Emperor Mingzong (明宗)

Overview

Emperor Mingzong was a ruler.

PeriodFive Dynasties

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 926 to AD 933 明宗
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 56, passage 138

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 56Volume 56 Miscellaneous Biographies 36: He Ning, Zhao Ying, Feng Yu, Lu Zhi, Lü Qi, Xue Rong, He Ze, Wang Quan, Shi Gui, Long Min · 6 passages

Open chapter

少以儒學知名，唐明宗時為右補闕，直弘文館。 He was known from youth for his classical learning. Under Tang Emperor Mingzong he served as Right Remonstrance Censor and was attached to the Hongwen Academy.

明宗時，數上書言事。 Under Emperor Mingzong he repeatedly submitted memorials on state affairs.

明宗幸汴州，又欲幸鄴，而人情不便，大臣屢言不聽； Emperor Mingzong visited Bianzhou and then wished to visit Ye as well, but the people found the prospect unwelcome. The senior ministers remonstrated repeatedly, but the emperor would not listen.

澤伏閤切諫，明宗嘉之，拜吏部郎中、史館修撰。 Ze knelt at the gate in urgent remonstrance. Mingzong praised him and made him Director in the Ministry of Personnel and Compiler in the Historiographical Institute.

澤外雖直言，而內實邪佞，嘗於內殿起居，班退，獨留，以笏叩顙，北望而呼曰：「明主，明主！」 Though Ze spoke bluntly in public, in private he was sly and fawning. Once at court in the inner hall, when the officials withdrew he alone remained, bowing and striking his forehead with his tablet as he faced north, crying, "Wise sovereign! Wise sovereign!"

澤上書言其敝，明宗下詔悉廢戶部蠲紙。 Ze submitted a memorial describing this abuse, and Mingzong issued an edict abolishing the Ministry's exemption paper entirely.