Hongzhi Emperor

Hongzhi Emperor 弘治帝
Palace portrait on a hanging scroll, kept in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Emperor of the Ming dynasty
Reign	22 September 1487 – 8 June 1505
Enthronement	22 September 1487
Predecessor	Chenghua Emperor
Successor	Zhengde Emperor
Born	30 July 1470 Chenghua 6, 3rd day of the 7th month (成化六年七月三日[1])
Died	8 June 1505(1505-06-08) (aged 34) Hongzhi 18, 8th day of the 5th month (弘治十八年五月初八日) Palace of Heavenly Purity, Forbidden City, Beijing, Ming dynasty
Burial	Tailing Mausoleum, Ming tombs, Beijing, China
Spouse	Empress Xiaochengjing ​ ​ (m. 1487)​
Issue	Zhengde Emperor Zhu Houwei, Prince Dao of Wei Princess Taikang
Names Zhu Youcheng[2][3] (朱祐樘) Era name and dates Hongzhi (弘治): 14 January 1488 – 23 January 1506 Posthumous name Emperor Datian Mingdao Chuncheng Zhongzheng Shengwen Shenwu Zhiren Dade Jing (達天明道純誠中正聖文神武至仁大德敬皇帝) Temple name Xiaozong (孝宗)
House	Zhu
Dynasty	Ming
Father	Chenghua Emperor
Mother	Empress Xiaomu

The Hongzhi Emperor (Chinese: 弘治帝; pinyin: Hóngzhì Dì; 30 July 1470 – 9 June 1505), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Xiaozong of Ming (明孝宗), personal name Zhu Youcheng (朱祐樘),^[2][3] was the tenth emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigned from 1487 to 1505. He succeeded his father, the Chenghua Emperor. The Hongzhi Emperor was a wise and peaceful ruler. "Hongzhi", the era name of his reign, means "great governance".

Zhu Youcheng was born during a time in which Lady Wan, the favorite concubine of his father, the Chenghua Emperor, and her supporters were eliminating all potential heirs to the throne. Fortunately, the young emperor's son was saved by the former empress and spared from death. He did not reunite with his father until the age of five, when he was named crown prince. From a young age, he displayed exceptional intelligence and excelled in his studies, receiving a top-notch Confucian education.

After ascending the throne in 1487, the emperor's administration was guided by Confucian ideology, and he himself was known for his diligence and hard work. He closely oversaw all state affairs, implementing measures such as reducing taxes and government spending, and appointing capable officials to ministerial positions. This marked a rare period of harmonious cooperation between the emperor and his grand secretaries and ministers during the Middle Ming period. In addition, the emperor encouraged his ministers to openly express their opinions and even criticize his decisions. As a result, the power of the eunuchs was diminished and the palace intrigues that had plagued previous reigns were eliminated. This led to a more transparent government and revitalized the functioning of the authorities.

Under the order of the emperor, the Great Ming Code was updated and supplemented. The empire's economy was thriving, and the government sought to address the shortage of currency by resuming the production of coins that had been abolished in the 1430s. Despite facing a series of floods, the Yellow River was successfully regulated, and foreign trade with Southeast Asia flourished. The Hongzhi Emperor's foreign policy was peaceful, with the only major military campaign during his reign being the expedition to Hami in 1495. Ming troops also effectively suppressed several smaller rebellions. As a result, the people prospered under his rule. In comparison to his renowned predecessors, the Hongzhi Emperor can be considered one of the most successful rulers of the Ming dynasty, alongside emperors Hongwu and Yongle.