Emperor Xuande

The fifth emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China (reigned 1425-35). His given name was Zhu Zhanji, his posthumous name was Emperor Zhang, and his temple title was Xuanzong. He was known as Emperor Xuande because of the era name. He was the eldest son of Emperor Hongxi. During the period when his grandfather, Emperor Yongle, moved the capital to Beijing and promoted an active foreign policy, there was an increase in land tax arrears by existing local lords and new bureaucratic landlords in the provinces, and in the flight of peasants who had had the burden shifted to them by these people. This trend was particularly evident in the financially important areas on the south bank of the lower Yangtze River.

After the death of the wise Emperor Hongxi after only eight months on the throne, Emperor Xuande continued his policy of focusing on domestic affairs and aiming for stability in the people's livelihood, dispatching capable officials as governors to key locations throughout the country and working to rebuild social order and finances. He particularly focused on correcting the excessive land tax burden on government-owned land. On the other hand, he drastically reduced the scale of his external activities, such as abandoning control over Vietnam, whose war of independence from China had intensified, and withdrawing the line of defense against Mongolia to inside the Great Wall. As a result, finances were strengthened again and the country's strength was temporarily restored.

[Masao Mori]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、明(みん)朝第5代の皇帝（在位1425～35）。姓名は朱瞻基(しゅせんき)、諡(おくりな)は章皇帝、廟(びょう)号は宣宗(せんそう)。年号により宣徳帝とよばれる。洪煕帝(こうきてい)の嫡長子。その祖父にあたる永楽帝が北京(ペキン)遷都を断行し、対外積極政策を推進した時期、地方では、在来の土豪や新興の官僚地主による土地税の滞納、彼らから負担を転嫁された農民の逃亡が増大し、とりわけ揚子江(ようすこう)下流南岸の財政要地でこの傾向が顕著となっていた。

　宣徳帝は、名君洪煕帝が在位わずかに8か月で世を去ったのち、内政中心、民生安定を目ざすその方針を継承し、全国の要地に有能な官僚を巡撫(じゅんぶ)として派遣し、社会秩序と財政の再建に努めた。官田（国有地）の土地税負担過重の是正にはとりわけ力を注いだ。反面、中国からの独立戦争の激化したベトナムの支配を放棄し、対モンゴル防衛線を長城の内側にまで後退させるなど、対外的には活動の規模を大幅に削減した。このため財政はふたたび充実し、国力はひとまず回復した。

［森　正夫］

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