Ming · Ming Emperor

Emperor Zhuanglie 莊烈帝

Zhuanglie Di

First attested AD 1628; died AD 1644

Passages: 5
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Zhuanglie was a Ming Emperor.

Life and dates

Death

AD 1644 身罹禍變
Met disaster at dynasty fall
Directly stated · History of Ming 24, passage 315

Attested activity

appraisal of reign ending AD 1644
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 24, passage 305
AD 1628 to AD 1644 在位十有七年
Directly stated · History of Ming 24, passage 312

Career and standing

posthumous temple honors and mausoleum 加諡建陵
Received posthumously
Directly stated · History of Ming 24, passage 316
AD 1628 即位之初
Directly stated · History of Ming 24, passage 306

Places and affiliations

Polity Ming 明 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · History of Ming 24, passage 305

Events and relationships

Purged traitors early reign
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Ming 24, passage 306
Trusted eunuchs again
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Ming 24, passage 314

Assessments and attributes

Assessment earnest reforming ruler overwhelmed by irreversible decline · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Ming 24, passages 305, 307, 311, 317
Assessment righteous martyr of a fallen state · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Ming 24, passage 317

References in the histories

History of Ming, Chapter 24Volume 24 Annals 24: Emperor Zhuanglie 2 · 5 passages

丙辰，賊遷帝、後梓宮於昌平。 On bingchen the rebels moved the imperial coffins of the Emperor and Empress to Changping.

是年夏四月，我大清兵破賊於山海關，五月，入京師，以帝體改葬，令臣民為服喪三日，諡曰莊烈湣皇帝，陵曰思陵。 That summer, in the fourth month, our Great Qing armies broke the rebels at Shanhai Pass; in the fifth month they entered the capital, gave the Emperor a proper reburial, ordered officials and commoners to mourn for three days, posthumously titled him Emperor Zhuanglie Min, and named his tomb Siling.

贊曰：帝承神、熹之後，慨然有為。 Appraisal: The Emperor came to the throne after Shenzong and Xizong, and was stirred to bold action.

迨至大命有歸，妖氛盡掃，而帝得加諡建陵，典禮優厚。 When at last the Mandate had found its lord and the evil air was swept away, the Emperor was given a posthumous title and a tomb, with rites accorded in full generosity.

是則聖朝盛德，度越千古，亦可以知帝之蒙難而不辱其身，為亡國之義烈矣。 In this the sage dynasty's virtue shines beyond all ages; and one may see that though the Emperor suffered calamity, he did not dishonor himself—he stands as the righteous martyr of a fallen realm.