1
仁宗敬天體道純誠至德弘文欽武章聖達孝昭皇帝，諱高熾，成祖長子也。 母仁孝文皇后，夢冠冕執圭者上謁。 寤而生帝。 幼端重沉靜，言動有經。 稍長習射，發無不中。 好學問，從儒臣講論不輟。
Emperor Renzong—honored after death as one who revered Heaven, embodied the Way, and united pure sincerity, supreme virtue, literary cultivation, martial achievement, sagely wisdom, and filial devotion—was named Gaochi and was the eldest son of the Chengzu Emperor. His mother, the Empress of Benevolent Filiality and Culture, dreamed of a figure in court robes and cap bearing a jade tablet who bowed before her. When she awoke she gave birth to the future emperor. As a boy he was grave and composed, his words and actions always measured. As he grew he trained in archery and never missed his mark. He delighted in scholarship and debated unceasingly with the scholar-officials.
2
洪武二十八年，冊為燕世子。 嘗命與秦、晉、周三世子分閱衛士，還獨後。 問之。 對曰：「旦寒甚，俟朝食而後閱，故後。」 又命分閱章奏，獨取切軍民利病者白之。 或文字謬誤，不以聞。 太祖指示之曰：「兒忽之耶？」 對曰：「不敢忽，顧小過不足瀆天聽。」 又嘗問：「堯、湯時水旱，百姓奚恃？」 對曰：「恃聖人有恤民之政。」 太祖喜曰：「孫有君人之識矣！」
In Hongwu year twenty-eight he was installed as heir apparent of the Yan princedom. On one occasion he and the crown princes of Qin, Jin, and Zhou were sent to inspect the guards by turns; he alone came back last. The emperor asked why. He replied: "The morning was bitterly cold; I waited until after breakfast to make the inspection, and so returned late. He was also set to review memorials by turns, but singled out only those bearing on the people's hardships and presented them himself. When a document contained clerical errors he did not bring it forward. The founding emperor indicated them and asked: "My boy, are you overlooking these? He answered: "I do not disregard them; trivial slips are not worth burdening Your Majesty's ear." On another occasion he was asked: "When flood or drought struck in the age of Yao and Tang, what did the people trust?" He replied: "On the sage-rulers' policies of compassion for the people." The founding emperor was pleased: "The lad already thinks like a sovereign!"
3
成祖舉兵，世子守北平，善拊士卒，以萬人拒李景隆五十萬眾，城賴以全。 先是，郡王高煦、高燧俱以慧黠有寵於成祖。 而高煦從軍有功，宦寺黃儼等復党高燧，陰謀奪嫡，譖世子。 會朝廷賜世子書，為離間。 世子不啟緘，馳上之。 而儼先潛報成祖曰：「世子與朝廷通，使者至矣。」 無何，世子所遣使亦至。 成祖發書視之，乃歎曰：「幾殺吾子。」 成祖踐阼，以北平為北京，仍命居守。
During Chengzu's uprising the heir held Beiping, won the troops' hearts, and with ten thousand men held off Li Jinglong's army of five hundred thousand, saving the city. Earlier, his younger brothers the princes Gao Xu and Gao Sui had both won Chengzu's affection through quick wit. Gao Xu had campaigned with distinction; the eunuch Huang Yan and his faction backed Gao Sui, scheming in secret to supplant the heir and traducing him at court. Once the central government sent the heir a letter intended to drive a wedge between father and son. The heir never broke the seal but raced to deliver the packet intact to Chengzu. Huang Yan had already whispered to Chengzu that the heir was in league with the court and that an envoy was come. Soon the heir's own messenger reached camp as well. Chengzu opened the letter and groaned: "I was within a hair's breadth of destroying my own son. When Chengzu took the throne he made Beiping the Northern Capital but still left the heir in charge there.
4
永樂二年二月，始召至京，立為皇太子。 成祖數北征，命之監國，裁決庶政。 四方水旱饑饉，輒遣振恤，仁聞大著。 而高煦、高燧與其黨日伺隙讒構。 或問太子：「亦知有讒人乎？」 曰：「不知也，吾知盡子職而已。」
In the second month of Yongle 2 he was at last called to the capital and invested as crown prince. Chengzu marched north again and again, leaving him to govern and decide the daily business of rule. Whenever flood, drought, or famine struck any quarter he dispatched relief, and his reputation for benevolence spread far. Gao Xu, Gao Sui, and their clique meanwhile looked daily for chances to intrigue against him. Once someone asked the heir apparent: "Do you know there are men working to ruin you? He answered: "I pay them no mind; I know only how to discharge a son's obligations."
5
十年，北征還，以太子遣使後期，且書奏失辭，悉徵宮僚黃儼等下獄。
In Yongle 10, on returning from the north, Chengzu blamed the heir's late dispatch of envoys and lapses in memorial wording and threw Huang Yan and the rest of the household staff into prison.
6
十五年，高煦以罪徙樂安。 明年，黃儼等復譖太子擅赦罪人，宮僚多坐死者。 侍郎胡濙奉命察之，密疏太子誠敬孝謹七事以聞，成祖意乃釋。 其後黃儼等謀立高燧，事覺伏誅，高燧以太子力解得免，自是太子始安。
In year fifteen Gao Xu was punished and transferred to Le'an. The following year Huang Yan's party accused the heir of unauthorized amnesties, and many of his attendants were executed. Vice Minister Hu Ying was sent to inquire and privately reported seven proofs of the heir's loyalty, respect, filial piety, and restraint; Chengzu's suspicions eased. Later Huang Yan's group tried to place Gao Sui on the throne; the plot was uncovered and they were put to death; Gao Sui was spared only because the heir pleaded for him, and at last the crown prince could rest secure.
7
二十二年七月，成祖崩於榆木川。 八月甲辰，遺詔至，遣皇太孫迎喪開平。 丁未，出夏原吉等於獄。 丁巳，即皇帝位。 大赦天下，以明年為洪熙元年。 罷西洋寶船、迤西市馬及雲南、交阯採辦。 戊午，復夏原吉、吳中官。 己未，武安侯鄭亨鎮大同，保定侯孟瑛鎮交阯，襄城伯李隆鎮山海，武進伯朱榮鎮遼東。 復設三公、三孤官，以公、侯、伯、尚書兼之。 進楊榮太常寺卿，金幼孜戶部侍郎，兼大學士如故，楊士奇為禮部左侍郎兼華蓋殿大學士，黃淮通政使兼武英殿大學士，俱掌內制，楊溥為翰林學士。 辛酉，鎮遠侯顧興祖充總兵官，討廣西叛蠻。 甲子，汰冗官。 乙丑，召漢王高煦赴京。 戊辰，官吏謫隸軍籍者放還鄉。 己巳，詔文臣年七十致仕。 九月癸酉，交阯都指揮方政與黎利戰於茶籠州，敗績，指揮同知伍雲力戰死。 丙子，召尚書黃福於交阯。 庚辰，河溢開封，免稅糧，遣右都御史王彰撫恤之。 壬午，敕自今官司所用物料於所產地計直市之，科派病民者罪不宥。 癸未，禮部尚書呂震請除服，不許。 乙酉，增諸王歲祿。 丙戌，以風憲官備外任，命給事中蕭奇等三十五人為州縣官。 丁亥，黎利寇清化，指揮同知陳忠戰死。 戊子，始設南京守備，以襄城伯李隆為之。 乙未，散畿內民所養官馬於諸衛所。 戊戌，賜吏部尚書蹇義及楊士奇、楊榮、金幼孜銀章各一，曰「繩愆糾繆」，諭以協心贊務，凡有闕失當言者，用印密封以聞。
In the seventh month of Yongle 22 Chengzu died at Yumu River. In the eighth month on jiawu the death testament reached the capital and the imperial great-grandson was sent to meet the bier at Kaiping. On dingwei Xia Yuanji and the others were freed from custody. On disi he ascended the throne. A general amnesty was proclaimed and the coming year was declared the first year of the Hongxi reign. The western treasure voyages, the Yili horse fairs, and the procurement offices in Yunnan and Jiaozhi were abolished. On wuwu Xia Yuanji and Wu Zhong were reinstated. On jiwei Wu'an Marquis Zheng Heng took command at Datong, Baoding Marquis Meng Ying at Jiaozhi, Xiangcheng Earl Li Long at Shanhaiguan, and Wujin Baron Zhu Rong in Liaodong. The grand titles of the Three Dukes and Three Preceptors were revived, to be filled by nobles and ministers in joint appointment. Yang Rong was made Minister of Imperial Sacrifices, Jin Youzi Vice Minister of Revenue, both retaining their grand secretary posts; Yang Shiqi became Left Vice Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of Huagai Hall; Huang Huai Commissioner of the Transmission Office and Grand Secretary of Wuying Hall, all drafting imperial orders; Yang Pu was appointed Hanlin Academician. On xinyou Zhenyuan Marquis Gu Xingzu was appointed supreme commander to quell rebellious Man in Guangxi. On jiazi redundant offices were cut. On yichou the Prince of Han, Gao Xu, was ordered to come to court. On wuchen officials who had been demoted to soldier rolls were allowed to return to their villages. On jiwei an edict required civil officials to retire at seventy. In the ninth month on guiyou Fang Zheng, regional commander in Jiaozhi, met Li Lei at Chalong and was beaten; Assistant Commander Wu Yun died in fierce combat. On bingzi Minister Huang Fu was recalled from Annam. On gengchen floods from the Yellow River inundated Kaifeng; taxes in grain were waived and Right Censor-in-chief Wang Zhang was dispatched to relieve the district. On renwu an edict required all government supplies to be bought at market rates in the localities where they were produced; officials who still levied burdens on the people would not be spared. On guwei Minister of Rites Lü Zhen asked permission to leave off mourning garb; the request was denied. On yiyou the yearly allotments of the imperial princes were raised. On bingxu, to fill outer posts with men of integrity, thirty-five supervising secretaries led by Xiao Qi were made prefectural and county officials. On dinghai Li Lei attacked Thanh Hoa and Assistant Commander Chen Zhong fell fighting. On wuzi the Nanjing defense command was established for the first time under Xiangcheng Earl Li Long. On yiwei government horses kept by civilians in the metropolitan districts were turned over to the guards. On wuxu Personnel Minister Jian Yi plus Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Jin Youzi received silver seals inscribed "Correct errors and amend faults," with orders to work as one and seal confidential memorials whenever they found fault.
8
冬十月壬寅，罷市民間金銀，革兩京戶部行用庫。 癸卯，詔天下都司衛所修治城池。 戊申，通政使請以四方雨澤章奏送給事中收貯。 帝曰：「祖宗令天下奏雨澤，欲知水旱，以施恤民之政。 積之通政司，既失之矣，今又令收貯，是欲上之人終不知也。 自今奏至即以聞。」 己酉，冊妃張氏為皇后。 壬子，立長子瞻基為皇太子。 封子瞻埈為鄭五，瞻墉越王，瞻墡襄王，瞻堈荊王，瞻墺淮王，瞻塏滕王，瞻垍梁王，瞻埏衛王。 乙卯，詔中外官舉賢才，嚴舉主連坐法。 丁巳，令三法司會大學士、府、部、通政、六科於承天門錄囚，著為令。 庚申，增京官及軍士月廩。 丁卯，擢監生徐永潛等二十人為給事中。 十一月壬申朔，詔禮部：「建文諸臣家屬在教坊司、錦衣衛、浣衣局及習匠、功臣家為奴者，悉宥為民，還其田土。 言事謫戍者亦如之。」 癸酉，詔有司：「條政令之不便民者以聞，凡被災不即請振者，罪之。」 阿魯台來貢馬。 甲戌，詔羣臣言時政闕失。 乙亥，赦兀良哈罪。 始命近畿諸衛官軍更番詣京師操練。 丙子，遣御史巡察邊衛。 癸未，遣御史分巡天下，考察官吏。 丙戌，賜戶部尚書夏原吉「繩愆糾繆」銀章。 己丑，禮部奏冬至節請受賀，不許。 庚寅，敕諸將嚴邊備。 辛卯，禁所司擅役屯田軍士。 壬辰，都督方政同榮昌伯陳智鎮交阯。 是月，諭蹇義、楊士奇、夏原吉、楊榮、金幼孜曰：「前世人主，或自尊大，惡聞直言，臣下相與阿附，以至於敗。 聯與卿等當用為戒。」 又諭士奇曰：「頃羣臣頗懷忠愛，朕有過方自悔，而進言者已至，良愜朕心。」 十二月癸卯，宥建文諸臣外親全家戍邊者，留一人，餘悉放還。 辛亥，揭天下三司官姓名於奉天門西序。 癸丑，免被災稅糧。 庚申，葬文皇帝於長陵。 丙寅，鎮遠侯顧興祖破平樂、潯州蠻。
In the tenth month of winter on renyin the people were forbidden to hoard gold and silver, and the exchange depots of the two capitals were shut. On guimao orders went out for every regional command and guard to repair its fortifications. On wushen the Transmission Office proposed that reports on rain from all quarters be filed with the supervising secretaries. The emperor replied: "Our forefathers required rainfall memorials from across the realm precisely so the throne could learn of flood and drought and send relief. Letting them pile up in the Transmission Office was already a betrayal of that purpose; warehousing them again would ensure those above never knew the people's plight. Henceforth whenever such a memorial arrives, it must be brought to me immediately. On jiyou Consort Zhang was enthroned as empress. On renzi the eldest son Zhanji was named heir apparent. His sons received princely titles: Zhanjun as Prince of Zheng, Zhanjiong of Yue, Zhanfan of Xiang, Zhanjian of Jing, Zhan'ao of Huai, Zhankai of Teng, Zhanji of Liang, and Zhanyan of Wei. On yimao an edict called on officials throughout the empire to nominate worthy men, with severe joint punishment for false nominations. On dingsi the Three Judicial Offices, the grand secretaries, the ministries, the Transmission Office, and the six supervising offices were commanded to joint prisoner review at Chengtian Gate, and this was made permanent law. On gengshen the monthly grain rations of capital officials and troops were raised. On dingmao twenty students led by Xu Yongqian were elevated to supervising secretaries. On the new moon of the eleventh month on renshen the Ministry of Rites was ordered to free to common status the kin of Jianwen loyalists held in the music school, Embroidered Uniform Guard, laundry offices, artisan registers, and merit-holders' households, and to restore their fields. Those exiled for remonstrance received the same mercy. On guiyou local authorities were told to report any policy that harmed the people, and officials who failed to request relief after disaster would be prosecuted. Arugtai presented horses in tribute. On jiaxu the court was ordered to speak frankly of governmental faults. On yihai the Uriangkhai tribes were forgiven their offenses. For the first time nearby guard garrisons were put on rotating duty at the capital for training. On bingzi censors were sent to tour the frontier garrisons. On guwei censors were sent on circuit tours to examine officials empire-wide. On bingxu Revenue Minister Xia Yuanji received the same "Correct errors and amend faults" silver seal. On jichou the Ministry of Rites asked to hold the winter solstice congratulatory audience; it was refused. On gengyin frontier commanders were ordered to harden their defenses. On xinmao agencies were forbidden to press garrison troops on state farms into corvée without authorization. On renchen Commander Fang Zheng and Rongchang Baron Chen Zhi took joint command in Jiaozhi. That month he told Jian Yi, Yang Shiqi, Xia Yuanji, Yang Rong, and Jin Youzi: "Some earlier rulers grew arrogant and shunned blunt counsel; their ministers flattered one another until the state collapsed. You and I must take that as our warning. He added to Shiqi: "Of late you ministers have shown genuine devotion; I was still reproaching myself when your remonstrances came, and that is exactly what pleases me." In the twelfth month on guimao the outer kin of Jianwen officials who had been banished as whole clans were pardoned—one member was kept at the frontier, the rest released home. On xinhai the names of every provincial commissioner were displayed on the west side of Chengtian Gate. On guichou grain levies in disaster districts were forgiven. On gengshen the late Chengzu was interred at Changling. On bingyin Zhenyuan Marquis Gu Xingzu crushed the rebels of Pingyao and Xunzhou.
9
是年，丁闐、琉球、占城、哈密、古麻剌朗、滿剌加、蘇祿、瓦剌入貢。
That year tributes arrived from Diantan, Ryukyu, Champa, Hami, Kamalolang, Melaka, Sulu, and the Oirat.
10
洪熙元年春正月壬申朔，御奉天門受朝，不舉樂。 乙亥，敕內外羣臣修舉職業。 己卯，享太廟。 建弘文閣，命儒臣入直，楊溥掌閣事。 癸未，以時雪不降，敕羣臣修省。 丙戌，大祀天地於南郊。 奉太祖、太宗配。 壬辰，朝臣予告歸省者賜鈔有差，著為令。 己亥，布政使周幹、按察使胡概、參政葉春巡視南畿、浙江。 二月辛丑，頒將軍印於諸邊將。 戊申，祭社稷。 命太監鄭和守備南京。 丙辰，耕耤田。 丙寅，太宗神主祔太廟。 是月，南京地屢震。 三月壬申，前光祿署丞權謹以孝行擢文華殿大學士。 丁丑，求直言。 戊子，隆平饑，戶部請以官麥貸之。 帝曰：「即振之，何貸為。」 己丑，詔曰：「刑者所以禁暴止邪，導民於善，非務誅殺也。 吏或深文傅會，以致冤濫，朕深憫之。 自今其悉依律擬罪。 或朕過於嫉惡，法外用刑，法司執奏，。 五奏不允，同三公、大臣執奏，必允乃已。 諸司不得鞭囚背及加入宮刑。 有自宮者以不孝論。 非謀反。 勿連坐親屬。 古之盛世，采聽民言，用資戒儆。 今奸人往往摭拾，誣為誹謗，法吏刻深，鍛練成獄。 刑之不中，民則無措，其餘誹謗禁，有告者一切勿治。」 庚寅，陽武侯薛祿為鎮朔大將軍，率師巡開平、大同邊。 辛卯，參將安平伯李安與榮昌伯陳智同鎮交阯。 戊戌，將還都南京，詔北京諸司悉稱行在，復北京行部及行後軍都督府。 是月，南京地屢震。
In the first year of Hongxi, on the new moon of renshen in the first month of spring, he held court at Fengtian Gate without music. On yihai the throne ordered every minister, at court and in the provinces, to perform his office with care. On jimao he sacrificed at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The Hongwen Pavilion was built; scholar-officials were posted there in rotation, with Yang Pu as director. On guiwei, with no seasonable snow, the Emperor charged his ministers to examine themselves and reform. On bingxu he offered the great suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. Taizu and Taizong were joined in the rite as corollary spirits. On renchen, officials on leave to visit their families were granted paper money in graded sums, and the practice was written into law. On jihai, Zhou Gan, Hu Gai, and Ye Chun were sent as administration, surveillance, and vice commissioners to inspect the Southern Capital districts and Zhejiang. In the second month, on xinchou, general's seals were distributed to frontier commanders. On wushen he sacrificed to the altars of soil and grain. The eunuch Zheng He was ordered to garrison Nanjing. On bingchen he plowed the sacred field. On bingyin Taizong's spirit tablet was installed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. That month the earth in Nanjing shook again and again. In the third month, on renshen, Quan Jin, former assistant director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, was raised to Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall for filial devotion. On dingchou the court called for blunt counsel. On wuzi Longping was in famine; the Ministry of Revenue asked to lend out government grain. The Emperor said, "Relieve them at once—why lend? On jichou an edict declared, "Punishment exists to curb violence, stop evil, and guide the people toward good—not to pursue killing for its own sake. Sometimes officials twist the law and stitch cases together until the innocent are swept up; We pity this deeply. From this day forward let every sentence follow the code alone. If We grow too harsh and punish outside the law, let the judicial offices remonstrate. If We refuse five times, let the Three Excellencies and the chief ministers remonstrate together; only when We yield may they stop. No office may flog a prisoner's back or add palace castration. Whoever castrates himself shall be judged unfilial. Save in cases of treason, do not punish kin by association. In the golden ages of old, rulers gathered and heeded the people's words to warn themselves. Now villains pick up stray words and call them slander, and harsh magistrates forge cases until men are condemned. When punishment misses the mark the people have nowhere to turn; as for the remaining bans on slander, any who bring such charges are not to be heard." On gengyin Xue Lu, Marquis of Yangwu, was made General Who Pacifies the North and led troops to patrol the Kaiping and Datong frontiers. On xinmao Li An, Earl of Anping and regional vice commander, and Chen Zhi, Earl of Rongchang, were jointly assigned to guard Jiaozhi. On wuxu, as the court prepared to move the capital back to Nanjing, an edict renamed all Beijing offices the traveling court and restored the traveling ministries and the traveling Rear Military Commission at Beijing. That month the earth in Nanjing shook again and again.
11
夏四月壬寅，帝聞山東及淮、徐民乏食，有司徵夏稅方急，乃御西角門詔大學士楊士奇草詔，免今年夏稅及科糧之半。 士奇言：「上恩至矣，但須戶、工二部預聞。」 帝曰：「救民之窮當如救焚拯溺，不可遲疑。 有司慮國用不足，必持不決之意。」 趣命中官具楮筆，令士奇就門樓書詔。 帝覽畢，即用璽付外行之。 顧士奇曰：「今可語部臣矣。」 設北京行都察院。 壬子，命皇太子謁孝陵，遂居守南京。 戊午，如天壽山，謁長陵。 己未，還宮。 是月，振河南及大名饑。 南京地屢震。 五月己卯，侍讀李時勉、侍講羅汝敬以言事改御史，尋下獄。 庚辰，帝不豫，遣使召皇太子於南京。 辛巳，大漸，遺詔傳位皇太子。 是日，崩於飲安殿，年四十有八。
In summer, the fourth month, on renyin, the Emperor learned that Shandong and the Huai and Xu regions were short of food while local officials were pressing summer taxes hard; he went to the West Corner Gate, had Grand Secretary Yang Shiqi draft an edict, and remitted this year's summer tax and half the levy grain. Shiqi said, "Your grace is boundless—but the Ministries of Revenue and Works ought to be told beforehand. The Emperor said, "To save the people from want is like snatching them from fire or water; there must be no delay. The clerks will fret over the treasury and drag their feet." He hurriedly ordered a palace eunuch to bring paper and brush and told Shiqi to write the edict on the gate tower. The Emperor read it, sealed it at once, and sent it out to be promulgated. Turning to Shiqi he said, "Now you may tell the ministries. The traveling Censorate was established at Beijing. On renzi the Crown Prince was ordered to pay homage at Xiaoling and then remain to guard Nanjing. On wuwu the Emperor went to Tianshou Mountain and paid homage at Changling. On jiwei he returned to the palace. That month relief was sent for famine in Henan and Daming. The earth in Nanjing shook again and again. In the fifth month, on jimao, Lecturer Li Shimian and Reader-Expounder Luo Rujing were demoted to censor posts for speaking out on state affairs, and soon were thrown into prison. On gengchen the Emperor fell ill and sent envoys to summon the Crown Prince from Nanjing. On xinsi his illness turned critical; his final testament passed the throne to the Crown Prince. That same day he died in the Hall of Restful Tranquility, aged forty-eight.
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秋七月己巳，上尊諡，廟號仁宗，葬獻陵。
In autumn, the seventh month, on jisi, posthumous titles were raised; his temple name was Renzong, and he was buried at Xianling.
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贊曰：「當靖難師起，仁宗以世子居守，全城濟師。 其後成祖乘輿，歲出北征，東宮監國，朝無廢事。 然中遘媒孽，瀕於危疑者屢矣，而終以誠敬獲全。 善乎其告人曰「吾知盡子職而已，不知有讒人也」，是可為萬世子臣之法矣。 在位一載。 用人行政，善不勝書。 使天假之年，涵濡休養，德化之盛，豈不與文、景比隆哉。
The eulogy says, "When the armies of the pacification rose, Renzong as heir apparent held the city, kept it whole, and fed the host. Afterward, when Chengzu took the field and campaigned north year after year, the Eastern Palace governed the realm and the court knew no neglect. Yet he met slanderers again and again and often stood on the brink of ruin—yet in the end sincerity and reverence preserved him. How apt his words to others: "I know only to fulfill a son's duty; I do not know that there are slanderers"—a model for sons and ministers through ten thousand ages. He reigned one year. In appointing men and ordering the state, his good deeds could not all be recorded. Had Heaven granted him more years to nurture and restore the people, would not the fullness of his moral sway have rivaled the glory of the Wen and Jing reigns?