Longqing Emperor

Longqing隆庆(* March 4, 1537; † July 5, 1572 ), birth name: Zhu Zaihou朱 载 垕, Temple name: Muzong穆宗, was the twelfth Chinese emperors of the Ming Dynasty. He reigned from 1567 to 1572 over China.

Life

Prince Zhu Zaihous Emperor Jiajing father did not like his eldest son and would have preferred it if his younger son by one month would have taken up the legacy. However, by the law of the elders on priority boarded Zhu Zaihou in 1567 as Longqing Emperor at age 29 the throne. Excluded from his father from the government, Longqing had no experience in politics. Rather quiet and without personal ambition, he was undecided in decisions remained silent at Hofaudienzen, kept his ministers on distance and preferred a reclusive life in imperial luxury. Nevertheless, he was regarded as open-minded and liberal.

Under his rule was an improvement of the situation, which was more obvious with the disappearance of the external dangers. Longqing counted as an enlightened autocrat, who put much emphasis on social justice and reform. He corrected the mistakes of the Jiajing reign, pardoned the unjust punished officials of his father and banished the Daoists from the farm. He also showed talent in filling the highest offices of state. First and foremost, Minister Zhang Juzheng proved remarkably gifted. Under his advice Longqing began a liberal reform policy:

The Hofausgaben were limited, the exploited by the big landowners smallholders were taken into custody and led to a regulation of the Yellow River and the Huai. For the maintenance of river embankments of the sincere and efficient administration officials Pan Jixun was (1521 - 1595) for the next 29 years set before long the Authority.

In foreign policy, in 1570 the Mongols under Altan Khan made ​​peace, at the same time accepted the Mongols in 1573 a status as vassals. Longqing encouraged increasingly to foreign trade, China opened again increased for foreign merchants and expanded its contacts with other countries in Asia and Europe. The Seemachtsposition China was restored, especially because the Japanese Wokou on the Chinese coast were always annoying. Through the construction of fortified seaports in Zhejiang and Fujian, as well as the construction of a new fleet, the problem could be eliminated.

The Longqing emperor died after only five years in office in 1572 and left an eight- year-old boy as his heir, who took over as Wanli the throne.

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