#234 - Ming 24: The Grand Rites Controversy




The History of China show

Summary: With the Zhengde Emperor dead without an heir, the succession is in question and rebellion brewing. Fortunately, Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe has planned for this and calls in his backup - the 13-year-old Prince of Xing, Zhengde's younger cousin. He'll come to power as the Jiajing Emperor... but Secretary Yang will very quickly find out that, though young, Jiajing is a spitfire who's here to play the game, not be played. Time Period Covered: 1519-1524 CE Major Historical Figures: Zhu Houcong (The Jiajing Emperor) [r. 1521-1567] Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe [1459-1529] Empress Dowager Zhang [1471-1541] Lady/Empress Dowager Jiang Major Works Cited: Geiss, James. “The Cheng-te reign, 1506-1521” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.” Legge, James. The Chinese Classics, Vol. III. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices