Zhang Juzheng
Encyclopedia
Zhang Juzheng (1525–1582), courtesy name: Shuda (叔大), pseudonym: Taiyue (太岳), was a powerful Grand Secretary in the Ming Dynasty
under the Longqing
and Wanli
emperors. Zhang was born in Jiangling, Hubei
province, China and died in Beijing
.
Zhang Juzheng was embroiled in a deep political turmoil from the very start. He assisted his mentor Xu Jie in defeating Yan Song and his son Yan Shifan who in turn defeated Xia Yan who defeated Zhang Song who defeated Yang Shouhe. He formed a temporary alliance with Gao Gong before allying himself to the eunuch Feng Bao to overtake Gao Gong as Chief Pricy Councillor with the support of the Emperor, enacting perhaps one of the most sophisticated political struggles in recorded history.
His benevolent rule and strong foreign and economic policies are considered to have brought the Ming Dynasty to its peak. He is credited with centralizing government, limiting special privileges, and reclaiming tax-exempt land. Zhang also played a very important role as mentor and regent during the early years of the reign of Emperor Wanli
. He strongly influenced the young emperor and guided Wanli through his teenage years. However after Zhang died in 1582, many of his reforms and policies were ignored which slowly led to the disintegration of the dynasty
in the years ahead. After his death, his family was purged and his wealth and estate confiscated on the Emperor's order. Zhang's reputation would only be rehabilitated more than half a century later, just before the downfall of the Ming dynasty.
, when several editions of it appeared between 1651 and 1683.
In the 17th century, Zhang's commentary became popular with Jesuit missionaries in China
, perhaps because, being originally written for the child emperor, it was using a simpler language than the commentary by the Neo-Confucianist
Zhu Xi
, favored by the late-Ming establishment. Although in the assessment of modern scholars (e.g. D.E. Mungello), Zhang's commentary was, in its content and meaning, not that different from Zhu's, the Jesuits rejected the Neo-Confucianism but found Zhang's book more consonant with their view of Confucius' teaching. As a result, there are numerous references to Zhang's work in Confucius Sinarum philosophus, the pioneering Latin translation and commentary of the Confucian classics, which had been gradually created by a large group of Jesuits over several decades and published in Paris in 1687.
: Chang Chü-cheng) is an important character in Ray Huang
's 1587: A Year of No Significance, a well-known documentary book on the period. A popular book by mainland Chinese Internet writer "Dang Nian Ming Yue", called "The Ming Dynasty's Events", also featured Zhang Juzheng as a main character.
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
under the Longqing
Longqing Emperor
The Longqing Emperor was the 12th emperor of the Ming dynasty in China between 1567-1572. His era name means "Great celebration". His name at birth was Zhu Zaihou and he was born during the reign of his father Emperor Jiajing, at the Forbidden City at the Ming Dynasty capital Beijing....
and Wanli
Wanli Emperor
The Wanli Emperor was emperor of China between 1572 and 1620. His era name means "Ten thousand calendars". Born Zhu Yijun, he was the Longqing Emperor's third son...
emperors. Zhang was born in Jiangling, Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
province, China and died in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Zhang Juzheng was embroiled in a deep political turmoil from the very start. He assisted his mentor Xu Jie in defeating Yan Song and his son Yan Shifan who in turn defeated Xia Yan who defeated Zhang Song who defeated Yang Shouhe. He formed a temporary alliance with Gao Gong before allying himself to the eunuch Feng Bao to overtake Gao Gong as Chief Pricy Councillor with the support of the Emperor, enacting perhaps one of the most sophisticated political struggles in recorded history.
His benevolent rule and strong foreign and economic policies are considered to have brought the Ming Dynasty to its peak. He is credited with centralizing government, limiting special privileges, and reclaiming tax-exempt land. Zhang also played a very important role as mentor and regent during the early years of the reign of Emperor Wanli
Wanli Emperor
The Wanli Emperor was emperor of China between 1572 and 1620. His era name means "Ten thousand calendars". Born Zhu Yijun, he was the Longqing Emperor's third son...
. He strongly influenced the young emperor and guided Wanli through his teenage years. However after Zhang died in 1582, many of his reforms and policies were ignored which slowly led to the disintegration of the dynasty
Fall of the Ming Dynasty
The collapse of the Ming Dynasty was a protracted affair, its roots beginning as early as 1600 with the emergence of the Manchu under Nurhaci. Originally a vassal of the Ming emperors, Nurhaci in 1582 embarked on an inter-tribal feud that escalated into a campaign to unify the Jianzhou Jurchen tribes...
in the years ahead. After his death, his family was purged and his wealth and estate confiscated on the Emperor's order. Zhang's reputation would only be rehabilitated more than half a century later, just before the downfall of the Ming dynasty.
Zhang's commentary on the "Four Books"
In 1573, Zhang presented the young Wanli Emperor with a commentary on the Four Books of the Confucian canon, entitled "Colloquial Commentary on the Four Books" ("四书直解", Si Shu Zhijie). It was published some time between 1573 and 1584. The book was not destroyed during the posthumous disgrace of Zhang, and enjoyed a measure or renown among the Chinese literati almost a century later, during the early decades of the Qing DynastyQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, when several editions of it appeared between 1651 and 1683.
In the 17th century, Zhang's commentary became popular with Jesuit missionaries in China
Jesuit China missions
The history of the missions of the Jesuits in China is part of the history of relations between China and the Western world. The missionary efforts and other work of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, between the 16th and 17th century played a significant role in continuing the transmission of...
, perhaps because, being originally written for the child emperor, it was using a simpler language than the commentary by the Neo-Confucianist
Neo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism is an ethical and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, that was primarily developed during the Song Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang Dynasty....
Zhu Xi
Zhu Xi
Zhū Xī or Chu Hsi was a Song Dynasty Confucian scholar who became the leading figure of the School of Principle and the most influential rationalist Neo-Confucian in China...
, favored by the late-Ming establishment. Although in the assessment of modern scholars (e.g. D.E. Mungello), Zhang's commentary was, in its content and meaning, not that different from Zhu's, the Jesuits rejected the Neo-Confucianism but found Zhang's book more consonant with their view of Confucius' teaching. As a result, there are numerous references to Zhang's work in Confucius Sinarum philosophus, the pioneering Latin translation and commentary of the Confucian classics, which had been gradually created by a large group of Jesuits over several decades and published in Paris in 1687.
In literature
Zhang Juzheng (Wade-GilesWade-Giles
Wade–Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Wade during the mid-19th century , and was given completed form with Herbert Giles' Chinese–English dictionary of 1892.Wade–Giles was the most...
: Chang Chü-cheng) is an important character in Ray Huang
Ray Huang
Ray Huang was a Chinese historian and philosopher. He was an officer in the Nationalist army and fought in the Burma campaigns. He earned a Ph.D in history from the University of Michigan, worked with Joseph Needham and is a contributor of Needham's Science and Civilisation in China...
's 1587: A Year of No Significance, a well-known documentary book on the period. A popular book by mainland Chinese Internet writer "Dang Nian Ming Yue", called "The Ming Dynasty's Events", also featured Zhang Juzheng as a main character.