Kangxi Emperor

The Kangxi Emperor (born Xuanye (??) May 4, 1654 – December 20, 1722) was the third Emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over all of China, from 1661 to 1722. He is known as one of the greatest Chinese emperors in history. His reign of 61 years makes him the longest-reigning Emperor of China in history.

Disputed Succession

Following the abolition, Kangxi made several sweeping changes in the political landscape. The 13th Imperial Prince, Yinxiang, was placed under house arrest for "cooperating" with the former Crown Prince. Yinsi, too, was stripped of all imperial titles, only to have them restored years later. The 14th Imperial Prince Yinti, whom many considered to have the best chance in succession, was named "Border Pacification General-in-chief" quelling rebels and was away from Beijing when the political debates raged on. Yinsi, along with the 9th and 10th Princes, had all pledged their support for Yinti. Yinzhen was not widely believed to be a formidable competitor.

Related Topics:
Yinxiang - House arrest - Yinti

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Official documents recorded that during the evening hours of December 20, 1722, Kangxi assembled seven of the non-disgraced Imperial Princes in Beijing at the time, being the 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th Princes to his bedside. After his death, Longkodo announced Kangxi's will of passing the throne to the 4th Prince Yinzhen. Yinti happened to be in Xinjiang fighting a war, and was summoned to Beijing. He did not arrive until days after Kangxi's death. In the meantime Yinzhen had declared that Kangxi had named him as heir. The dispute over his succession revolves around whether or not Kangxi intended his Fourth son or Fourteenth son to acceed to the throne. In Chinese folk lore Yinzhen is supposed to have opened the box and added a single stroke to one character to change Kangxi's will from his Fourteenth son Yinti to his Four son, Yinzhen. It is impossible to know because once the box containing Kangxi's will was opened, Kangxi himself had died, never officially confirming that Yinzhen was to be Emperor.

Related Topics:
December 20 - 1722 - Longkodo - Xinjiang - Yinti - Yinzhen

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He was entombed at the Eastern Tombs (东陵) in Zunhua County (遵化县), Hebei.

Related Topics:
Eastern Tombs - Zunhua County - Hebei

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