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117-532: Zhu Youcheng was born during a time in which Lady Wan , the favorite concubine of his father, the Chenghua Emperor , and her supporters were eliminating all potential heirs to the throne. Fortunately, the young emperor's son was saved by the former empress and spared from death. He did not reunite with his father until the age of five, when he was named crown prince. From a young age, he displayed exceptional intelligence and excelled in his studies, receiving

234-669: A Temple of Confucius ( Chinese : 孔 子 庙 ; pinyin : Kǒngzi Miào ), a Temple of Doumu ( Chinese : 斗 母 宫 ; pinyin : Dòumǔ Gōng ) and the Puzhao Buddhist Temple ( Chinese : 普 照 寺 ; pinyin : Pǔzhào Sì ). Among the tablets and inscriptions on the top of Mount Tai, the inscription that declares Mount Tai the "Most Revered of the Five Sacred Mountains" ( simplified Chinese : 五 岳 独 尊 ; traditional Chinese : 五 嶽 獨 尊 ; pinyin : Wǔyuè Dúzūn ) on

351-455: A bushy moustache, a sparse beard, and intelligent, bright eyes. However, he was not physically strong and often suffered from illness in his later years. In 1469, Lady Ji formed a close relationship with the emperor. However, after becoming pregnant, she had to live secretly in the chambers of the former Empress Wu due to the danger posed by the emperor's favorite, Lady Wan . Lady Wan was known for ruthlessly eliminating any potential rivals for

468-454: A famine in Shaanxi, the emperor offered 2 million jin (around 1,200 tons) of tea from state reserves to merchants in exchange for rice to be sent to the affected regions. In the following years, the practice of exchanging tea for horses was discontinued and instead, merchants were offered 4 million jin of tea. In 1501, the emperor ordered 4–5 million jin of tea to be sold for silver, which

585-418: A huge subsiding belt or sea canal. The orogeny made the rock layers on the subsidence zone folded and uplifted into ancient land, forming a huge mountain system, which has experienced 2 billion years of weathering and denudation, and the terrain has gradually become flat. About 600 million years ago, Mount Tai sank into the sea again. After more than 100 million years, the entire area rose to land again, and

702-676: A hunt for his mother's relatives in Guangxi Province. Two found cousins were named officers of the Imperial Guard. However, they later got into a dispute with another alleged cousin, and in the end, all three were revealed as fraudsters. Despite this, the emperor did construct a temple in Guangxi to pay tribute to his mother's unknown ancestors and a shrine in the Forbidden City to honor her memory. The Hongzhi Emperor

819-414: A lot of jealousy from other consorts, who began spreading rumors about Consort Wan's evil doings. After Wan's son died aged ten months old, she jealously employed eunuchs to oversee the emperor's harem and report back to her if any concubines became pregnant. For several decades, Lady Wan would use tactics including forced abortions and even murders of members of the harem to eliminate her rivals, resulting in

936-784: A lot of love to his first son, which he himself lacked in his childhood. However, the boy seemed to rebel against the emperor's teachings in his heart, if not openly. According to the History of Ming , on his deathbed, the Hongzhi Emperor summoned his officials and entrusted them with the care of his son, who was only thirteen at the time. He was described as intelligent, but too inclined towards entertainment and pleasure. Consorts and issue: Wan Zhen%27er Imperial Noble Consort Wan ( traditional Chinese : 萬皇貴妃 ; simplified Chinese : 万皇贵妃 ) (1428－1487), born Wan Zhen'er ( Chinese : 萬貞兒 ; pinyin : Wàn Zhēn'ér ),

1053-500: A prominent minister named Yu Qian . In the emperor's absence, Empress Dowager Sun and court officials supported Yingzong’s younger brother Zhu Qiyu's ascension to the throne as the Jingtai Emperor . At the time, Yingzong's two-year-old son Zhu Jianshen was still crown prince. In order to prevent enemies from getting close to Zhu Jianshen, Empress Dowager Sun appointed Wan Zhen'er to be the prince's personal nanny. In 1452,

1170-653: A replica of the imperial palace, which makes it one out of three extant structures in China with the features of an imperial palace (the other two are the Forbidden City and the Confucius Temple in Qufu ). The temple has five major halls and many small buildings. The centerpiece is the Palace of Heavenly Blessings (Tian Kuang), built in 1008, during the reign of the last Northern Song emperor, Huizong . The hall houses

1287-418: A top-notch Confucian education. After ascending the throne in 1487, the emperor's administration was guided by Confucian ideology, and he himself was known for his diligence and hard work. He closely oversaw all state affairs, implementing measures such as reducing taxes and government spending, and appointing capable officials to ministerial positions. This marked a rare period of harmonious cooperation between

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1404-603: Is a tilted fault-block mountain, higher to the south than north, and is the oldest and most important example of the paleo-metamorphic system representative of the Cambrian Period in eastern China. Referred to as the Taishan Complex, it comprises magnetized, metamorphic, sedimentary rock and an intrusive mass of various origins that were formed in the Archean Era 1700-2000 million years ago. Subsequently, in

1521-541: Is commonly reported as being 1,545 meters (5,069 ft) tall. Mount Tai is known as the eastern mountain of the Sacred Mountains of China . It is associated with sunrise, birth, and renewal, and is often regarded the foremost of the five. Mount Tai has been a place of worship for at least 3,000 years and served as one of the most important ceremonial centers of China during large portions of this period. Because of its sacred importance and dramatic landscape, it

1638-514: Is found in running water at 300–800 m. Mount Tai is of key importance in Chinese religion , being the eastern one of the five Sacred Mountains of China . According to historical records, Mount Tai became a sacred place visited by emperors to offer sacrifices and meditate in the Zhou dynasty before 1000 BC . A total of 72 emperors were recorded as visiting it. Legend holds that Emperor Shun began

1755-467: Is located at 36° 16′N and 117° 6′E. Mount Tai was formed in the middle of the Cenozoic about 30 million years ago. The stratum of Mount Tai is ancient, mainly composed of several ancient rocks such as mixed rock, mixed granite and various gneiss . The government prevented exploration of the caves, for they are unassessed and potentially dangerous. The Luxi region (including Mount Tai) used to be

1872-531: Is seen as a goddess of fertility, like Yanguang Nainai, she is often portrayed as an attendant to Bixia Yuanjun. Shi Gandang ( Chinese : 石 敢 当 ; pinyin : Shígǎndāng ) is a spirit sent down from Mount Tai by Bixia Yuanjun to protect ordinary people from evil spirits. As part of cultural tradition, there will also often be Taishan Shi Gandang stones set up near buildings and other places, in order to protect those place from evil spirits. These are not to be confused with spirit tablets . The Temple of

1989-563: Is the daughter or the consort of the Great Deity of Mount Tai. Statues of Bixia Yuanjun often depict her holding a tablet with the Big Dipper as a symbol of her authority. Yanguang Niangniang ( Chinese : 眼 光 奶 奶 ; pinyin : Yǎnguāng Nǎinǎi ) is venerated as goddess of eyesight and often portrayed as an attendant to Bixia Yuanjun. Songzi Niangniang ( Chinese : 送 子 娘 娘 ; pinyin : Sòngzi Niangniang )

2106-662: Is the eastern one of the Five Manifestations of the Highest Deity ( Wufang Shangdi ). Bixia Yuanjun ( Chinese : 碧 霞 元 君 ; pinyin : Bìxiá Yuánjūn ), literally the "Goddess of the Blue Dawn", also known as the "Heavenly Immortal Lady of Jade" ( Chinese : 天 仙 玉 女 ; pinyin : Tiānxian Yùnǚ ) or the "Lady of Mount Tai" ( Chinese : 泰 山 娘 娘 ; pinyin : Tàishān Niangniang ). According to some mythological accounts, she

2223-546: The Bamboo Annals , and at present, it is recognized by most scholars as the first recorded earthquake in Chinese history . Mount Tai is located in western Shandong , just north of the city of Tai'an and to the south of the provincial capital Jinan . It extends from 150–1,545 meters (492–5,069 ft) above sea level and covers an area of 426 km (164 sq mi) at its base. The Jade Emperor Peak, which rises 1,532.7 meters (5,029 ft)} above sea level,

2340-860: The Han Dynasty Cypresses , which were planted by the Emperor Wu Di , the Tang Chinese Scholartree (about 1,300 years old), the Welcoming-Guest Pine (500 years old) and the Fifth-Rank Pine , which was named originally by the Emperor Qin Shi Huang, but was replanted about 250 years ago. Mount Tai rises abruptly from the vast plain of central Shandong, and is naturally endowed with many scenic sites. Geologically, it

2457-630: The Paleolithic period. Evidence of human settlement of the area can be proven from the neolithic period onwards. During this time, two cultures had emerged near the mountain, the Dawenkou culture to the south and the Longshan culture to the north. During the Xia dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BC) the mountain was known as Mount Dai ( Chinese : 岱山 ; pinyin : Dài Shān ) and lay within

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2574-715: The Proterozoic Era, the Taishan region began to rise, becoming part of the continent by the end of the era. Uplift continued until the middle of the Cenozoic Era . The gneiss which emerged in the Taishan region is the foundation for all of North China. Cambrian strata, fully emerged in the north, are rich in fossils. Six streams flow from the summit, their water renowned for its extremely low mineral content, slight acidity (pH = 6.3) and relatively high oxygen content (6.4 milligrams per liter (mg/L)). The area falls within

2691-414: The vassal states of Qi and Lu bordered Mount Tai to the north and south respectively, from where their feudal lords both made independent sacrifices on Mount Tai. According to Zhou ritual belief, the spirit of Mount Tai would only accept sacrifices offered by a feudal lord, leading Confucius (in his Analects 3.6) to criticize the ministers who offered state sacrifices here after usurping power. In

2808-583: The "Lu-Viewing Platform" ( Chinese : 瞻 鲁 台 ; pinyin : Zhānlǔ tái ) from which Confucius took in the view over his home state of Lu and then pronounced "The world is small". The Wordless Stele ( Chinese : 无 字 碑 ; pinyin : Wúzì Bēi ) stands in front of the Jade Emperor Temple. Legend has it that the emperor who commissioned the stele was dissatisfied with the inscription suggested by his scribes and decided to leave it blank instead to leave its meaning to be imagined by

2925-465: The "Sun Viewing Peak" ( Chinese : 日 观 峰 ; pinyin : Rìguān Fēng ) is of particular renown. It was written by a member of the Aisin Gioro clan ( Chinese : 爱 新 觉 罗 玉 构 ; pinyin : Àixīn Juéluō Yùgòu ) in 1907 and is featured on the reverse side of the five yuan bill of the 5th series renminbi banknotes and page 26 of PRC biometric passport. Another inscription marks

3042-590: The Beijing garrison, including the twelve training divisions, was controlled by eunuchs, the Hongzhi Emperor handed command over to civil officials in 1487 and overall command to Ma Wensheng, an official with considerable experience in leading troops on the northern frontier. Instead of relying solely on hereditary soldiers from the Weisuo system, the army increasingly turned to hiring mercenaries for pay. These mercenaries were known as "local soldiers" ( 土兵 ; Tubing ) on

3159-595: The Blue Dawn ( Chinese : 碧 霞 祠 ; pinyin : Bìxiá Cí ), near the top of the mountain is another grand building complex, a special combination of metal components, wood, and bricks and stone structures. It is dedicated to the goddess Bixia (Blue Dawn). From the Taishan Temple to the Blue Dawn Temple there are numerous stone tablets and inscriptions and ancient buildings on the way. Visitors derive much pleasure from climbing Mount Taishan. From

3276-467: The Chenghua Emperor fell ill and three days later, he entrusted Zhu Youcheng with overseeing the actions of the grand secretaries. He died on 9 September. On 17 September 1487, Zhu Youcheng ascended to the throne and adopted the era name Hongzhi , which means "great governance". As soon as he took power, he named his wife as empress and his mother as Empress Dowager Xiaomu. He then commanded

3393-419: The Chenghua Emperor lamenting that by the age of thirty-one that he still lacked a male heir. It was only then revealed to the emperor that a male heir, Zhu Youcheng, had been secretly saved and raised in a secure location outside the palace for five years. After being reunited with his father, Zhu Youcheng was granted the title of crown prince and would eventually become the Hongzhi Emperor, notable for being

3510-406: The Chenghua Emperor's death and the accession of Zhu Youcheng, Lady Wan began plotting against the successor. Her eunuch ally, Liang Fang ( 梁芳 ), proposed appointing a new heir, claiming that Zhu Youcheng was unintelligent and inferior. However, another eunuch, Huai En ( 懷恩 ), defended the prince and argued for the right of inheritance of the eldest son and the stability of the dynasty. As a result, he

3627-601: The East Peak of Mount Tai, along its course, there are 11 gates, 14 archways, 14 kiosks, and four pavilions. In total, there are 22 temples, 97 ruins, 819 stone tablets, and 1,018 cliff-side and stone inscriptions located on Mount Tai. These include a Temple of the Jade King ( Chinese : 玉 皇 庙 ; pinyin : Yùhuáng Miào ), a Temple of the Blue Deity ( Chinese : 青 帝 宫 ; pinyin : Qīngdì Gōng ),

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3744-609: The God of Mount Tai, known as the Dai Temple ( Chinese : 岱 庙 ; pinyin : Dàimiào ), is the largest and most complete ancient building complex in the area. It is located at the foot of Mount Tai in the city of Tai'an and covers an area of 96,000 square meters. The temple was first built during the Qin dynasty . Since the time of the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), its design has been

3861-657: The Hongzhi Emperor fell ill and died a few days later, on 8 June. He was given the temple name Xiaozong, meaning "Filial Ancestor", in recognition of his dedication to Confucian virtues, and the posthumous name Emperor Jing ( 敬帝 ; 'Respectful Emperor'). He was buried in the Tai Mausoleum in the Ming tombs near Beijing. His thirteen-year-old son, the Zhengde Emperor, succeeded him on 19 June 1505. Despite his father's love and early appointment as successor in 1492,

3978-601: The Hongzhi Emperor refused to do so out of respect for and fidelity to his father. Mount Tai Mount Tai ( Chinese : 泰山 ; pinyin : Tài Shān ) is a mountain of historical and cultural significance located north of the city of Tai'an . It is the highest point in Shandong province, China. The tallest peak is the Jade Emperor Peak ( simplified Chinese : 玉 皇 顶 ; traditional Chinese : 玉 皇 頂 ; pinyin : Yùhuáng Dǐng ), which

4095-589: The Jingtai Emperor revoked his nephew's title of crown prince and installed his own son, Zhu Jianji, as heir. Zhu Jianshen was forced into confinement, during which time he became close to Wan Zhen'er, who was one of his only remaining companions. In 1457, Yingzong regained the throne as the Tianshun Emperor, and Zhu Jianshen was reinstated as crown prince. When the emperor learned about Zhu Jianshen's relationship with Wan Zhen'er, he believed that

4212-627: The Midway Gate to Heaven or all the way up from the foot of the mountain. To climb up the mountain, one can take one of two routes. The more popular east route starts from Taishan Arch. On the way up the 7,200 stone steps, the climber first passes the Ten Thousand Immortals Tower (Wanxianlou), Arhat Cliff (Luohanya), and Palace to Goddess Dou Mu (Doumugong). The climbing from the First Gate to Heaven (yi1 tian1 men2),

4329-680: The Ming intervened militarily. A Sino-Mongol army conquered Hami and installed a Uighur prince on the throne. However, the Turpans were able to recapture the city before the end of the same year. In response, the Ming government completely halted trade along the Silk Road, forcing the Turpans to yield. In 1499, the Uyghur prince was once again installed in Hami. This success was likely due to the influence of

4446-586: The Ministry of Personnel, and Liu Daxia ( 劉大夏 ), who served as Minister of War during the last five years of the Hongzhi Emperor's reign. The emperor frequently consulted with Liu Daxia, which was unusual in the Ming administrative system. He also sought advice from the Grand Secretaries as a group. Of the three Grand Secretaries from the previous era, two had a bad reputation and were dismissed—Wan An and Liu Jue ( 劉珝 ). This left only Liu Ji ( 劉吉 ), who

4563-756: The Proterozoic, it had become part of the continent. Besides the Jade Emperor Peak, other distinctive rock formations are the Heaven Candle Peak , the Fan Cliff , and the Rear Rock Basin . Mount Tai lies in the zone of oriental deciduous forest; about 80% of its area is covered with vegetation. The flora is known to comprise almost 1,000 species. Some of the trees in the area are very old and have cultural significance, such as

4680-516: The Zhang family. As a result, the emperor shielded the entire family from any punishment, even though he generally did not punish critics (according to Confucian ethics, officials should not be punished for honestly and directly pointing out mistakes). The emperor shared a belief in Taoism with his wife, which was frowned upon by officials, especially when he appointed Taoist monks to high ranks. Towards

4797-484: The advice of the Grand Secretaries, only making decisions on a few personal matters and stubbornly maintaining his independence in those matters. However, as time went on and he was influenced by the empress and her family, he began to make more decisions independently. These decisions included supporting certain Buddhists and Taoists, as well as promoting and giving gifts to a select few individuals. This did not diminish

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4914-611: The ancient Mount Tai uplifted into a relatively low barren hill. In the late Mesozoic period about 100 million years ago, due to the extrusion and subduction of the Pacific plate to the Eurasian Plate , the Taishan stratum experienced extensive folds and fractures under the influence of the Yanshanian . During the crustal movement above, Mount Tai was rapidly uplifted. In the mid- Cenozoic period about 30 million years ago,

5031-460: The artistic aspect of education, as he was a skilled painter and calligrapher. Despite his mistakes, officials who were faithful to Confucian ideology overlooked and excused them due to his approach. During the Hongzhi era, China experienced numerous natural disasters, particularly towards the end of the 1490s. In the 1480s, a severe drought struck the empire, followed by floods in northern China in

5148-489: The attacks from officials continued until he was deposed in 1494. His downfall was due to his construction projects disrupting Nanjing's geomantic configuration. The second case involved Li Guang, who was commissioned by the emperor to raise funds through the sale of salt licenses and payments for the promotion and appointment of officials. Officials repeatedly accused him of making mistakes, but their attempts to discredit him were unsuccessful. However, on 28 October 1498, Li Guang

5265-565: The authorities. Under the order of the emperor, the Great Ming Code was updated and supplemented. The empire's economy was thriving, and the government sought to address the shortage of currency by resuming the production of coins that had been abolished in the 1430s. Despite facing a series of floods, the Yellow River was successfully regulated, and foreign trade with Southeast Asia flourished. The Hongzhi Emperor's foreign policy

5382-443: The border and "people's stalwarts" ( 民壯 ; Minzhuang ) inland. In 1494, the emperor officially adjusted the rules for recruiting these soldiers, which had previously been done informally since 1449. In 1502, 300,000 Minzhuang soldiers were incorporated into the Weisuo units to strengthen them. In 1464, special examinations were introduced for selecting officers, but it was not until the 1470s that this became more widespread. However,

5499-630: The borders of Qingzhou , one of the Nine Provinces of ancient China . Religious worship of Mount Tai has a tradition dating back 3,000 years, from the time of the Shang (c. 1600–1046 BC) to the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). Over time, this worship evolved into the Feng and Shan sacrifices . The sacrifices were an official imperial rite and Mount Tai became one of the principal places where

5616-527: The country. Some trees are very old and famous, notably the Han Dynasty Cypresses (planted 2,100 years ago by Emperor Wu Di of the Han dynasty), 'Welcoming Guest Pine' (500 years old) and 'Fifth Rank Pine' (named by Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin dynasty ). There are over 200 species of animals in addition to 122 species of birds, but precise details are lacking. Large-scaled fish Varicorhinus macrolepis

5733-448: The court, removing many flatterers who had obtained their positions through bribery rather than merit. This included dismissing two thousand extra officials and nearly a thousand Taoists, Buddhists, and lamas, whom he sent back to their homes. He also imprisoned or executed the most corrupt Buddhist and Taoist monks. Additionally, he removed the relatives of Lady Wan from their positions and disgraced Senior Grand Secretary, Wan An ( 萬安 ), who

5850-516: The crown prince. In February 1487, Zhu Youcheng married Lady Zhang from Xingji ( 興濟 ), a city located on the Grand Canal , less than 200 km south of Beijing (present-day Qing County , Cangzhou prefecture). He was deeply devoted to his wife and remained monogamous, making him the only emperor in Chinese history to do so. Together, they had two sons and three daughters. On 1 September 1487,

5967-416: The early 1490s, with one particularly devastating flood in 1492. As a result, the emperor granted tax forgiveness on 3.5 million liters of wheat. The floods on the Yellow River , which had been ongoing since the late 1480s, caused the dam in Shandong to collapse, resulting in widespread destruction. In 1493, an expert named Liu Daxia was finally given the task of finding a solution to the problem. He enlisted

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6084-846: The earth. Confucian Buddhism, preaching, and experience, and cultural figures climbed the mountain, leaving behind a dazzling array of stone inscriptions, cliffs, and couplet stone carvings. The cliff carvings on Mount Tai are also the most famous mountains. There are more than 1,800 stone inscriptions in Mount Tai, including more than 800 steles and 1,000 cliff stone inscriptions, distributed in 157 Daimiao, 215 at Dailu, 576 at Shantou East Road, 258 at Daiding, more than 80 at Daixi, and Daiyin 44 locations, more than 400 locations in Lingyan Temple, more than 100 locations in Shentong Temple. It mainly includes 5 types of sacrificial ceremonies of

6201-574: The emperor and his family's favor towards Buddhists and Taoists. However, the emperor's decision to limit the powers of the eunuch secret police units, known as the Western and Eastern Depots, was met with gratitude by the bureaucracy and population of the capital. The emperor also made sure to appoint honorable men to lead these units, as well as the Imperial Guard. During the reign of the Hongzhi Emperor, only two politically significant cases related to eunuchs arose. In 1489, Jiang Cong, who had been one of

6318-464: The emperor and his grand secretaries and ministers during the Middle Ming period. In addition, the emperor encouraged his ministers to openly express their opinions and even criticize his decisions. As a result, the power of the eunuchs was diminished and the palace intrigues that had plagued previous reigns were eliminated. This led to a more transparent government and revitalized the functioning of

6435-523: The emperor himself was a patron of Shen Du ( 沈度 ) and other court painters, such as Lü Ji . Due to conflicts with the Turpan over Hami , the army was in need of horses. As a solution, the emperor agreed to revive the state's practice of exchanging tea for horses, in order to combat the illegal private sale of tea to Tibetan and Mongolian tribes in the northeast. The plan involved licensed traders transporting tea from Sichuan to Gansu border towns, with 40% of

6552-415: The emperor made efforts to reduce unnecessary spending and eliminate corrupt eunuch-run agencies. He placed great importance on the competence and integrity of his bureaucracy, and was even stricter than previous Ming emperors (with the exception of the founder of the dynasty, the Hongwu Emperor ) in removing incompetent and dishonest officials. Shortly after taking the throne, he conducted a thorough purge of

6669-399: The emperor was dissatisfied with the results of these examinations as they did not reveal officers with exceptional talent. In 1496, he called on local officials to find such men, but this effort proved unsuccessful. During the reign of the Hongzhi Emperor, unrest continued to plague the southwest region of the Ming dynasty. One of the most significant disturbances during the late 15th century

6786-431: The emperor would carry out the sacrifices to pay homage to heaven (on the summit) and earth (at the foot of the mountain) in the Feng ( Chinese : 封 ; pinyin : Fēng ) and Shan ( Chinese : 禪 ; pinyin : Shàn ) sacrifices respectively. The two sacrifices are often referred to together as the Fengshan sacrifices ( Chinese : 封 禪 ; pinyin : Fēngshàn ). Carving of an inscription as part of

6903-503: The emperor's favor. It was not until Zhu Youcheng was five years old, in June 1475, that the emperor learned of his son's existence. He enthusiastically acknowledged his son, but just a month later, Lady Ji died under suspicious circumstances. From then on, the safety of the boy was overseen by his grandmother, Empress Dowager Zhou . The death of his mother must have been a great shock to Zhu Youcheng, as he deeply respected and remembered her even in adulthood. On 5 December 1475, Zhu Youcheng

7020-514: The emperors of the past dynasties, the creation and restoration of temples, the tomb inscriptions of the stone scriptures, the poems of chants, the scenery and the couplets, most of which are natural stone inscriptions. Japan , India, the Persian court in exile , Goguryeo , Baekje , Silla , the Turks , Khotan , the Khmer , and the Umayyad Caliphate all had representatives attending the Feng and Shan sacrifices held by Emperor Gaozong of Tang in 666 at Mount Tai. Also, Chinese worshippers of

7137-415: The empress's father had already been granted the title of Count of Shouning ( 壽寧伯 ). Then, in the spring of 1492, the Hongzhi Emperor named his young son as crown prince, further solidifying the power and influence of the Zhang family. Shortly after, the empress's father made an unprecedented request for a promotion to marquis, which was granted despite opposition from many officials. He died that same year and

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7254-402: The end of the Hongzhi Emperor's reign, similar negative patterns from the Chenghua era began to emerge, although not to the same extent. These included the establishment of imperial estates, direct appointments that bypassed the Ministry of Personnel, patronage in the salt trade, and bribery, which damaged the image of a conscientious and hard-working, yet inefficient, emperor. After ascending to

7371-446: The ensuing Warring States period (475–221 BC), to protect itself against invasion, the State of Qi erected a 500-kilometer (310 mi)-long wall, the ruins of which are still present today. The name Tai'an of the neighboring city is attributed to the saying "If Mount Tai is stable, so is the entire country" (both characters of Tai'an , "泰" and "安", have the independent meaning of "peace"). In 219 BC, Qin Shi Huang ,

7488-464: The experienced military minister Ma Wensheng, who had served in the northwest in his youth and had a better understanding of the situations beyond the Great Wall than other Beijing statesmen. However, the Uyghur prince's incompetence caused tension among his subjects, leading to continued instability. The Ming government continued to interfere in Hami affairs in the first decade of the 16th century, but their influence gradually weakened. On 1 June 1505,

7605-402: The first emperor of China , held a ceremony on the summit and proclaimed the unity of his empire in a well-known inscription. During the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), the Feng and Shan sacrifices were considered the highest of all sacrifices. Rituals and sacrifices were conducted by the Sui. The emperors of the past dynasties went to Mount Tai to worship the heavens and tell

7722-518: The foothills, deciduous forests , broad-leaved coniferous mixed forests, Coniferous forest, alpine shrubs and grass can be seen in sequence. The vertical boundaries of the forest belts are distinct and the vegetation landscapes are different. There are 989 species of seed plants in 144 families, including 433 species of woody plants in 72 families, 556 species of herbaceous plants in 72 families, and 462 species of medicinal plants in 111 families. Traces of human presence at Mount Tai date back to

7839-413: The help of local experts and successfully regulated the river from Kaifeng , redirecting the main flow southeast to Suzhou in northern Jiangsu and then through the river bed of the Huai River, effectively preventing future floods in Shandong. The project involved 120,000 men and took two years to complete. Liu's success earned him a place in history and the favor of the emperor, leading to his promotion to

7956-409: The inland mountains attacking Chinese residents in the coastal plains. As the government debated the best course of action, Feng Yu, a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue who was a Han Chinese native of Hainan, suggested placing local administration under the control of hereditary Li chiefs instead of Chinese authorities, which had been the norm until the Chenghua era. Although the proposal was approved,

8073-476: The main entrance bordering on Tai'an town, up the entire mountain can take two and a half hours for the sprinting hiker to six hours for the leisure pace. Reaching the Midway Gate to Heaven from First Gate to Heaven is one hour at a sprint up to two and a half hours leisurely. To the northeast of the Palace to Goddess Dou Mu is Sutra Rock Valley in which the Buddhist Diamond Sutra was cut in characters measuring fifty centimeters across believed to be inscribed in

8190-435: The market and resumed minting in 1503. The main purpose of this measure was to push the private coins out of Jiangnan, where they were particularly widespread. The government attempted to support its own coinage by issuing a decree that halved the value of coins from previous dynasties and reiterating the ban on private coinage. Despite these efforts and the significant amount of production, state coins failed to gain dominance in

8307-470: The market. Furthermore, the technical process of producing copper coins was problematic as their casting was expensive and officials did not have access to qualified experts, leading them to even use detained counterfeiters. The Hongzhi Emperor was likely the first Ming emperor who did not seek military glory or strive to match the accomplishments of his predecessors. He saw himself as a Confucian ruler who should gain superiority over neighboring nations through

8424-590: The mid-15th century. While the emperor reduced tributary relations with Southeast Asia , private foreign trade with the region flourished due to the lack of government enforcement. In Suzhou , wealthy families began to rival the nobility in their patronage of the arts, leading to the flourishing of the Wu School of painting, which included renowned artists such as Shen Zhou , Wen Zhengming , Tang Yin , and Qiu Ying . Grand Secretary Li Dongyang held great influence in matters of painting, calligraphy, and poetry, and

8541-459: The more underdeveloped northwest (in Shaanxi and Shanxi ), skin was used and in the southwest (Yunnan), cowrie shells were used. Merchants also exported Ming private coins abroad. However, paradoxically, while these coins were accepted as currency and recognized officially abroad, the Ming government stubbornly refused to acknowledge them in China. In the early 16th century, the Ming government discovered that proper state coins had disappeared from

8658-533: The mountain playing an important role in the development of both Buddhism and Taoism . Mount Tai is a tilted fault-block mountain with height increasing from the north to the south. It is the oldest example of a paleo-metamorphic formation from the Cambrian Period in eastern China, and is known as the Taishan Complex . The uplift of the region started in the Proterozoic Era; by the end of

8775-601: The mountain who were not nobles have also played an important role in the history of communities near the mountain and pilgrimage across China. In 2003, Mount Tai attracted around six million visitors. A renovation project was completed in late October 2005, which aimed at restoring cultural relics and renovating damaged buildings of cultural significance. Widely known for its special ceremonies and sacrifices, Mount Tai has seen visits by many poets and literary scholars who have traveled there to gain inspiration. There are grandiose temples, many stone inscriptions and stone tablets with

8892-599: The mural painting "The God of Mount Tai Making a Journey", dated to the year 1009. The mural extends around the eastern, western and northern walls of the hall and is 3.3 meters (11 ft) high and 62 meters (203 ft) long. The theme of the painting is an inspection tour by the god. Next to the Palace of Heavenly Blessings stand the Yaocan Pavilion and the entrance archway as well as the Bronze Pavilion in

9009-470: The northeast corner. The Dai Temple is surrounded by 2,100‑year‑old cypresses that date back to the Han dynasty. The oldest surviving stair may be the 6,000 granite steps to the top of the mountain. The site contains a number of well-preserved steles from the Huizong reign, some of which are mounted on bixi tortoises. There is a much later, Qianlong era bixi -mounted stele as well. The Shrine of

9126-428: The older palace maid had seduced the young prince and had her beaten with boards. After Zhu Jianshen ascended to the throne as the Chenghua Emperor in 1464, he made Wan his consort and she quickly became his favorite after giving birth to a boy in 1466. As the mother of his son, the emperor regularly gave Consort Wan many presents and awarded her the new title of Imperial Noble Consort . These signs of affection caused

9243-474: The only Ming emperor to never take any concubines. However, many scholars cast doubt on the forced abortions said to have been carried out by Consort Wan. For example, the Qing Qianlong Emperor rejected such stories. Moreover, the Chenghua Emperor actually had fourteen sons, most of whom outlived him. Lady Wan died in 1487, 8 months before the Chenghua Emperor himself died after 23 years on

9360-414: The outline of Mount Tai was basically formed today. Due to its height, Mount Tai also has a vertical climate change. The lower part of the mountain is a warm temperate zone and the top of the mountain is a medium temperate zone. The mountain is cloudy and foggy, with an average annual precipitation of 1132mm, while the surrounding area receives only 750mm. Taishan scattering coverage rate reaches 80%. On

9477-629: The political power of the Grand Secretariat or the government's high morale. During the Hongzhi era, two important works were compiled to supplement the Ming Code: Da-Ming huidian ( 大明會典 ) and Wenxing tiaoli ( 問刑條例 ; 'Clauses and precedent rules for judicial interrogation'). These works, which contained 297 articles, were completed in March 1500. However, the editors of the first work were criticized for not addressing

9594-401: The position of Minister of War (1501–1506). He became a trusted confidant of the emperor during the final years of the Hongzhi Emperor's reign. Despite the challenges of drought, floods, and crop failures, the economy thrived under the Hongzhi Emperor's rule. However, there was a growing concentration of land in the hands of the powerful, particularly in both metropolitan areas , which began in

9711-423: The power of virtue rather than weapons, and thus he generally avoided aggressive actions. The only notable military campaigns during his reign were the expedition to Hami in 1495 and the suppression of several minor rebellions. He did consider a potential expedition to the northern frontier, but was ultimately dissuaded by his ministers and grand secretaries. In contrast to the late Chenghua Emperor's reign, where

9828-514: The rebellion was ultimately quelled through military force, resulting in heavy losses for both Chinese and Mongol troops. In the previous reign, the Hongzhi Emperor's ministers inherited enmity with the Sultan of Turpan , who had captured Hami , an important city on the Silk Road west of China, much to their displeasure. In 1489, Ming diplomacy began to organize anti-Turpan actions, and in 1495,

9945-563: The red gate at the foot of the mountain to the South Heaven Gate at the top are some 6,660 stone steps, which wind their way up the mountain slopes, each step offering a different view. The "Shibapan" ( 十八盘 ) means 18 levels stairs, which is the most advantageous part of stairs in Mount Tai. A total of 1,827 stone steps, is one of the main signs Mount Tai. People always say: "Mount Tai of the majestic, all in Shibapan, Mount Tai of

10062-488: The relatives of other Ming empresses. Officials frequently complained about the behavior of the empress's relatives, particularly her brothers. They were accused of corruption, embezzlement, and, in their home county south of Beijing, of seizing land from their neighbors. Despite these accusations, the empress and her mother always defended the Zhang brothers. They were also supported by a group of eunuchs and officials who had advanced their careers through their connections with

10179-468: The ritual and political duties of a monarch, striving to live and rule according to Confucian ideals. He listened to his ministers and prioritized the welfare of his people. Despite his conscientious efforts to govern and address the empire's problems, he lacked grand plans or a clear vision. Unlike the Chenghua Emperor, who had not met with his ministers since 1469, the Hongzhi Emperor changed this attitude and resumed regular audiences in 1497. His government

10296-498: The role of eunuchs and regulating their rights, which allowed for their illegal activities to continue. These compilations were the result of years of effort by officials who were dissatisfied with the state of the legal system, with the goal of making slight improvements. The Hongzhi Emperor's devotion to Confucianism was unprecedented and unusual; even as emperor, he took his studies seriously and organized debates on political issues based on classical precedents. He also did not neglect

10413-496: The sacrifices marked the attainment of the "great peace". By the time of the Zhou dynasty (c. 1046–256 BC) sacrifices at Mount Tai had become highly ritualized ceremonies in which a local feudal lord would travel there to make sacrifices of food and jade ritual items. These would then be arranged in a ritually correct pattern before being buried on the mountain. In the Spring and Autumn period (771–476 BC)

10530-600: The son held opposing views on many issues. In comparison to his son's rejection of Confucian values, the Hongzhi Emperor was remembered by Chinese intellectuals as an ideal ruler. The History of Ming has recognized him as one of the commendable rulers, as out of the sixteen Ming emperors, only the Hongxi , Xuande , and Hongzhi emperors were deemed worthy of recognition besides the Hongwu and Yongle emperors. During his reign, border defenses were strengthened, tax administration

10647-685: The south. A revenue record of 1481 mentions that coins were only used in North and South Zhili , Henan and Shandong, which are all located along the Grand Canal. Similarly, a record of 1503 states that coins were used in the same areas, but not in Fujian , Guangdong (although they were still in use at the time of the record; private and highly valued Song coins were used), Yunnan , Guizhou , and other inland regions. In Jiangxi and Huguang , rice, grain, silver, and cloth were used as currency, while in

10764-409: The state's control. Since the closure of the mints in the 1430s, there has been a worsening shortage of coins and coppers over time. In the early 16th century, privately produced coins replaced the state-issued coins from the early Ming and the remaining Tang and Song dynasties. By the end of the 15th century, copper coins were mainly in circulation in the north, while silver had replaced them in

10881-420: The structure of the highest offices, allowing for a swift rise in the abuse of eunuch power under the subsequent emperors, Zhengde and Jiajing. In contrast to almost all of his predecessors, who had many consorts and concubines and fathered many children, the Hongzhi Emperor had only one empress, Empress Zhang . His empress gave birth to two sons, but the second one died at a young age. The Hongzhi Emperor showed

10998-484: The sublime, all in the climb in!" Shibapan has three parts, the "Slow Eighteens"( 慢十八 ), the "Hard Eighteens"( 紧十八 ), and the "No slow no hard Eighteens" ( 不紧不慢又十八 ). The "Slow Eighteens" means this period is easier to climb, and the "Hard Eighteens" means it is harder to climb, which is interesting. A flight of 7,200 total steps (including inner temple steps), with 6,293 Official Mountain Walkway Steps, lead up

11115-470: The tea (400,000 jin , approximately 240 tons) being handed over to the authorities and the rest being sold by the traders themselves. The government's goal was to obtain 4,000 horses through this exchange, but the merchants would often take the inferior quality tea and keep the higher quality tea for themselves, resulting in the officials receiving subpar horses from the Tibetans in exchange. In 1494, after

11232-467: The three dignitaries governing Nanjing for many years, became embroiled in a dispute with the censors over the legality of certain incomes. These incomes were apparently used to pay for the emperor's expenses. Jiang Cong blamed the censors for their inability to detect other violations of the law, while the censors accused him of wrongdoing. The emperor ultimately ruled in Jiang Cong's favor in 1490, but

11349-479: The throne, the Hongzhi Emperor demoted and exiled corrupt and unpopular eunuchs, such as Liang Fang. He then appointed capable and trustworthy candidates to lead the Directorate of Ceremonial, which also informally served as the head of the eunuchs in the imperial palace. One such candidate was Huai En, who had previously retired. Despite these efforts, officials continued to criticize the eunuchs and disapprove of

11466-458: The throne. He was buried in the Maoling (茂陵) Mausoleum of the Ming tombs. It is said that when he was informed of the death of Lady Wan, the Chenghua Emperor was unable to speak for an entire day, before stating: " Zhen'er has gone, I will follow soon." Later, during the reign of the Hongzhi Emperor, Cao Lin (曹璘) proposed stripping away the title of Imperial Noble Consort from Lady Wan. However,

11583-429: The tradition of imperial visits to Mount Tai. Writers also came to acquire inspiration, to compose poems, write essays, paint and take pictures. Hence, a great many cultural relics were left on the mountain. The Dongyue Emperor ( Chinese : 東嶽大帝 ; pinyin : Dōngyuè Dàdì ) is the supreme god of Mount Tai. According to one mythological tradition, he is a descendant of Pangu. According to other theologies, he

11700-477: The viewer. Another theory is that weather eroded the original calligraphic inscription. Visitors can reach the peak of Mount Tai via a bus which terminates at the Midway Gate to Heaven , from there a cable car connects to the summit. Covering the same distance on foot takes from two and a half to six hours. The supplies for the many vendors along the road to the summit are carried up by porters either from

11817-528: The warm continental monsoon climate (Koppen Dwb ). Meteorological data is not available. The regular climate is molly to -2 degrees Celsius. Vegetation covers 79.9% of the area, which is densely wooded, but information about its composition is lacking. The flora is diverse and known to comprise 989 species, of which 433 species are woody and the rest herbaceous. Medicinal plants total 462 species and include multiflower knotweed, Cannabis, Taishan ginseng, Chinese gromwell and sealwort, which are renowned throughout

11934-534: Was an imperial consort during the Ming dynasty . She is sometimes known as Consort Wan or Lady Wan and was the favorite consort of the Chenghua Emperor . She was approximately fifteen to seventeen years older than the emperor. Wan Zhen'er's father, Wan Gui, was a county official. During the Xuande period, he was sent to Bazhou in Shuntian Prefecture for breaking the law. Therefore, when Wan Zhen'er

12051-543: Was born on 30 July 1470. He was the third son of the Chenghua Emperor , the eighth emperor of the Chinese Ming dynasty , and the oldest to survive. His mother was a woman surnamed Ji ( 紀 ), who was one of the Yao women captured during the suppression of the rebellion in the southern Chinese province of Guangxi and brought into the palace. He inherited his mother's southern appearance: small stature, darker complexion; he had

12168-607: Was completely devoted to his wife. However, the empress was a foolish woman who only cared about her relatives, especially her brothers. She was more concerned with living a luxurious life and trusting Taoist and Buddhist monks. As a result, the court became consumed with luxury and pleasure, something that had not been seen under previous rulers. After their son was born in October 1491, the emperor began to favor not only his wife, but also her father, brothers—Zhang Heling ( 張鶴齡 ) and Zhang Yanling ( 張延齡 )—and all other relatives. In 1490,

12285-555: Was dominated by civil officials who held more influence than the eunuchs and led military campaigns. He refrained from using harsh punishments against officials. Some Confucian historians have even compared his reign, particularly the early years, to the golden age of the sage rulers of antiquity. He actively worked to heal and streamline the state administration, presiding over daily morning audiences as one of his primary duties as emperor. However, his frail health often made it difficult for him to fulfill his duties. He consistently followed

12402-463: Was driven to commit suicide after it was alleged that a pavilion he had built in the imperial gardens was placed in an unsuitable location according to feng shui principles. This was believed to have caused a series of misfortunes, including the death of the emperor's eldest daughter on 1 October and a fire in one of the palaces of the Forbidden City on 26 October. At the start of his reign,

12519-579: Was four years old, she was selected to serve as the maid of one of the Xuande Emperor 's grandsons of the Ming dynasty . In 1449, Emperor Yingzong of Ming was captured after his army lost the Battle of Tumu Fortress against the Mongols. His capture by the enemy force shook the empire to its core, and the ensuing crisis almost caused the dynasty to collapse had it not been for the capable governing of

12636-482: Was improved, and a spirit of openness and cooperation was fostered within the government. The Hongzhi Emperor's rule is traditionally viewed as a time of harmonious relations between the emperor and the government. Confucian scholars praised him as a model ruler and downplayed his flaws, particularly his favoritism towards the empress and her unworthy relatives. The emperor actively advised officials, leading to improved relations with them. However, no changes were made to

12753-621: Was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It meets 7 of the 10 evaluation standards of World Heritage, and is listed as a World Heritage site that meets the most standards, along with the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area in Australia . An earthquake or thunderstorm occurred in Mount Tai in 1831 BC or 1652 BC, also known as Mount Tai earthquake . This event was first recorded in

12870-529: Was named crown prince. The old educated eunuch Tan Ji ( 覃吉 ) began to teach him to read (The Four Books ) and in March 1478, the young prince's formal education in Confucian philosophy began. A book about exemplary successors was written in 1481 specifically because of his education. His teachers were able to instill Confucianism in him more effectively than other emperors, and he remained faithful to its teachings even in adulthood. Concerned about her fate after

12987-420: Was peaceful, with the only major military campaign during his reign being the expedition to Hami in 1495. Ming troops also effectively suppressed several smaller rebellions. As a result, the people prospered under his rule. In comparison to his renowned predecessors, the Hongzhi Emperor can be considered one of the most successful rulers of the Ming dynasty, alongside emperors Hongwu and Yongle . Zhu Youcheng

13104-510: Was posthumously elevated to Duke of Chang ( 昌國公 ). The title of Marquis was then inherited by his elder son, while the younger became Count and later Marquis of Jianchang ( 建昌侯 ). Both brothers received numerous gifts, including land, stewardship of imperial warehouses in Beijing, and licenses to trade in salt. Even the extended family of the Zhangs were granted titles, offices, lands, and opportunities for corruption that were unparalleled compared to

13221-458: Was still criticized by some censors. However, the newly appointed Grand Secretaries, Liu Jian ( 劉健 ) and Xu Pu ( 徐溥 ), as well as those selected a few years later, Qiu Jun ( 丘濬 ), Li Dongyang , and Xie Qian ( 謝遷 ), were all honorable men. This led to exceptional harmony at court. The Hongzhi Emperor wholeheartedly embraced the teachings of Confucianism, surpassing even the Ming and other Chinese emperors in his sincerity. He diligently fulfilled both

13338-530: Was the head of the government. Instead, he called upon able and straightforward men who had previously retired. Among them were the eunuch Huai En and the official Wang Shu ( 王恕 ), who were appointed as the Minister of Personnel. He sought their advice in selecting the other ministers. The leading ministers in Hongzhi's government were Ma Wensheng, who successively headed the Censorate, the Ministry of War, and

13455-552: Was the rebellion led by a woman named Mi-lu from the Lolo tribe, which took place on the border of Guizhou and Yunnan from 1499 to 1502. The suppression of this rebellion required the mobilization of troops from four provinces and 80,000 members of local tribes. The Li rebellion in Hainan from 1500 to 1503 was a significant event. It was sparked by the overreach of Chinese officials and led by tribal leaders, resulting in rebels from

13572-399: Was then used by the authorities to purchase grain for Shaanxi. However, this decision hindered the exchange of tea for horses, leading the emperor to ban the exchange of tea for grain in 1502. Despite these efforts, the government struggled to obtain high-quality tea to exchange for high-quality horses, and as a result, merchants continued to independently export tea across the border, bypassing

13689-401: Was transferred to Fengyang , the "Central Capital". Shortly after, the court received news of an earthquake on Mount Tai , which was associated with the crown prince in the beliefs of the time. Officials who supported Zhu Youcheng saw this as a warning from Heaven, displeased with the discussion of succession. Fearing the disfavor of Heaven, the Chenghua Emperor did not make a decision to change

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