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122-515: A 20-kilometer-long (12 mi) stretch of the north shore of the island is not part of Chongming District of Shanghai but are instead two pene-exclaves of Jiangsu , formed by the connection of Chongming to the formerly-separate island of Yonglongsha . The island is named for Chongming, an early settlement on the island of Xisha that was named for its placement on relatively high and clear ground. Present-day Chongming first developed as two separate shoals — Xisha and Dongsha —during

244-546: A failure of his ceremonial and administrative reforms. Two years later, during civil service examinations , he asked candidates why there was still poverty in the country despite his efforts to faithfully follow Confucian teachings and observe ceremonies. After successfully resolving the Great Rites Controversy, the emperor proceeded to make changes to other rituals and ceremonies, despite facing opposition from some officials. These changes primarily affected

366-403: A fire on the way south to Anlu. In order to prolong the emperor's life, Tao Zhongwen offered him aphrodisiacs and elixirs of immortality made from surite and arsenic. In September 1540, the emperor announced his plans to withdraw into private life in the coming years to seek immortality. This caused great concern among officials, who criticized the preparations as toxic. Those who openly criticized

488-424: A group of palace women attempted to strangle him. When the emperor had fallen asleep in one of his concubines' quarters, a serving girl led several palace women to start strangling him with a silk cord. However, one of the palace women panicked and alerted the eunuchs, who then informed Empress Fang . The emperor eventually woke up after being unconscious for eight hours but was unable to speak. Empress Fang ordered

610-599: A mass emigration back to the mainland. Around the same time, however, Sansha expanded towards the north while Yaoliusha simultaneously eroded in the south while building up in the north, "migrating" it towards Sansha. Chongming County was later placed in Suzhou and then Taicang Prefectures . Over the course of the Ming, numerous shoals arose in succession: Ma'ansha , Chen'ensha , Gaomingsha , Xiaoyinsha , Changsha , Yuanjiasha , Xiangsha , Gaotousha , and around 20 others. Over

732-763: A population of 637,921 at the time of the Census 2020 . The county was established in 1396, the second year of the Ming dynasty 's Hongwu Emperor . With the completion of the Yangtze and Chongqi Bridges , it is now connected to both the rest of Shanghai and southeastern Jiangsu province along the Hushan Expressway . Further development is now proceeding according to an urban and agricultural master-plan led by Philip Enquist of SOM , although ambitious plans for an ecocity named Dongtan have been shelved since

854-1374: Is Shanghai's largest forest park , with artificially-planted trees covering 3.55 square kilometers (1.37 sq mi). The island is also home to the Dongtan Nature Reserve and the Chongxi Wetland Park , as well as the Chongming National Geological Park . The county runs two 4A-class attractions and four 3A-class attractions. The tourism of the island focuses on three zones - East Chongming, Central Chongming and West Chongming. East Chongming features Dongtan Wetland Park and agritainment options in Yingdong Village and Nanjiang Village. Central Chongming features Dongping National Forest Park, agritainment options at Qianwei Village, Gaojia Zhuangyuan and Ruihua Orchard, Genbao Football Base, Chongming Xuegong (Chongming Museum), Jinaoshan Park, Shou'an Temple and Sanmin Cultural Village. West Chongming offers Mingzhu Lake Park, Xiling Resort, Xisha Wetland and agritainment at Lugang Village. Chengqiao 's 10-square-kilometer (3.9 sq mi) Chongming Industrial Zone

976-457: Is administered as a single township , also named Hengsha and Xincun . The other township-level division of Chongming are Qianwei Farm, Dongping Forestry Zone , and Shangshi Contemporary Agricultural Park. To its southeast along the northern shore is the township of Haiyong ; southeast of Haimen is Qilong . Both of these are pene-exclaves of Jiangsu ; they are administered from Haimen District and Qidong , respectively. Shadi dialect

1098-677: Is spoken in the district. Whereas the district was previously only connected to the mainland by ferry service, the Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel now connects Changxing Island with Pudong in Shanghai, while the Shanghai Yangtze Bridge connects it with Chongming Island. Chongming is presently connected with Jiangsu by the Chongqi Bridge and these three bridges and tunnels form part of

1220-478: Is the town of Chengqiao on Chongming Island . There are 227 communities and villages in the district, administered as 16 towns and 2 townships . Changxing Island is administered as a single town, also named Changxing . Other town-level divisions of Chongming include (from northwest to southeast): Xinhai , Lühua , Sanxing , Miao , Dongping , Gangxi , Jianshe , Xinhe , Shuxin , Gangyan , Bu , Xianghua , Zhongxing , Chenjia . Hengsha Island

1342-608: The Emperor Shizong of Ming , personal name Zhu Houcong , art names Yaozhai , Leixuan , and Tianchi Diaosou , was the 12th emperor of the Ming dynasty , reigning from 1521 to 1567. He succeeded his cousin, the Zhengde Emperor . Zhu Houcong was born as a cousin of the reigning Zhengde Emperor , so his accession to the throne was unexpected. However, when the Zhengde Emperor died without an heir,

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1464-609: The Hanlin Academy , from influential positions. This resulted in a purge of the Beijing authorities in 1527–1528 and a significant change in personnel at the academy. In addition, Zhang Fujing and Gui E worked to limit the influence of Senior Grand Secretary, Fei Hong ( 費宏 ), in the Grand Secretariat. To balance this, they brought back Yang Yiqing , who had previously served in the Grand Secretariat in 1515–1516. In

1586-658: The Hanlin Academy . In 1530, the Jiajing Emperor published the biography of Empress Ma , the Gao huanghou chuan ( 高皇后傳 ), and the Household Instructions of Empress Xu under the title Nüxun ( 女訓 ; 'Instructions for women', in 12 volumes). The work was attributed to the emperor's mother. Empress Ma was the wife of the Hongwu Emperor , the founder of the dynasty, and Empress Xu was the wife of

1708-686: The Hushan Expressway connecting northern Shanghai with Xi'an in central China. The Chonghai Bridge connecting western Chongming with Haimen in Jiangsu is under construction. Hengsha Island is connected via ferry . 18 ferries continue to operate in the district. On Chongming, Chengqiao 's Nanmen Port offers service to Shidongkou and Baoyang Rd in Baoshan and to Liuhegang in southern Jiangsu; Xinhai 's Niupeng Harbor to Qinglonggang in Haimen ; and other ports offer connections with Wusong and

1830-577: The Ming dynasty from 1464 to 1487. His mother, Lady Shao, was one of the emperor's concubines. Zhu Houcong's mother, surnamed Jiang, was the daughter of Jiang Xiao of Daxing in North Zhili . Jiang Xiao was an officer of the Beijing garrison. Zhu Houcong's parents from 1494 lived in Anlu zhou (present-day Zhongxiang ) in Huguang in central China, where Zhu Houcong was born. His father, Zhu Youyuan,

1952-770: The Republic , it was organized first under the Nantong and then Songjiang Special Administration District . During the Second World War , Chongming was administered first by a separate pacification team , then as part of Shanghai's Great Way Government , and finally as a county of the Wang Jingwei regime , a Japanese puppet state in Nanjing . Nine years after the establishment of the People's Republic of China , it

2074-684: The Shanghai Metro will link Jinji Road station on Line 9 in Pudong to Chongming via Changxing Island. The first phase of the line from Jinji Road to Changxing Island is currently under construction. The Tour of Chongming Island International Cycling Race has been held on Chongming Island since 2007. It is held annually and includes a stage race and an UCI Women's Road World Cup race for elite women. Jiajing Era The Jiajing Emperor (16   September 1507 – 23   January 1567), also known by his temple name as

2196-506: The Wude Era (AD 618–626) of the Tang dynasty . These were initially about 70 kilometers (43 mi) apart and located south of the larger island of Dongbuzhou ( t   東布洲 , s   东布洲 , p   Dōngbùzhōu ), which came to form part of the peninsula of Qidong in Jiangsu . Xisha was also known as Gujunsha . By the first year of Shenlong (705), a town

2318-535: The Yongle Emperor , the first monarch in the new branch of the dynasty. Additionally, the emperor changed the Yongle Emperor's temple name from "Taizong" to "Chengzu". It is believed that the Jiajing Emperor's interest in the Yongle Emperor stemmed from the precedent of starting a new branch of the dynasty. The emperor also suggested transferring his father's remains from the mausoleum in Huguang to

2440-571: The Yuan , Chongming Prefecture was organized within Yangzhou . Owing to the shifting sands of the islands, however, the district seat needed to be repeatedly moved. During the late Yuan and early Ming , the sparsely-inhabited shoals of the area began to fill with migrants from Pudong and other areas of Songjiang Prefecture . These immigrants introduced cotton cultivation , which spread widely prior to China's opening to international trade in

2562-484: The empress dowager , but to the virtues of his father recognized by the Heavens. This was the basis of his respect for his parents and his rejection of adoption in the Great Rites Controversy. The day after the Zhengde Emperor's death, a delegation of high-ranking dignitaries left Beijing for Anlu to inform the prince of the situation. They arrived in Anlu on 2 May. Zhu Houcong accepted them, familiarized himself with

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2684-507: The 1530s, groundnut cultivation was documented in Jiangnan, having spread there from Fujian . It is believed that Fujian peasants acquired it from Portuguese sailors. Sweet potatoes were documented in Yunnan at the beginning of the 1560s, having arrived via Burma. Their presence on the southeast coast (Fujian and Guangdong) was only mentioned by authors of the time in the last decades of

2806-406: The 1540s, the annual silver expenditure increased to 3.47 million liang , resulting in a deficit of 1.4 million. The Ministry of Revenue attempted to address this issue by implementing stricter monitoring of income and expenses, as well as requiring final accounts to be presented at the end of each year. Despite these efforts, the deficits persisted. In 1541, 1.2 million shi of grain surplus, which

2928-540: The 1550s, state expenditures, both regular and extraordinary, increased significantly. The cost of maintaining military garrisons on the northern border doubled, and the state faced additional financial burdens due to the earthquake of 1556 and the fire that destroyed three audience palaces and the southern gate of the Forbidden City in 1557. The reconstruction of these palaces took five years and cost hundreds of thousands of liang of silver. Unfortunately, in 1561,

3050-532: The 1560s, particularly after 1567 when the Longqing Emperor relaxed laws against maritime trade with foreign countries, that the problem began to be gradually suppressed. In 1556, northern China was struck by a devastating natural disaster— the deadliest earthquake in human history , with its epicenter in Shaanxi . The earthquake claimed the lives of over 800,000 people. Despite the destruction caused by

3172-550: The 16th century, during the Wanli era. Maize cultivation was documented as early as the 1550s in inland Henan, but it was most likely acquired from Europeans several decades earlier. It was also sent by Yunnan natives to Beijing as part of tribute before the mid-16th century. However, maize was not well-liked by the Chinese and its cultivation remained the concern of minority peoples in southwest China for nearly three centuries. It

3294-489: The 2006 ouster of mayor Chen Liangyu and other neighborhoods have swelled with immigration from people relocated from central China following the completion of the Three Gorges Dam . Present-day Chongming first developed as two separate shoals — Xisha and Dongsha —during the Wude Era (AD 618–626) of the Tang dynasty . By the first year of Shenlong (705), a town was established on Xisha which

3416-632: The 20th century, Chongming is now the 2nd-largest island administered by the People's Republic of China and the 2nd-largest in Greater China , after Hainan . Chongming does not, however, administer all of the island: owing to its continual expansion from sediment deposited by the Yangtze, it has merged with formerly separate islands and now includes Jiangsu province 's pene-exclave townships of Haiyong and Qilong . Chongming proper covers an area of 1,411 km (545 sq mi) and had

3538-522: The Directorate of Ceremonial in the Forbidden City and Empress Dowager Zhang (the late emperor's mother), issued an edict calling for the prince to arrive in Beijing and ascend the throne. However, there was uncertainty surrounding this matter due to the Ming succession law. According to this law, although Ming emperors were allowed to have multiple wives, only the sons of the first wife,

3660-563: The District government was formally established in January 2017. Dongping National Forest Park is located in the district, as are the Dongtan Nature Reserve , the Chongxi Wetland Park , and the Chongming National Geological Park . With its unspoiled environment, Chongming Island is one-of-a-kind destination great for eco-tours and restorative vacations. Chongming runs two 4A-class attractions and four 3A-class attractions. The tourism of

3782-468: The Forbidden City. This relocation to the West Park also resulted in the transfer of the administrative center of the empire, further isolating the emperor from the bureaucracy. In fact, as early as 1534, he ceased holding imperial audiences. Instead, his decisions were conveyed to the ministries and other authorities through a select group of advisors who had direct access to him. This group included

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3904-462: The Grand Secretariat, the emperor withdrew from the Forbidden City to the West Park, neglecting his public duties but still maintaining control over the government. During this time, Ming China used military force to intimidate neighboring countries, successfully in the case of Đại Việt, but falling in the attempt to recapture Ordos, resulting in Xia Yan's death in 1548. In the following period, during

4026-578: The Grand Secretaries, the Minister of Rites, and several military commanders. However, the discontinuation of audiences did not indicate a lack of interest in governing; the emperor diligently read reports and submissions from officials and often worked late into the night. From the beginning of his reign, the Jiajing Emperor was drawn to the Taoist faith, with its focus on supernaturalism and

4148-473: The Jiajing Emperor placed great importance on ceremonies, which were seen as essential in maintaining order and promoting a sense of superiority over non-Chinese peoples, according to Confucian beliefs. The refinement and organization of these ceremonies aimed to showcase the Ming dynasty as a model for surrounding countries and the world. The emperor received significant assistance from his Senior Grand Secretary, Zhang Fujing. However, during Xia Yan's dominance in

4270-464: The Jiajing era, Wokou pirates posed a significant threat to the southeastern provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong for several decades. The Ming authorities attempted to address this issue by implementing stricter laws against private overseas trade in the 1520s. However, piracy and related violence continued to escalate throughout the 1540s and reached its peak in the 1550s. It was not until

4392-452: The Minister of Revenue proposed an additional tax of two million liang to be imposed on the wealthy prefectures of Jiangnan . The emperor agreed and this procedure was repeated. However, during the 1550s, Jiangnan was frequently attacked by pirates and also suffered from natural disasters, making it difficult to collect even the usual taxes. The local authorities were exhausted and lacked the resources to deal with floods and crop failures, and

4514-591: The Xilai Ranch in Lühua during the National Day holiday in early October, with a purse of 10,000 RMB . The Tour of Chongming Island is an annual elite international women's cycling race consisting of a one-day race and a stage race. Administratively, the Shanghai side of Chongming Island is divided among 15 towns and 1 township of Chongming County. The township of Xincun ( 新村乡 ) occupies

4636-636: The Zhengde Emperor, made the decision to reside outside of Beijing's Forbidden City . In 1542, he relocated to the West Park , located in the middle of Beijing and west of the Forbidden City. He constructed a complex of palaces and Taoist temples in the West Park, drawing inspiration from the Taoist belief of the Land of Immortals . Within the West Park, he surrounded himself with a group of loyal eunuchs, Taoist monks, and trusted advisers (including Grand Secretaries and Ministers of Rites) who assisted him in managing

4758-430: The abolition of nunneries and temples, the confiscation of their property, and the return of Buddhist and Taoist nuns and priests to secular life. The emperor signed the decree that was prepared. However, as the Jiajing Emperor had no heir in the first ten years of his reign, some high-ranking officials suggested that Taoist prayers and rituals could solve the problem. This piqued his interest, which only intensified after

4880-653: The appropriate ministries and authorities. For example, the Ministry of Rites was responsible for dealing with the Mongols, while the Ministry of War handled their expulsion. However, Yan Song avoided getting involved in the government's biggest issue at the time—state finances—leaving it to the Ministries of Revenue and Works. He only maintained control over personnel matters and selected political issues. Despite facing criticism for corruption and selling offices, Yan Song

5002-473: The assassination in 1542. The Jiajing Emperor spared no expense or time for Taoist ceremonies. The Taoists requested, among other things, tens of kilograms of gold dust for their prayers. The emperor even had temples built for them, which required a lot of wood to be transported from distant Sichuan . Additionally, he gave them valuable items. Among the Taoists, Shao Yuanjie ( 邵元節 )was particularly favored by

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5124-416: The audience hall, the opposition was beaten at court. 17 officials died from their wounds, and the rest were exiled to the provinces by the emperor. During the dispute, the Jiajing Emperor asserted his independence from the Grand Secretaries and made decisions based on his own judgment, rather than consulting with them or simply approving their proposals. This was seen as a despotic approach that went against

5246-428: The circulation of these memoranda but did not have the authority to make decisions. The Jiajing Emperor emphasized the importance of discussing important decisions at court and encouraged officials to express their opinions, particularly in the case of high-ranking government officials, to the obligee. However, in the early Ming period, this system often served to justify the decisions of the emperors (especially after

5368-593: The conflicts of the 1550s in the north and on the coast, Yan Song pursued a policy of compromise and negotiation, which was accompanied by corruption. After the fall of Yan Song in 1562, the emperor's interest in good governance was rekindled under the influence of the capable and energetic Grand Secretary, Xu Jie. Thus, the Jiajing Emperor's rule after the overthrow of Yang Tinghe can be divided into four phases: Zhang Fujing's strict adherence to ideology, Xia Yan's aggressive expansionism, Yan Song's complacent corruption, and Xu Jie's corrective reforms. One important aspect of

5490-664: The country to search for and send magical herbs. However, after Tao Zhongwen's death in November 1560, the emperor struggled to find a Taoist adept who could meet his needs. In addition to Taoist prayers, the literary form of qingci ( 青詞 ), a poetic style of prayer full of allusions, was revived and developed. The emperor's favor with officials was often based on their skill in writing in this style, rather than their statesmanship. Yan Song and Xia Yan, who were particularly skilled in this style, were often referred to contemptuously as qingci zaixiang ( 青詞宰相 ; 'Qingci premiers'). During

5612-549: The court and the Forbidden City. He moved to the Yongshou Palace (Palace of Eternal Life) in the West Park of the Imperial City, where he occasionally stayed starting in 1539. The West Park was located in the western third of the Imperial City, separated from it and the Forbidden City by a system of three lakes called Taiye Lake . These lakes stretched over two kilometers from north to south and occupied half of

5734-771: The crisis of 1380 ), as there was no social basis for diverse attitudes. However, as the crises of the mid-15th century emerged, the situation changed, and the need for political changes became apparent. The emergence of officials with merchant-family backgrounds also provided a basis for assessing problems from different perspectives. Officials used this system to debate, build support networks, lobby for their own interests, push opponents out of office, and sometimes even sabotage their policies. The emperor's harsh treatment of dissenters earned him many opponents and led to multiple attempts on his life. In 1539, while traveling to Anlu, his temporary residences were repeatedly set on fire. The most serious incident occurred on 27 November 1542, when

5856-534: The death of half of the population in some areas of Henan and Jiangnan . Jiangnan continued to suffer from droughts, epidemics, rains, and famines until the late 1540s. Earthquakes were also a frequent occurrence during the Jiajing Emperor's reign, with many recorded in various areas. For instance, in the span of ten months from July 1523 to May 1524, there were 38 recorded earthquakes. In Nanjing alone, there were fifteen in just one month in 1525. The most devastating earthquake occurred on 23 January 1556 , affecting

5978-419: The death of the Zhengde Emperor, Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe , who was effectively leading the Ming government, had already begun preparations for the accession of Zhu Houcong. Five days prior to the Zhengde Emperor's death, an edict was issued ordering Zhu Houcong to end his mourning and officially assume the title of Prince of Xing. On the day of the emperor's death, Yang Tinghe, with the support of eunuchs from

6100-530: The decision-making process since the beginning of the Ming dynasty has been the system of interdepartmental consultation among high officials. Memoranda and proposals were submitted for debate to the " nine ministers ", as well as to generals of the Central Military Commissions and other officials. The result of these discussions was then presented to the emperor for a final decision. The Grand Secretaries were responsible for organizing

6222-440: The disaster, the economy continued to develop, with growth in agriculture, industry, and trade. As the economy flourished, so did society, with the traditional Confucian interpretation of Zhuism giving way to Wang Yangming 's more individualistic beliefs. However, in his later years, the emperor's pursuit of immortality led to questionable actions, such as his interest in young girls and alchemy. He even sent Taoist priests across

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6344-401: The edict of the empress dowager, and agreed to ascend the throne. On 7 May, he set out for Beijing accompanied by forty of his own advisers and servants. Yang Tinghe issued orders for him to be welcomed in Beijing as the heir to the throne, but Zhu Houcong refused to appear as the heir apparent, stating that he was invited to assume the imperial rank and was therefore the emperor, not the son of

6466-437: The elevation of his parents to the imperial status "to bring their ranks into line". Most officials agreed to maintain a direct line of succession and supported Yang Tinghe, but the emperor argued for the duty to his biological parents. He insisted on his mother's acceptance as Empress dowager when she arrived from Anlu and entered the Forbidden City on 2 November. A group of officials, led by Zhang Fujing ( 張孚敬 ) and standing on

6588-496: The emperor starting in 1526. Shao Yuanjie was known for his prayers for rain and protection against calamities. After the birth of the emperor's first sons (the eldest died young in 1533, and the second was born in 1536), he was highly honored. However, Shao Yuanjie died in 1539 and was replaced by Tao Zhongwen ( 陶仲文 ). Tao Zhongwen further strengthened the emperor's faith in Taoism and gained respect for himself by accurately predicting

6710-565: The emperor were executed, and in the following decades, he slowly consumed the elixirs. After 1545, the emperor began to rely on oracles for guidance in state affairs. These oracles were organized by Tao Zhongwen, who had control over their results. Yan Song also participated in divination, seeing it as an opportunity to influence politics in a favorable direction. The emperor's pursuit of immortality included engaging in sexual relations with young girls, of which he and Tao Zhongwen collected 960 for this purpose. He also called on officials throughout

6832-596: The emperor withdrew his support for the campaign due to unfavorable omens and reports of discontent in the neighboring province of Shaanxi , enemies of Xia Yan, including Yan Song, used this as an opportunity to bring charges against him and have him executed. From 1549 to 1562, the Grand Secretariat was under the control of Yan Song. He was known for his attentiveness and diligence towards the monarch, but also for pushing his colleagues out of power. Despite facing numerous political crises and challenges, Yan Song managed to survive by delegating decisions and responsibilities to

6954-435: The emperor's palace in the West Park, which had also been recently rebuilt, burned down again. During this time, the state's annual expenditure in silver ranged from 3 to 6 million liang , while the proper revenue was only around 3 million. To make up for the shortfall, the state resorted to extraordinary taxes, savings, and even transfers from the emperor's personal treasury, which often left it completely depleted. In 1552,

7076-583: The emperor. According to the Grand Secretaries and the government, he was the son of the Hongzhi Emperor. He forced his way into the city with imperial honors and on the same day, 27 May 1521, he ceremoniously ascended the throne. The young emperor reportedly chose the name of his era himself, from his favorite chapter of the Book of Documents , with jia meaning "to improve, make splendid" and jing meaning "to pacify" in Chinese. The primary desire of

7198-411: The empress, had the right to succeed the throne. Any attempt to install a descendant of a secondary wife was punishable by death. Zhu Houcong's father, Zhu Youyuan, was not the son of the empress, but rather of a secondary wife, therefore he had no legitimate claim to the throne. In order to circumvent this issue, Yang Tinghe proposed adopting Zhu Houcong as the Hongzhi Emperor's son, so he could ascend as

7320-544: The end of the Ming dynasty in 1644, these islands were merged all the way to Gaotousha in the west, forming a single mass 200 Chinese miles east to west by 40 north to south. Their unification with remaining nearby islands by 1681 effectively created present-day Chongming, although it remained much smaller at the time. Between the Shunzhi and Kangxi Eras (1644–1722), Rilongsha , Yongansha , Ping'ansha , Dongsansha , and around 25 others arose without sinking. Under

7442-753: The end, and eventually reached 100,000 in 1520; many of them lived in and around the capital. Many of these officers were surplus and did not actively serve in the military. The same was true for civil servants, resulting in a total of around 4 million shi of grain being imported to Beijing each year to support the needs of civil servants, soldiers, and officers. This grain was distributed at a rate of 1 shi (107.4 liters) per person per month, providing for approximately 300,000 individuals. In 1522, Yang Tinghe took decisive action by cutting off payments to 148,700 supernumerary and honorary officers and officials, resulting in an annual reduction of 1.5 million shi of grain in state expenditure. This move proved to be beneficial in

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7564-415: The execution of all women involved in the assassination attempt, both those who were actually involved and those who were falsely accused. The motives of palace women are unclear, but it is possible that the emperor's cruel treatment towards them, possibly in his pursuit of a longer life, may have played a role. After the assassination attempt, the Jiajing Emperor completely withdrew from the formal life of

7686-419: The first half of the 16th century saw significant economic growth in agriculture and crafts. However, the state struggled to collect taxes, particularly from newly cultivated land, trade, and handicraft production. The quotas and revenues set a century earlier were not met. During the Jiajing era, Chinese peasants began to expand their agricultural crops to include species native to Central and South America. In

7808-399: The following years, there was a power struggle between the Grand Secretaries and their associated groups of officials. The position of Senior Grand Secretary was constantly changing, with Fei Hong, Yang Yiqing, Zhang Fujing, and others taking turns. In the early 1530s, the Jiajing Emperor's trust was won by Xia Yan , who had been promoted from Minister of Rites to Grand Secretary. Later, in

7930-464: The funeral. To make matters worse, he faced opposition from his subordinate, Grand Secretary Xu Jie . As a result, the emperor no longer relied on Yan Song and dismissed him in June 1562. Xu Jie then took over as the head of the Grand Secretariat. With the personnel changes in the immediate surroundings of the emperor, the focus and style of his policies also shifted. During the first phase of his reign,

8052-442: The government did not respond until the situation became dire and refugees, along with epidemics, appeared on the streets of Beijing. To fund military operations in southeastern China, taxes were levied in the affected regions, often in the form of labor surcharges. These taxes remained in place until some of them (totaling 400–500 thousand liang ) were abolished in 1562. Savings and frugality also had negative consequences. In 1560,

8174-579: The government, led by Senior Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe and the Empress Dowager Zhang , chose Zhu Houcong as the new ruler. However, after his enthronement, a dispute arose between the emperor and most of the officials regarding the method of legalizing his accession. The Great Rites Controversy was a major political problem at the beginning of his reign. After three years, the emperor emerged victorious, with his main opponents either banished from court or executed. The Jiajing Emperor, like

8296-409: The imperial palace were filled by eunuchs brought from Anlu by the Jiajing Emperor. As part of the dismissal of eunuchs associated with the previous monarch, some eunuch posts in the provinces were eliminated. However, the overall influence of eunuchs did not decrease; in fact, it continued to grow. By the 1530s, the most influential eunuchs saw themselves as equal to the Grand Secretaries. In 1548–1549,

8418-450: The imperial sacrifices to the Heavens, and a special temple was built for them. This elevated the status of the monarch, as his rites were now distinct from all others. However, from the years 1532–1533, the Jiajing Emperor lost interest in ritual reforms and the worship of Heaven, as he was no longer able to elevate his own or his father's status. This led to a decline in the importance of ceremonies during his reign. Important positions in

8540-632: The island focuses on three zones – East Chongming, Central Chongming and West Chongming. East Chongming features Dongtan Wetland Park and agritainment options in Yingdong Village and Nanjiang Village. Central Chongming features Dongping National Forest Park, agritainment options at Qianwei Village, Gaojia Zhuangyuan and Ruihua Orchard, Genbao Football Base, Chongming Xuegong (Chongming Museum), Jinaoshan Park, Shou’an Temple and Sanmin Cultural Village. West Chongming offers Mingzhu Lake Park, Xiling Resort, Xisha Wetland and agritainment at Lugang Village. The district government seat and largest settlement of Chongming

8662-419: The island is divided into Haiyong Township and Qilong Township . Whereas the island was previously only connected to the mainland by ferry service, the Shanghai Yangtze Bridge and Tunnel now connects Chenjia in southeastern Chongming with Shanghai via Changxing and the Chongqi Bridge connects Chenjia to Qidong in southeastern Jiangsu . The Chonghai Bridge under construction will link Xinhai at

8784-403: The island where two subspecies may occur. Under its poetic name of Yingzhou , various locales around the island were treated as its "8 views" during the Ming and Qing dynasties . Today, Dongping National Forest Park is located in the central part of the island. Dongping Forest Farm was established in 1959, opened to the public in 1989, and became a nationally protected area in 1993. It

8906-476: The island's northern and eastern tidal flats in the 1960s and '90s, doubled the size of Chongming between 1950 and 2010. Dongtan was a proposed ecocity which was planned to open along with the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai but stalled following the 2006 ouster of Shanghai mayor Chen Liangyu . In mid-2016 Chongming was approved by the State Council of China to upgrade into a district of Shanghai;

9028-493: The land to collect rare minerals for life-extending potions. Unfortunately, these elixirs contained harmful substances like arsenic , lead, and mercury , which ultimately caused health problems and may have shortened the emperor's life. Zhu Houcong was born on 16 September 1507. He was the eldest son of Zhu Youyuan , who was Prince of Xing from 1487. Zhu Youyuan was the fourth son of the Chenghua Emperor , who ruled

9150-496: The late 1530s, Yan Song , Xia Yan's successor in the ministry, also gained the Jiajing Emperor's trust. However, despite initially supporting Yan Song's rise, Xia Yan and Yan Song eventually came into conflict. In 1542, Yan Song was able to oust Xia Yan and take control of the Grand Secretariat. In an attempt to counterbalance Yan Song's influence, the emperor called Xia Yan back to lead the Grand Secretariat in October 1545. However,

9272-402: The late emperor's younger brother. In addition, there were many favorites of the deceased emperor living in Beijing who were afraid of changes. The most influential among them was General Jiang Bin , the commander of the border troops who had been transferred to Beijing. It was feared that he would try to install his own candidate for the throne, namely Zhu Junzhang ( 朱俊杖 ), Prince of Dai, who

9394-459: The later Qing . There was small-scale textile production in the area, but most of the cotton was exported for use in Songjiang , Hangzhou , and other more developed areas of Jiangnan . In the 2nd year of Hongwu (1396) under the Ming , the prefecture was downgraded to a county but, shortly afterwards, a major subsidence—sinking the entirety of Dongsha and most of Xisha—provoked

9516-486: The later Qing . There was small-scale textile production in the area, but most was exported for use in Songjiang , Hangzhou , and other more developed areas of Jiangnan . In the 2nd year of Hongwu (1396) under the Ming , the prefecture was elevated to a county but, shortly afterwards, a major subsidence provoked a mass emigration back to the mainland. This county was later placed in Suzhou and then Taicang Prefectures . The unification of over 30 shoals in 1681

9638-466: The means to sustain such a pace of construction. While the emperor did cancel some projects, the most expensive buildings in the West Park were not among them. The revenue of the Taicang treasury, which consisted of the Ministry of Revenue's income in silver, averaged 2 million liang (74.6 tons) per year after 1532. Out of this amount, 1.3 million liang was allocated for border defense. However, in

9760-443: The mid-16th century, as the savings allowed the authorities to convert the 1.5 million shi of grain tax into a silver tax, greatly improving the state's finances. In the mid-1520s, despite efforts to save money, the state's financial situation remained problematic. The costly construction projects during the early years of the Jiajing era had depleted the grain supplies from 8–9 years' worth of expenditure to only 3 years, as well as

9882-462: The mouth of the Huangpu . In Jiangsu , most of Haimen and Qidong are separated from Chongming by the northern channel of the Yangtze; Taicang County , meanwhile, lies across the southern channel next to Shanghai's Baoshan District. Chongming is about two hours' distance from central Shanghai. Owing to the continuous expansion of the island, there are two pene-exclaves of Jiangsu present on

10004-421: The names of the palaces and the attire of the servants and officials with Taoist symbolism, and Taoist ceremonies were performed. Animals were also kept, and plants were grown for divination purposes. However, after the emperor's death, most of the buildings he had constructed were demolished, leaving only one temple, Dagaoxian dian, which still stands today. After 1542, the emperor never resided in his palace in

10126-493: The new emperor was to posthumously elevate his father to the imperial rank. In contrast, Yang Tinghe insisted on his formal adoption by the Hongzhi Emperor, in order to legitimize his claim to the throne and become the younger brother of the late Zhengde Emperor. However, the Jiajing Emperor and his mother rejected the adoption, citing the wording of the recall decree which did not mention it. The emperor did not want to declare his parents as his uncle and aunt. Instead, he requested

10248-475: The north and Chenhai Highway to the south. There are 41 bus lines in Chongming County , accessing over 98% of its 227 communities. 18 ferries still connect the island. Chengqiao 's Nanmen Port offers service to Shidongkou and Baoyang Rd in Baoshan and to Liuhegang in southern Jiangsu; Xinhai 's Niupeng Harbor to Qinglonggang in Haimen ; and other ports offer connections with Wusong and

10370-408: The north shore of Chongming Island. The island of Yonglongsha appeared in the north channel of the Yangtze most recently in 1937 and was stabilized and expanded by workers from Nantong in Jiangsu during the late 1960s. Administration of the island was divided between Nantong's cities of Haimen and Qidong . Farms and then townships were established in both areas. Qidong's community of Qilong

10492-665: The northern shore of the island—in 1972. Dongtan was a proposed ecocity which was planned to open along with the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai but stalled following the 2006 ouster of the Communist Party Chief Chen Liangyu . Chongming is about 81 kilometers (50 mi) running east and west and generally between 13 and 18 kilometers (8.1 and 11.2 mi) north to south, covering 1,267 square kilometers (489 sq mi). The island has an average elevation of 1.6–2.6 meters (5 ft 3 in – 8 ft 6 in) above sea level , with

10614-433: The northernmost corner of the island. From northwest to southeast, the towns are Xinhai ( 新海镇 ), Lühua ( 绿华镇 ), Sanxing ( 三星镇 ), Miaozhen ( 庙镇 ), Dongping ( 东平镇 ), Gangxi ( 港西镇 ), Jianshe ( 建设镇 ), Chengqiao ( 城桥镇 ), Xinhe ( 新河镇 ), Shuxin ( 竖新镇 ), Gangyan ( 港沿镇 ), Buzhen ( 堡镇镇 ), Xianghua ( 向化镇 ), Zhongxing ( 中兴镇 ), and Chenjia ( 陈家镇 ). The Jiangsu side of

10736-538: The northwest and central areas somewhat higher than the southwest and eastern ones. Chongming is located in the Yangtze River , dividing the river into northern and southern channels immediately prior to its entrance into the East China Sea . The island forms the northernmost part of the municipality of Shanghai , separated by the Yangtze from Baoshan and Pudong New Area , which face each other across

10858-483: The park's area. The emperor built West Park to be a complex where he could live and seek immortality. Since the beginning of the Ming dynasty, West Park has been seen as a symbol of the Lands of Immortals. The Jiajing Emperor, who was fascinated by Taoism and the concept of immortality, was intrigued by this and attempted to reconstruct the site in accordance with contemporary beliefs about the Lands of Immortals. He aligned

10980-529: The provinces of Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan. In Shaanxi, entire regions such as Weinan , Huazhou , Chaoyi , and Sanyuan were left in ruins. The Yellow River and the Wei River also overflowed, and some areas experienced tremors for several days. The disaster claimed the lives of 830,000 people, including several former ministers. As a result, the affected areas were granted tax forgiveness for several years. Despite facing occasional challenges from nature,

11102-452: The pursuit of immortality. This may have been influenced by his childhood spent in Huguang, where the people were known for their superstitious beliefs. However, the Jiajing Emperor's support of Taoism was not without limits. In 1527, ministers and Grand Secretaries Gui E, Fang Xianfu ( 方獻夫 ), Yang Yiqing, and Huo Tao ( 霍韜 ) proposed stricter regulations for the establishment of new Taoist and Buddhist temples and monasteries. They also suggested

11224-470: The reign of the Jiajing Emperor, the climate was cooler and wetter compared to previous years. However, towards the end of his reign, there were warmer winters. Temperatures were 1.5 degrees lower than in the second half of the 20th century. The south and north of China were affected by floods, while the Yangtze River basin experienced severe drought. In 1528, the worst drought of the entire Ming era hit Zhejiang , Shanxi , Shaanxi , and Hubei , resulting in

11346-472: The restoration of free trade. The emperor, however, refused and attempted to close the borders with fortifications, including the Great Wall of China . In response, Altan Khan launched raids and even attacked the outskirts of Beijing in 1550. The Ming troops were forced to focus on defense. The conflict only came to an end after Jiajing's death, when the new Ming emperor Longqing allowed trade to resume. In

11468-612: The rites performed by the monarch. In the late 1530s, separate sacrifices to the Heavens, Earth, Sun, and Moon were introduced. Additionally, the Jiajing Emperor altered the titles and forms of honoring Confucius , including a ban on images in Confucius temples, leaving only plaques with the names of Confucius and his followers. The layout of the Temple of Confucius was also modified to include separate chapels for Confucius' father and three disciples. As part of these changes, Confucius

11590-507: The roles of the head of the Eastern Depot and the Directorate of Ceremonial were combined, and the palace guard (established in 1552 and composed of eunuchs) was also under their control. This effectively placed the entire eunuch branch of state administration under their management. After 1524, the emperor's closest advisers were Zhang Fujing and Gui E ( 桂萼 ). They attempted to remove followers of Yang Tinghe, who were associated with

11712-512: The side of the emperor, had already formed. In late 1521, the Jiajing Emperor succeeded in having his parents and grandmother, Lady Shao , granted imperial rank. However, disputes continued until Yang Tinghe was forced to resign in March 1524, and the removal of the emperor's opponents began in August 1524. After a disapproving demonstration by hundreds of opposing officials in front of the gates of

11834-435: The silver reserves that had been accumulated in the 1520s. In 1540, the Minister of Revenue was dismissed for refusing to agree to an increase in the number of workers on public works, which already numbered 40,000. He argued that the cost of reconstructing palaces, ceremonial altars, and temples had already reached 6 million liang (224 tons) of silver since the beginning of the Jiajing Emperor's reign, and that he did not have

11956-530: The south or in Beijing. He ultimately chose to bury his mother in his father's mausoleum near Zhongxiang . In honor of his father, he also published his Veritable Records ( Shilu ) and renamed Anlu zhou to Chengtian Prefecture ( 承天府 , Chengtian Fu ) after the example of the imperial capitals. During his journey to Anlu, the Jiajing Emperor was shocked by the sight of starving and impoverished people and refugees. He immediately released 20 thousand liang (746 kg) of silver for relief. He saw their suffering as

12078-406: The state bureaucracy. The Jiajing Emperor's team of advisers and Grand Secretaries were led by Zhang Fujing ( 張孚敬 ), Xia Yan , Yan Song , and Xu Jie in succession. At the start of the Jiajing Emperor's reign, the borders were relatively peaceful. In the north, the Mongols were initially embroiled in internal conflicts. However, after being united by Altan Khan in the 1540s, they began to demand

12200-425: The third time, stabilizing 50 Chinese miles northwest of Yaoliusha. During the 12th- and 13th-century Yuan dynasty , Yingqiansha , Matuosha , Zhangpusha , and around six other islands also formed. The early settlers of these islands were mostly fishermen and salt collectors , with their principal saltern at Tianci. In the 14th year of Zhiyuan (1277) under Kublai Khan of the Yuan , Chongming Prefecture

12322-568: The throne in Beijing. Following the traditional period of mourning for his father's death, Zhu Houcong officially became the Prince of Xing in late March 1521. Meanwhile, in Beijing, the Zhengde Emperor (ruled 1505–1521) fell ill and died on 20 April 1521. The Zhengde Emperor was the son of the Hongzhi Emperor (ruled 1487–1505), who was the older brother of Zhu Youyuan. Zhu Houcong was Zhengde's cousin and closest male relative. Before

12444-863: The tomb of Tang Yicen . Annual festivals on Chongming include the Shanghai Chongming Forest Travel Festival, Chongming Hairy Crab Festival, the Mingzhu Lake Cup Fishing Competition, the Qianwei Autumn Ecological and Cultural Festival, the Shanghai Fishermen Fun Festival, and the Chongming Cook Stove Painting Festival. The Yu Sheng Cup, a national cricket fighting tournament, is held annually outside

12566-427: The traditional way of governing, and was criticized by concerned scholars. As a result of the dispute, the teachings of Confucian scholar and reformer Wang Yangming gained popularity, as some of the emperor's followers were influenced by his arguments. Additionally, there was an increase in critical analysis and interpretation of texts during discussions, and there was a growing criticism of the conservative attitudes of

12688-454: The two hundred years from the beginning of Jiajing (1522) under the Ming to the end of Kangxi (1722) under the Qing , these shoals frequently flooded or collapsed back into the river. Yaoliusha and Sansha eroded away; Xisha, Chenensha, Fanliansha , and others sank. In the west, Pingyangsha arose, then sank, then finally merged with nearby Yuanjiasha, Wujiasha , Xiangsha, and Nansha . Around

12810-435: The two other islands of the county, Changxing and Hengsha . Chongming District Chongming District ( pronunciation ) is the northernmost district of the provincial -level municipality of Shanghai . Chongming consists of three low-lying inhabited alluvial islands at the mouth of the Yangtze north of the Shanghai peninsula: Chongming , Changxing , and Hengsha . Following its massive expansion in

12932-657: The two other islands of the county. The major arteries running along the length of Chongming Island are the Beiyan Highway on the north side and Chenhai Highway on the south. Another 38 highways cross the island. The main artery along the length of Changxing Island is the Panyuan Highway, while Fengle Road runs north and south across central Hengsha Island. There are 41 bus lines in Chongming, connecting over 98% of its 227 communities. Chongming line of

13054-448: The two statesmen were at odds, with Xia Yan ignoring Yan Song, refusing to consult him, and canceling his appointment. As a result, the emperor grew distant from Xia Yan, partly due to his reserved attitude towards Taoist rituals and prayers. In contrast, Yan Song strongly supported the emperor's interest in Taoism. In February 1548, Xia Yan supported a campaign to Ordos without informing Yan Song, making him solely responsible for it. When

13176-495: The vicinity of the imperial burial ground near Beijing. However, in the end, only a shrine was created for him in the palace. The emperor also took steps to honor his ancestors, such as restoring ancestral temples, giving his parents longer titles, and supervising rituals and ritual music. After his mother's death in December 1538, the emperor traveled south to Anlu to resolve the question of whether to bury his parents together in

13298-460: The west end of the island with Haimen District in Nantong , Jiangsu , while the proposed S7 (Huchong) Expressway would connect Chengqiao directly with Baoshan across the Yangtze. The new bridges form part of the G40 (Hushan) Expressway connecting Shanghai and Xi'an . Chongming is also spanned by another 38 highways . The two major highways of the island run along its length, Beiyan Highway to

13420-485: Was a result of Yang Tinghe's austerity measures, were converted into silver payments. However, this decision was later revoked after five years, but was eventually reinstated. This led to an increase in the annual revenue of the Taicang treasury from 2 to more than 3 million liang in the early 1550s. From 1540 onwards, the conversion of taxes from grain to silver became widespread, although the specific proportion and method of conversion varied among different counties. In

13542-457: Was able to convince the emperor that these were false accusations and that his critics were simply trying to remove him from power. The emperor, who was always suspicious of officials, believed Yan Song's defense. Yan Song, who was already eighty years old in 1560, was unable to continue his role as Grand Secretary. This was especially true after his wife died in 1561 and his son, who had been assisting him with writing edicts, went home to organize

13664-475: Was based in the border city of Datong . In the mentioned reprimand, King Wen , the father of the founder of the Zhou dynasty, King Wu , is also contrasted with the unworthy last Shang king, Zhou . The Jiajing Emperor saw a parallel between King Wen, Zhou and Wu, and his noble father, unworthy Zhengde Emperor, and himself. Therefore, he judged that he did not owe the throne to the Grand Secretaries, ministers, or

13786-545: Was connected in 1972 and Haimen's Haiyong township joined separately in 1975. Haiyong is now around 12.5 km (5 sq mi) while Qilong now stretches along 20 kilometers (12 mi) of the north shore of the island. As it is usually only about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) wide, however, its area is only around 36.8 km (14.2 sq mi). Efforts to improve water quality in local areas successfully resulted in notable recoveries. Furthermore, stable numbers of endangered finless porpoises , have been discovered along

13908-530: Was effectively the creation of the present-day Chongming , although it remained much smaller at the time. Under the Republic , the county was organized first under the Nantong and then the Songjiang Special Administration District . Nine years after the establishment of the People's Republic of China , it was placed under the municipality of Shanghai in December 1958. Reclamation , particularly large-scale work on

14030-457: Was established in March 1994 and promoted to municipal status in February 1996. It lies west of the town center and north of Nanmen Port. Chongming is also a center of Shanghai 's shipbuilding and maritime equipment industries, whose main base is on nearby Changxing . Chongming boasts one of Shanghai's three Confucian temples , along with Shou'an and Hanshan Temples , Mount Jin'ao , and

14152-410: Was established on Xisha which was known as "Chongming". The number, size, and shapes of the islands fluctuated repeatedly over time and with the floods of the Yangtze : In the 3rd year of Tiansheng (1025), a new island arose a little to the northwest of Dongsha which became known as Yaoliusha from the surnames of its early settlers. In the first year of Jiangzhong Jingguo (1101), Sansha rose for

14274-493: Was known as "Chongming". The number, size, and shapes of the islands fluctuated repeatedly over time and with the floods of the Yangtze River . In the 15th year of Jiading (1222) under the Southern Song , the islands were part of Tongzhou Prefecture . These early settlers were mostly fishermen and salt collectors , with its principal saltern at Tianci. In the 14th year of Zhiyuan (1277) under Kublai Khan of

14396-476: Was known for his poetry and calligraphy . Zhu Houcong received a classical ( Confucian ) education directly from his father, who he was a diligent and attentive student to. However, in July 1519, his father died. After this, Zhu Houcong took on the responsibility of managing the household with the assistance of Yuan Zonggao, a capable administrator who later became a trusted advisor after Zhu Houcong's ascension to

14518-515: Was only in the 18th century that it began to be grown on a larger scale in Chinese-populated regions. Yang Tinghe, upon the accession of the Jiajing Emperor, implemented a program of severe austerity. This was in response to the significant increase in the number of state-paid dignitaries during the previous century. The number of officers rose from less than 13,000 at the beginning of the Hongwu Emperor 's reign (1368–1398) to 28,000 by

14640-423: Was organized within Yangzhou . Owing to the shifting sands of the islands, however, the county seat needed to be repeatedly moved. During the late Yuan and early Ming , the sparsely-inhabited shoals of the area began to fill with migrants from Pudong and other areas of Songjiang Prefecture . These immigrants introduced cotton cultivation , which spread widely prior to China's opening to international trade in

14762-592: Was placed under the municipality of Shanghai in December 1958. During the Down to the Countryside Movement , many of the sent-down youth from Shanghai travelled no further than Chongming. Reclamation , particularly large-scale work on the island's northern and eastern tidal flats in the 1960s and '90s, doubled the size of the island between 1950 and 2010. It began to absorb the separate island of Yonglongsha —creating an enclave of Jiangsu on

14884-435: Was stripped of his title of king by the Jiajing Emperor, who believed that the emperor should not bow to a king. Furthermore, the emperor did not want Confucius to be worshipped in the same rituals used for imperial sacrifices to the Heavens. As a result, the ceremonies in the Temple of Confucius were simplified and no longer resembled imperial sacrifices. In addition, sacrifices to former emperors and kings were separated from

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