Yongzheng Emperor

The Yongzheng Emperor (born Yinzhen 胤禛) (December 13, 1678 - October 8, 1735) was the fourth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the third Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1722 to 1735.

Reign Over China

In December 1722, after succeeding to the throne, Yinzhen took the era name of Yongzheng (雍正), effective 1723, from his peerage title Yong, meaning "harmonious"; and zheng, a term for "just" or "correct". I.e. the era of Harmonious Justice. Immediately after succeeding the throne, Yongzheng chose his new governing council. It consisted of Yinsi, Yinxiang, Ma Qi, and Longkodo. Yinsi was given the title of Prince Lian, and Yinxiang was given the title of Prince Yi, both holding the high positions.

Related Topics:
Era name - Yinsi - Yinxiang - Ma Qi - Longkodo - Prince Lian - Prince Yi

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Continued battle against Princes

As the nature of his succession is deeply clouded, Yongzheng saw a challenge in all his surviving brothers. Yinzhi, the eldest, continued in house arrest. Yinreng, the former Crown Prince, died two years into his reign. The biggest challenge was to separate Yinsi's party and isolate Yinti to cut their dominance. Yinsi, who had on the surface held the position of President of the Feudatory Affairs Office, and the title Prince Lian, was held under close watch by Yongzheng. Yintang was sent to Qinghai under the pretext of military requirement, but in reality fell within Yongzheng's trusted protoge Nian Gengyao's territory. Yin'e, the 10th Prince, was rid of all his titles in May 1724, and sent north to the Shunyi area. Yinti, the 14th Prince and his brother born to the same mother, was placed under house arrest at the Imperial Tombs, under the pretext of watching over their parents' tombs.

Related Topics:
Qinghai - Nian Gengyao - May 1724 - Yinti

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The first few years of Yongzheng's reign saw an increase in partisan politics. Yinsi had wanted to use his position to manipulate Yongzheng in making wrong decisions, while appearing supportive. Yinsi, Yintang, both supporters of Yinti for the throne, had all of their titles rid, languished in prison and died in 1727.

Related Topics:
Yinsi - Yintang

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The case of Nian and Long

Nian Gengyao was a supporter of Yongzheng long before he succeeded the throne. In 1722, when he was summoning back his brother Yinti from the northeast, he appointed Nian to fill in the position. Longkodo was commander of Beijing's armies at the time of Yongzheng's succession. He fell to disgrace in 1728 and died while under house arrest.

Related Topics:
Nian Gengyao - Yinti - Longkodo

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After he became Emperor, Yongzheng censored the record of his accession and also suppressed other writings he deemed inimical to his regime, particuarly those with an anti-Manchu bias. Foremost among these was the case of Zeng Jing, a failed degree candidate heavily influenced by the seventeenth-century scholar Lü Liuliang. In October 1728, he attempted to incite Yue Zhongqi, Governor-general of Shaanxi-Sichuan, to rebellion. He gave a long list of accusations against Yongzheng, including the murder of the Kangxi Emperor and the killing of his brothers. Highly concerned with the implications of the case, Yongzheng had Zeng Jing brought to Beijing for trial.

Related Topics:
Zeng Jing - Lü Liuliang - Yue Zhongqi

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He is also known for establishing strict autocratic rule in the time period. He disliked corruption and punished officials severely when they were found guilty of the offence. During his reign, the Manchu Empire became a great power and a peaceful country, and he furthered strengthened the Kangqian Period of Harmony (康乾盛世). He created a sophisticated procedure for selecting successor in response to his father's tragedy.

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Yongzheng was known for his trust in Mandarin Chinese officials. Li Wei and Tian Wenjing were both used to govern China's southern areas. Ertai also served Yonhzheng's in governing the southern areas.

Related Topics:
Li Wei - Tian Wenjing - Ertai

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He was also known for removing the power of the princes over the other five banners and uniting

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the eight banners under a central authority - himself, through the "Act of the Union of the Eight Princes" or "八王依正".

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