, bravely killed the enemy on the battlefield, and made many achievements. The imperial court rewarded him for his courage and promoted him to the position of commander of the capital, which was an important position in the military attache system of the Ming Dynasty.
However, although the Qian family had meritorious deeds, they were not prominent and powerful. In the court at that time, they belonged to the middle noble families, neither too conspicuous nor obscure. It is this family background that laid the groundwork for the future fate of the Qian family.
On the seventeenth day of the first month of 1441, a decree came from the Forbidden City, causing an uproar in the capital. This decree came from the Empress Dowager Zhang, who was the grandmother of Zhu Qizhen of Ming Yingzong. Empress Dowager Zhang ordered the Ministry of Rites to draft a nationwide draft, requiring the selection of a woman with "appearance, temperament, modesty, and courtesy" as a candidate for the queen.
This draft lasted a whole year. Officials of the Ministry of Rites traveled all over the country, screened layer by layer, and finally selected dozens of show girls to enter Beijing. In the capital, these show girls have gone through many rounds of assessment, and someone has been eliminated in each round. In the end, only a few people made it to the final interview of the Empress Dowager Zhang.
In this fateful interview, 16-year-old Qian stood out. She is not only beautiful, but more importantly, her humble and polite, gentle and generous temperament won the favor of Empress Dowager Zhang. In the end, Empress Dowager Zhang appointed Qian as the queen candidate and prepared to marry Zhu Qizhen of Ming Yingzong.
On the third day of the fifth month of May 1442, Empress Dowager Zhang sent the important minister Zhang Fu of England and Yang Shiqi, the secretary of the military department, to come to the Qian Mansion with a rich dowry to "ask for names". This was the first step in the ancient wedding, marking the official selection of the Qian family by the royal family. Only four days later, Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, Yang Pu, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and Guo Ra, the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, were again ordered to come to the Qian Mansion to carry out the ceremony of "Nagina Levy Period" and determine the date of marriage.
Half a month later, in the early morning, the streets of Beijing were bustling. Zhang Fu, Yang Shiqi and others led the guard of honor, holding the queen's book treasure, and came to the Qian Mansion to welcome their relatives. The 16-year-old Qian wore the crown of nine dragons and four phoenixes, which symbolized the supremacy of the supremacy, and entered the Forbidden City from the middle gate of the Daming Gate in the kneeling of hundreds of civil and military officials, internal and external women.
This is an unprecedented move. Daming Gate is the south gate of the imperial city, which was regarded as a national gate by the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and under normal circumstances, only the emperor can enter and exit from the middle gate. Qian became the first queen in the history of the Ming Dynasty to enter the palace through the middle gate of the Ming Gate, and this special treatment demonstrated the importance that Empress Dowager Zhang attached to this marriage.
Caiyu slowly passed through the Chengtian Gate, the Noon Gate, and the Fengtian Gate, and finally stopped in front of the Kunning Palace. Here, Qian officially became the queen of Ming Yingzong Zhu Qizhen, starting her legendary and bumpy harem career.
This wedding was the last major event that Empress Dowager Zhang organized for her grandson Zhu Qizhen. Just a few months later, Empress Dowager Zhang passed away. However, the Qian family, whom she carefully selected and ceremoniously married, did not live up to her expectations. In the long years that followed, Queen Qian used her wisdom and tenacity to compose a touching song of love and loyalty.
In 1449, a war that shocked the government and the opposition changed the fate of the Ming Dynasty and completely changed the trajectory of Empress Qian's life. This is known as the Tumu Fort Change.
At that time, the leader of the Mongol Warat tribe also led his army south and invaded the border of the Ming Dynasty. Faced with this threat, Ming Yingzong Zhu Qizhen decided to personally lead the army to the Northern Expedition. This decision caused a heated debate in the DPRK and China. Some ministers thought that the emperor's personal expedition was too risky, but the eunuch Wang Zhen strongly encouraged it. In the end, under Wang Zhen's bewitchment, Yingzong insisted on conquest in person.
In August, Yingzong led an army of 500,000 to the north. However, due to Wang Zhen's misdirection and military command errors, the Ming army was ambushed by the Wara army at Tumubao outside the Great Wall. This battle became one of the most painful defeats in the history of the Ming Dynasty. The 500,000-strong army was almost completely annihilated, and Zhu Qizhen himself was captured.
When the news reached the capital, the dynasty was shocked. When Empress Qian learned the news of her husband's capture, she fell into extreme grief. In those days, the emperor's capture was not only a national shame, but also a shake in the status of the empress. However, instead of backing down or protecting herself, Queen Qian made a surprising decision instead.
Empress Qian ordered people to set up an altar in the palace and pray for the safety of Yingzong day and night. Even more shockingly, she began a series of self-injurious acts. According to historical records, Queen Qian first cut her left hamstring, resulting in a lameness of her left leg. Later, she stabbed herself in the left eye with a red-hot iron nail. This extreme behavior caused a huge sensation at the time.
Queen Qian's self-harm can be interpreted from multiple perspectives. First of all, it is a sign of her loyalty to her husband. In ancient times, wives often took extreme measures to observe festivals for their husbands, such as suicide and self-harm. Empress Qian's actions can be seen as a continuation of this tradition.
Secondly, it is also a political statement. Through self-harm, Empress Qian showed her loyalty to Yingzong and her determination to continue to protect the throne. In the event that the emperor is captured, various political forces may compete in the harem. Empress Qian's actions undoubtedly sounded the alarm for those who might aspire to the throne.
Third, this act may also be intended to move Providence. In the ancient people's concept, human suffering can move the heavens. Empress Qian may have hoped to exchange her sacrifice for the favor of heaven and bless Yingzong's safe return.
Empress Qian's self-harm caused a strong reaction in the government and the opposition. Some ministers were moved by her loyalty and respected her even more. But there are also those who believe that this behavior is too extreme and does not fit the status of the queen. In any case, this event became an important turning point in the history of the Ming Dynasty.
At the same time, the imperial court faced a dire situation. After Yingzong was captured, the imperial court quickly supported Yingzong's younger brother Zhu Qiyu to ascend the throne as the Ming Dynasty. This decision was made in order to stabilize the situation and prevent the country from falling into even greater chaos.
However, the accession of the new emperor did not change Empress Qian's situation. She still retains the title of Empress, but has actually lost power. In the years that followed, Empress Qian had to survive in the cracks, guarding Yingzong's interests while dealing with complex court politics.
The Tumubao Incident not only changed the political landscape of the Ming Dynasty, but also completely changed the life of Empress Qian. Since then, she has appeared on the stage of history as lame and blind, becoming one of the most legendary queens in the history of the Ming Dynasty. Her story is not only a personal joys and sorrows, but also reflects the political situation and human nature of that era.
After the change of Tumubao, Zhu Qiyu ascended the throne and became the emperor, which was the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. This change changed the situation of Empress Qian dramatically. As the wife of the captured emperor, her position suddenly became awkward and dangerous.
In the early days of Daizong's accession to the throne, the attitude of the court towards Empress Qian could be described as cold. Some ministers even proposed that she be demoted to a concubine in order to completely sever ties with the previous dynasty. However, Daizong did not take this suggestion. He considered that Empress Qian's self-mutilation had won the sympathy of the government and the opposition, and that rash demotion might cause unnecessary criticism. Therefore, Daizong decided to maintain the name of Empress Qian, but actually put her under house arrest in the palace.
During this period, Queen Qian's life was difficult. Not only did she lose her political power, but her daily life was severely restricted. The eunuchs and maids in the palace avoided her, for fear of getting into trouble because of approaching her. Empress Qian could only be alone in her palace every day, facing the deserted palace walls and endless waiting.
However, Queen Qian did not give up hope because of this. She insisted on praying every day, hoping that Yingzong would return safely. At the same time, she also secretly kept in touch with some ministers who were still loyal to Yingzong, and kept a close eye on the movements of the imperial court.
During the reign of Daizong, the imperial court sent envoys to Warat several times to try to negotiate the redemption of Yingzong. Whenever such news comes, Queen Qian will pay special attention. She even repeatedly begged Daizong to allow her to go to Warat to redeem Yingzong in person, but these requests were politely refused.
In 1450, an important piece of news reached the palace: Yingzong had a serious illness in Wara. This news made Queen Qian very distressed. She repeatedly asked Daizong to send an imperial doctor to Warat to treat Yingzong. Although this request was eventually accepted, the dispatch of the imperial physician was repeatedly delayed until Youngjong recovered from his illness.
During these difficult days, Queen Qian showed extraordinary tenacity and wisdom. She understands that her words and deeds may affect Yingzong's fate. Therefore, she behaved extremely cautiously, neither humble nor arrogant, nor showed any signs of disrespect for Daizong. This way of doing things made Daizong have a certain degree of respect for her, and also laid the groundwork for Yingzong's return in the future.
In 1457, a long-awaited news finally came: Yingzong was released and was about to return to Beijing. This news made the entire Forbidden City boil. Daizong sent ministers to greet him, and the government and the opposition were speculating about the political situation after Yingzong's return.
At this critical juncture, Empress Qian once again showed her political wisdom. She did not show excessive joy, but maintained her usual composure. She expressed her gratitude to Daijong and praised him for his contributions to the country over the years. This kind of decent performance made Daizong more at ease, and also created favorable conditions for Yingzong's smooth return.
After Yingzong returned to Beijing, the court fell into an embarrassing situation for a while. For the first time in the history of the Ming Dynasty, two emperors existed at the same time. In this case, the role of Queen Qian becomes especially important. She became a mediator between Youngjong and Daijong, trying to balance the relationship between the two parties and avoid sibling rivalry.
Empress Qian persuaded Yingzong to temporarily retire to the East Palace and live as the "Emperor Taishang". At the same time, she also expressed Yingzong's goodwill to Daizong, hoping that the two brothers could get along in harmony. This practice not only eased the tension in the imperial court, but also created conditions for the restoration of Yingzong in the future.
During this period, Empress Qian's relationship with Yingzong became even deeper. After eight years of separation, the two are finally reunited. Yingzong was deeply moved by Empress Qian's loyalty and tenacity. He witnessed Queen Qian's lame and blind condition, and cherished this rare relationship even more.
However, the wheel of history does not stop there. In 1457, a sudden coup d'état changed the situation. Youngjong re-ascended the throne with the assistance of Seok Hyung and others, and Daijong was imprisoned. Empress Qian once again played an important role in this coup, and her wisdom and influence provided important support for the restoration of Yingzong.
In August 1457, a thrilling coup d'état was staged in the Ming Dynasty. Under the planning of Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen and others, Yingzong Zhu Qizhen was successfully restored and re-ascended to the throne. This event not only changed the political landscape of the Ming Dynasty, but also brought Empress Qian back to the center of power.
At the beginning of the restoration of Yingzong, there was a lot of noise in the imperial court. Many of the ministers who supported Daijong feared being liquidated and wrote letters asking for guilt. However, to everyone's surprise, Yingzong did not go on a killing spree. Instead, he pursued a relatively moderate policy, punishing only a handful of leading opponents. Behind this tolerant attitude, there is the skillful operation of the rich queen.
Empress Qian knew that if Yingzong retaliated on a large scale, it would only exacerbate the division of the imperial court. She suggested that Yingzong adopt a policy of gentleness in order to stabilize the court. Yingzong adopted this suggestion and not only pardoned most of the officials who supported Daizong, but also promoted some neutralists. This practice quickly quelled the turmoil in the imperial court and won widespread support.
However, Queen Qian is not a strict advocate of tolerance. For those who fell into trouble during her and Youngjong's difficult times, she advised Youngjong to take appropriate disciplinary measures. For example, the ministers who had proposed to demote her to the rank of concubine were demoted and sent out, and some officials who had slandered Yingzong were punished. This policy of combining grace and power reflects Empress Qian's superb political wisdom.
After the Restoration, Empress Qian's political influence reached its peak. She is not only Yingzong's virtuous helper, but also an important figure in the imperial court that cannot be ignored. Many ministers will specifically mention Empress Qian's name as a sign of respect when they play. Even for some tricky government affairs, Yingzong would consult Empress Qian's opinion.
Empress Qian was particularly concerned about the disposal of Daizong. As a brother, Yingzong is unwilling to kill them all. But as a monarch, he was worried that Daijong would become a destabilizing factor. On this issue, Empress Qian proposed a compromise plan: put Daizong under house arrest in Nangong and give him appropriate courtesy, but strictly limit his scope of activities and access to the outside world. This plan not only saved Daizong's life, but also ensured that he would not pose a threat to the government.
In addition to handling government affairs, Queen Qian is also actively involved in charitable activities. She has repeatedly suggested that Yingzong reduce taxes and provide relief to the victims. Under her influence, Yingzong ordered the construction of Yicang throughout the country to store grain for the needs of the famine. These measures greatly increased the people's favorability towards the imperial court and also consolidated the foundation of Yingzong's rule.
However, the pinnacle of power often comes with danger. As Empress Qian's influence grew, some ministers became wary of her. They were worried that Empress Qian would be like Empress Lu of the Han Dynasty, who would listen to the government and interfere in the government. Some conservative ministers even secretly spread rumors to discredit Queen Money.
In the face of these challenges, Queen Qian behaved extremely cautiously. She took the initiative to reduce her appearances in court affairs and focused more on taking care of Yingzong and raising the prince. At the same time, she also made it clear to the ministers in various ways that she had no intention of interfering in the government's affairs, but only wanted to assist Yingzong in governing the country well.
In 1461, an incident brought Empress Qian's political wisdom to life again. At that time, Yingzong was preparing to appoint a crown prince, and the court and China were arguing about it. Some people advocate the establishment of the eldest son Zhu Jianshen as the crown prince, and some people support the establishment of the second son Zhu Jianji. On this sensitive issue, Empress Qian showed a high degree of political wisdom. She did not openly express her support for either side, but suggested that Yingzong consult widely with the courtiers and finally make a decision.
In the end, at the suggestion of Empress Qian, Yingzong adopted a compromise approach: he made his eldest son Zhu Jianshen the crown prince, but at the same time gave his second son Zhu Jianji important titles and positions. This decision was not only in line with the patriarchal system, but also took into account the interests of all parties and avoided conflicts within the royal family.
Over time, Empress Qian's political influence declined, but her position in the imperial court remained solid. She is no longer directly involved in the decision-making of the court, but plays more of a role as Yingzong's virtuous assistant and the spiritual pillar of the royal family. Her wisdom and experience became an indispensable legend in the Ming court.
As she grew older, Empress Qian gradually faded out of the center of the political scene, but her influence in the Ming imperial family was still not to be underestimated. During the reign of Yingzong Zhu Qizhen, Empress Qian has been his most trusted advisor and supporter. Even after she was no longer directly involved in the decision-making of the imperial government, she still provided advice and advice to Yingzong through private conversations.
In 1464, Yingzong died, and the crown prince Zhu Jianshen succeeded to the throne as Xianzong. This change changed Queen Qian's status again. As the widow of the first emperor, she was revered as the empress dowager and enjoyed high courtesy. In reality, however, her political influence began to wane.
In the early days of Xianzong's accession, the court still maintained a high degree of respect for the Empress Dowager Qian. The new emperor repeatedly mentioned his mother's virtues at court meetings and ordered the construction of the Cining Palace as the residence of the Empress Dowager Qian. The palace is not only large in scale and richly decorated, but it is also located in the core area of the Forbidden City, demonstrating the court's respect for the Empress Dowager Qian.
However, as time went on, Kenjong gradually showed an independent style of rule. He embarked on a series of new policies, some of which were at odds with Empress Dowager Qian's advice. For example, in his attitude towards eunuchs, Xianzong tended to reuse eunuchs, while Empress Dowager Qian always advocated limiting the power of eunuchs. Although this disagreement did not lead to a deterioration in the relationship between mother and son, it did weaken the Empress Dowager Qian's voice in court politics.
Despite this, the Empress Dowager Qian was not depressed by this. She devoted more energy to raising her grandchildren and participating in philanthropic causes. She has repeatedly suggested that the constitution reduce taxes and provide relief to the victims, and most of these suggestions have been adopted. Under her influence, the Ming Dynasty built a large number of Yixue and Salesian homes throughout the country to provide educational opportunities for children from poor families.
In 1475, Xianzong died suddenly, and the 17-year-old crown prince Zhu Youzhu ascended the throne as filial piety. In the face of this sudden incident, the Empress Dowager Qian once again showed her political wisdom. She quickly summoned important ministers to stabilize the situation and prevent possible unrest. During the new emperor's infancy, she actually played a role similar to that of "listening to the government", although it was not officially closed.
During this period, Empress Dowager Qian's political influence briefly recovered. She actively participated in court and political discussions, advising the young Hyojong. Under her influence, the imperial court adopted a series of measures to stabilize the political situation and reassure the people. For example, amnesty and partial tax cuts have won broad popular support.
However, Empress Dowager Qian did not take this opportunity to seek personal power. On the contrary, she actively cultivated Xiaozong's ability to govern the country and encouraged him to personally handle the affairs of the court. She often discussed national affairs with Hyojong and passed on her political experience accumulated over the years. Under her careful guidance, Hyojong quickly demonstrated outstanding leadership skills.
In 1487, Empress Dowager Qian died at the age of 77. Her death marked the end of an era in the Ming Dynasty. Xiaozong ordered the whole country to mourn, and personally wrote a memorial for him, praising him for his "virtuous virtue and fortitude, loyalty and filial piety". The imperial court also deliberately built a large-scale mausoleum to show respect for the Empress Dowager Qian.
Empress Qian's life was full of ups and downs, and she experienced great changes from queen to prisoner to empress dowager. Her political wisdom and personal charisma left a deep mark on the history of the Ming Dynasty. Later historians' evaluations of Empress Qian were mostly positive. They praised her courage and loyalty in times of crisis, her political wisdom after the Restoration, and her contributions to the royal family and country in her later years.
However, there are also some critical voices. Some historians believe that Empress Qian excessively interfered in court politics in some periods, which exceeded the empress's duty. Others pointed out that her attitude towards eunuchs was too lenient, which laid a hidden danger for the eunuchs' dictatorship later.
Overall, Empress Qian played an extremely complex and important role in the history of the Ming Dynasty. Her experience not only reflects the ups and downs of a woman's fortunes in feudal society, but also shows the vicissitudes of imperial politics. Her intelligence, courage, and tenacity made her one of the most revered empresses in the history of the Ming Dynasty.