Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei ((北)魏文成帝) (July or August 440 – 20 June 465), Han name Tuoba Jun (拓拔濬), Xianbei name Wulei (烏雷), was an emperor of the Xianbei-led Northern Wei dynasty of China. He became emperor aged 12 in the aftermath of the eunuch Zong Ai 's assassinations of his grandfather Emperor Taiwu and uncle Tuoba Yu , and he was generally described by historians as a ruler who sought foremost to allow his people to rest after his grandfather's expansionist policies and extensive campaigns, and who also reformed the laws to become more lenient.
34-655: Xincheng may refer to: People [ edit ] Tuoba Xincheng (拓拔新成), brother of Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei ; held the title of Prince You of Yangping Xincheng, one of the daughters of Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin) and Empress Zhangsun Places [ edit ] Mainland China [ edit ] Xincheng County (忻城县), in Laibin, Guangxi Xincheng District (新城区) Xincheng District, Hohhot , Inner Mongolia Xincheng District, Xi'an , Shaanxi Xincheng Air Base and Yinchuan/Xincheng Air Base, both in
68-421: A decorated general during Emperor Taiwu's reign, also became powerful. Another characteristic of Emperor Wencheng's reign was that he often toured the provinces throughout his empire. He also frequently issued partial amnesties to the people of the capital Pingcheng. In winter 452, Emperor Wencheng's mother Consort Yujiulü died, and he subsequently posthumously honored his parents as emperor and empress. Around
102-808: A princely title was inappropriate for his oldest grandson, and therefore cancelled the title—signifying strongly that he intended for Tuoba Jun to succeed him. However, Zong Ai, in fear that Emperor Taiwu would punish him over his false accusations against Crown Prince Huang, assassinated Emperor Taiwu in spring 452, and, skipping over Tuoba Jun, made Tuoba Huang's younger brother Tuoba Yu the Prince of Nan'an emperor. Zong controlled all important matters of state, and when Tuoba Yu, displeased about Zong's arrogance, tried to strip him of power in fall 452, Zong assassinated him as well. The officials Dugu Ni (獨孤尼), Yuan He , Baba Kehou (拔拔渴侯), and Buliugu Li , however, then overthrew Zong and executed him, making Tuoba Jun emperor at
136-590: A withdrawal would unduly signal weakness to Rouran), however, Emperor Wencheng continued, and while he was not able to deal a major defeat to Rouran's Chuluo Khan Yujiulü Tuhezhen , a number of Rouran tribesmen surrendered. Meanwhile, in his absence, his generals Feng Chiwen (封敕文) and Pi Baozi (皮豹子) engaged Liu Song forces near the Ji River (濟水, the route of which had been overtaken by the Yellow River in modern times), with inconclusive results. In 453, during
170-847: The Lanzhou Military Region of the PRC Xincheng, one of the nine commanderies of the Protectorate General to Pacify the East Xincheng Prison in Beijing Xincheng Town (disambiguation) Xincheng Township (disambiguation) (新城乡) Xincheng Subdistrict (disambiguation) Taiwan [ edit ] Xincheng, Hualien (新城鄉), township in Hualien City, Republic of China (Taiwan) Xincheng Incident , during
204-555: The Japanese occupation Art forms [ edit ] Xincheng Opera , a traditional form of Chinese theater from northeast China See also [ edit ] Xingcheng , a county-level city in Huludao, Liaoning province, China Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Xincheng . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
238-593: The Prince of Jin'an was declared emperor in early 466 in Xunyang (尋陽, in modern Jiujiang , Jiangxi ). After Emperor Ming's forces defeated Liu Zixun's and captured and executed Liu Zixun in fall 466, the Liu Song general Xue Andu (薛安都), the governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui ), who had initially declared for Liu Zixun, was apprehensive that he would be punished by Emperor Ming, and so decided to surrender to Northern Wei, and soon, he
272-568: The Prince of Yangping and Li Hui (李惠) the Duke of Nan Commandery. However, while the armies were able to capture a large number of livestock, Murong Shiyin received advance warning and was able to flee into the mountains, and the armies also suffered from illnesses. In 461, Emperor Wencheng had grown frustrated by how many local officials would force the people to loan them money and then trade it with merchants to make profits at tax collection. He issued an edict to strictly abolish this and harshly punish
306-450: The age of 12, as Emperor Wencheng. Immediately following Emperor Wencheng's taking the throne, it appeared that the high-level officials began internecine struggles against each other, as for several years officials would be put into honored positions, only to be executed days or months later. These included senior officials held over from Emperor Taiwu's administration as well as those who had accomplished much in putting Emperor Wencheng on
340-536: The criminal cases generally were paid more attention, and while they took longer to process, the results were considered more just. In 476, legend claims that still resentful of Emperor Xianwen, Empress Dowager Feng killed him. (Most historians, including Sima Guang , believed that she poisoned him, but another version indicated that Empress Dowager Feng readied assassins who, when Emperor Xianwen came to her palace to greet her, seized and smothered him.) However, studies by Zhou Siyuan (周思源) point out that if Feng had killed
374-459: The four-year-old crown prince took the throne as Emperor Xiaowen on September 20, 471. Emperor Xianwen himself took the title of Taishang Huangdi (retired emperor) the next day. As retired emperor, however, Emperor Xianwen continued to be in control of the Imperial regime, and all important matters were still submitted to him. He spent much time on criminal law matters, and during this time,
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#1732772160983408-663: The general Murong Baiyao (慕容白曜) to attack and try to capture Liu Song's Qing (青州, modern central and eastern Shandong) and Ji (冀州, modern northwestern Shandong) Provinces, which were cut off from the rest of Liu Song after Xue's defection, and by 469, both provinces fell into Northern Wei hands, and all of the regions north of the Huai River were by now Northern Wei territory. In 467, Emperor Xianwen's concubine Consort Li—a daughter of his uncle Li Hui (李惠) and therefore his cousin—bore his oldest child Tuoba Hong (different character than his own), and Empress Dowager Feng personally raised
442-533: The hands of the official Yifu Hun , who assumed dictatorial powers and killed a large number of other officials, including Yang Baoping (楊保平), Jia Airen (賈愛仁) the Duke of Pingyang, and Zhang Tiandu (張天度), Qiumuling Duohou (丘穆陵多侯), Tuoba Yu (拓拔郁) the Duke of Shunyang, and Emperor Wencheng's prime minister Buliugu Li . However, in 466, Empress Dowager Feng staged a coup and had Yifu arrested and executed. She assumed regency herself. Empress Dowager Feng engaged Jia Xiu (賈秀), Gao Yun , and Gao Lü (高閭) as her assistants in
476-519: The imperial government, enacted a prohibition on alcohol. He banned the brewing, drinking, buying and selling of alcohol, with violators punished by death. However, on special occasions, alcohol would be allowed for a fixed amount of time. At this time, he introduced incognito supervision for officials to monitor their actions. However, officials became afraid and increased investigations, yet the officials also made many false accusations, and would be tried for disrespect. Emperor Wencheng also added clauses to
510-409: The legal code of Emperor Taiwu that had been formulated in 451. Of these clauses, 13 crimes were punished by execution of the offender's clan, 35 punished by execution of just the offender, and 62 mandated lesser punishments. In winter 458, Emperor Wencheng launched a major attack against Rouran, but considered abandoning it when his troops encountered a snow storm. At Yuchi Juan's urging (arguing that
544-431: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xincheng&oldid=1189267194 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei Tuoba Jun
578-620: The major official bureaus until their deaths. In summer 465, Emperor Wencheng died and was succeeded by his son Tuoba Hong (as Emperor Xianwen). Power soon fell into the hands of the official Yifu Hun , who tried to monopolize power and executed a number of other officials, including Buliugu Li, but in 466 was in turn ambushed by Emperor Wencheng's wife Empress Dowager Feng. Consorts and Issue: Emperor Xianwen of Northern Wei Emperor Xianwen of Northern Wei ((北)魏獻文帝) ( c. August 454 – 20 July 476 ), personal name Tuoba Hong , Xianbei name Didouyin (第豆胤), courtesy name Wanmin (萬民),
612-933: The new year 453, Emperor Wencheng, a Buddhist , officially ended the prohibitions against Buddhism that Emperor Taiwu had instituted in 445 (which became known as the first of Three Disasters of Wu ), and he personally performed tonsure on five monks. However, as per the traditions instituted by Emperor Taiwu, he also publicly received Taoist amulets in spring 454. In spring 453, Emperor Wencheng honored his wet nurse Lady Chang as empress dowager , and treated her brothers as if they were his biological uncles. In fall 454, Emperor Wencheng's concubine Consort Li gave birth to his oldest son Tuoba Hong . In 456, he created another imperial consort, Consort Feng , empress and created Tuoba Hong crown prince—and then, pursuant to Northern Wei tradition, ordered Tuoba Hong's mother Consort Li to commit suicide . In early 458, Emperor Wencheng, frustrated by how drunk and rowdy people would criticise
646-844: The official Li Yi (李奕) as her lover. In 470, the official Li Xin (李訢), who was a close friend of Li Yi's brother Li Fu (李敷), was accused of corruption, and Emperor Xianwen became aware of the accusations even though Li Fu tried to suppress the reports. He had known about his stepmother's relationship with Li Yi and, while he had not taken any actions against it at that point, disapproved of it. He sentenced Li Xin to death, but then informed Li Xin that if he could report on crimes that Li Fu and Li Yi had committed, he would be spared. After initial reluctance, Li Xin did so, and another man named Fan Biao (范標) also did so. Emperor Xianwen then executed Li Fu and Li Yi. Empress Dowager Feng became resentful of Emperor Xianwen after that point. In 471, because of Emperor Xianwen's philosophical interests, he wanted to leave
680-482: The political struggles of Emperor Wencheng's early reign, the political figures at the time had imposed 15 additional levies as well as regular taxes, which were considered troubling and burdensome. During the middle years of his reign, despite opposition from officials who worried that the treasury would not be sufficient without them, Emperor Wencheng removed all of these additional levies, though he restored them soon after, and they would not be permanently abolished until
714-477: The practice. Also that year, he decreed that those over the age of eighty would have one son exempt from government service. In 464, while on one of his tours to various parts of the empire, Emperor Wencheng personally attended a Gaoche tribal ceremony to sacrifice to the heavens, and the Gaoche people were very pleased. Also that year, he decreed that people in the capital aged 70 or over would be provided food by
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#1732772160983748-441: The regency. Later, she also incorporated her brother Feng Xi (馮熙) into the decision-making circle. Empress Dowager Feng was soon presented with a major opportunity to expand Northern Wei territory, as also in 466, rival Liu Song had a major dynastic succession struggle after Liu Ziye was assassinated in 465. Emperor Qianfei's uncle Emperor Ming of Song was declared emperor in the capital Jiankang , while his brother Liu Zixun
782-553: The reign of his successor Emperor Xianwen. In summer 460, Emperor Wencheng's wet nurse Empress Dowager Chang died. Also in summer 460, based on advice given by Cao An (曹安) the Marquess of Dingyang, Emperor Wencheng launched a major attack on Tuyuhun 's khan Murong Shiyin (慕容拾寅), who had drawn Northern Wei officials' ire by accepting commissions by both Northern Wei and Liu Song and by showing off his wealth. The commanding generals were Emperor Wencheng's brother Tuoba Xincheng (拓拔新成)
816-407: The same time, according to Northern Wei customs, ordered Consort Li to commit suicide. On 20 June 465, Emperor Wencheng died, and the 11-year-old Crown Prince Hong ascended the throne as Emperor Xianwen the next day. Emperor Wencheng's wife Empress Feng was honored as empress dowager , and Emperor Xianwen's deceased mother Consort Li was posthumously honored as Empress Yuan. Power soon fell into
850-569: The same year and was described in traditional histories to be missed by all in the palace, she was probably forced to commit suicide pursuant to Northern Wei customs. In 470, resentful that Murong Baiyao had flattered Yifu Hun while Yifu was in power, Emperor Xianwen, in an act that appeared to be uncharacteristic for his reign, falsely accused Murong Baiyao of treason and put him and his son Murong Ruyi (慕容如意) to death. Also in 470, an event would damage Emperor Xianwen's relationship with his stepmother Empress Dowager Feng. Empress Dowager Feng had taken
884-444: The throne to spend more time on his studies. He wanted to pass his throne to his uncle Tuoba Zitui (拓拔子推) the Prince of Jingzhao, who was highly praised by all officials. He therefore summoned an imperial council to discuss the matter. The officials largely opposed Emperor Xianwen's proposal, and suggested instead that if Emperor Xianwen wanted to leave the throne, he should pass the throne to Crown Prince Hong. He therefore did so, and
918-507: The throne, and included: It appeared that Yuan He and Buliugu Li were the key victors out of these struggles, for not only did they not suffer during the infighting, but became exceedingly honored late in Emperor Wencheng's reign. Both they and Dugu Ni were created princes. Whether Emperor Wencheng himself was involved in these internecine struggles is unclear, although the edicts were issued in his name. Yuchi Juan (尉遲眷), already
952-418: The young prince. She soon terminated her regency and returned imperial powers to Emperor Xianwen, who was 13 years old at this point. As emperor, Emperor Xianwen was described as hardworking and appropriate in his awards and punishments—in particular, in promoting honest officials and demoting corrupt ones, and it was said that only starting in his reign were Northern Wei officials praised for being honest. He
986-424: Was also said to be heavily into studies of religions and philosophies, including both Taoism and Buddhism . During his reign as emperor, he abolished 15 non-regular taxes that had earlier been abolished by Emperor Wencheng but soon re-instated, and it was said that after this the people's livelihood gradually improved. In 469, Emperor Xianwen created Tuoba Hong crown prince. As Tuoba Hong's mother Consort Li died
1020-556: Was an emperor of the Xianbei-led Northern Wei dynasty of China. He was the first emperor in Chinese history who, after retiring at age 17 in favor of his 4-year-old son Emperor Xiaowen to become Taishang Huang (retired emperor) in 471, continued to hold on to power until his death in 476—when the official history states vaguely that he may have been killed by his stepmother Empress Dowager Feng . Tuoba Hong
1054-511: Was born in 440, when his father Tuoba Huang was the crown prince of his grandfather, Emperor Taiwu . (Some historical sources give his birthdate as 448, a date that appears rather unlikely because that would make him only six years older than his son, Emperor Xianwen .) His mother, Consort Yujiulü , was the sister of the general Yujiulü Pi (郁久閭毗), who had been a member of the Rouran royal house but who had surrendered to Northern Wei. When he
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1088-489: Was born in 454, as Emperor Wencheng 's oldest son. His mother was Consort Li, who had previously been captured in war and had become a concubine of Tuoba Ren (拓拔仁) the Prince of Yongchang, a distant relative of Emperor Wencheng, who was executed in 453 after having been accused of crimes. After Tuoba Ren's death, she was seized and taken into the palace, where she became Emperor Wencheng's concubine. In c. March 456, Emperor Wencheng created Tuoba Hong crown prince —and, at
1122-522: Was joined by Bi Zhongjing (畢眾敬) the governor of Yan Province (兗州, modern western Shandong ) and Chang Zhenqi (常珍奇) the governor of Ru'nan Commandery (汝南, roughly modern Zhumadian , Henan ). Empress Dowager Feng sent the general Yuchi Yuan (尉遲元) to accept the surrenders of these Liu Song generals and to secure the region just north of the Huai River , and Yuchi subsequently defeated two attempts by Emperor Ming to recapture those provinces. She also sent
1156-533: Was little, he was much favored by his grandfather Emperor Taiwu, and often accompanied Emperor Taiwu, even on military campaigns. While he carried no official titles, he was known as the Prime Imperial Grandson (嫡皇孫). Around the new year 452, after his father Tuoba Huang had died in 451 after falling ill over his fear of false accusations by the eunuch Zong Ai , Emperor Taiwu created him the Prince of Gaoyang, but then reconsidered, believing that
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