Early life

Zhu Changluo was born in 1582, the 10th year of the Wanli era, to the Wanli Emperor and a palace attendant, Lady Wang, who served under the Emperor's mother, Empress Dowager Xiaoding. After it was discovered that Lady Wang was pregnant, the Emperor was persuaded by his mother to make her a concubine and awarded her the title "Consort Gong of the Second Grade" (恭妃). However she was never one of the Wanli Emperor's favourite consorts. After his birth, Zhu Changluo was largely ignored by his father even though he, as the firstborn son of the emperor, was by default the heir apparent (crown prince) according to the Ming dynasty's traditional rules of succession. He was born shortly after his elder sister, the Princess Rongchang; the Wanli Emperor's eldest child and only child with his primary wife Empress Xiaoduanxian.

Zhu Changluo spent most of his life as a hapless pawn in a power struggle for the title of crown prince. The Wanli Emperor openly preferred naming Zhu Changxun, his younger son born to his favourite consort Noble Consort Zheng as crown prince over the seniority of Zhu Changluo, but his intention was met with vehement opposition by most of his Confucian-educated ministers who insisted that the Emperor adhered to dynastic traditions. Frustrated by the multiple petitions to install Zhu Changluo as crown prince, the Wanli Emperor decided to stonewall the issue and left the question of his designated heir in suspense. Some historians have suggested that the impasse on the selection of crown prince was part of the cause of the Wanli Emperor's withdrawal from daily government administration.

Caught in this political limbo, Zhu Changluo was deliberately not assigned a regular tutor or given any systematic Confucian education even after he started school at the age of 13, an unusually late age for Ming princes to begin their education. In 1601, the Wanli Emperor gave in to pressure from his ministers and more importantly from the empress dowager and a 19-year-old Zhu Changluo was formally instated as crown prince and heir apparent. However this formal recognition did not signal the end of court intrigues. Rumours of the Wanli Emperor's intention to replace Zhu Changluo with Zhu Changxun continued to surface through the years,

Palace Assault

In 1615, the Ming imperial court was hit by a mysterious scandal. A man called Zhang Chai, armed only with a wooden staff, managed to drive away the eunuchs guarding the palace gates and break into Ciqing Palace—then the crown prince's living quarters. Zhang Chai was eventually subdued and thrown in prison. Although initial investigations found him to be a lunatic, upon further investigations by a magistrate named Wang Zhicai, Zhang Chai confessed to being party to a plot instigated by two eunuchs working under Noble Consort Zheng. According to Zhang Chai's confession, the two eunuchs had promised him rewards for assaulting the crown prince, thus indirectly implicating Lady Zheng in an assassination plot. Presented with incriminating evidence and the gravity of the accusations, the Wanli Emperor, in an attempt to spare Lady Zheng, personally presided over the case and laid full blame on the two eunuchs, who were executed along with Zhang Chai. Although the case was quickly hushed up, it did not squelch public discussions and eventually became known as the "Case of the Palace Assault" (梃击案), one of three notorious mysteries of the late Ming dynasty.

In 1615, the crown prince became infuriated with his concubine, Lady Liu, who was the mother of the future Chongzhen Emperor. He ordered her punished, during which ordeal Lady Liu died. It is debated whether the crown prince ordered her to be killed or if her death was an accident. Fearing that this incident would further turn his father against him and towards Zhu Changxun, the crown prince had Lady Liu secretly buried in the Western Hills near Beijing and forbade palace staff from mentioning the affair. On his ascension to the throne, the Chongzhen Emperor had Lady Liu reburied in the Ming tombs next to her husband.

Reign

The Wanli Emperor died on 18 August 1620 and was succeeded by Zhu Changluo on 28 August 1620, the latter』s 38th birthday by Western calculation. Upon his coronation, Zhu Changluo adopted the era name "Taichang" (literally "grand prosperity") for his reign, hence he is known as the Taichang Emperor.

The first few days of his reign started promisingly enough as recorded in the Ming histories. Two million taels of silver was entailed as a gift to the troops guarding the border, important bureaucratic posts left vacant during the Wanli Emperor's long periods of administrative inactivity were finally starting to be filled, and many of the deeply unpopular extraordinary taxes and duties imposed by the Wanli Emperor were also revoked at this time. However, ten days after his coronation, the Taichang Emperor became so ill that celebrations for his birthday (by Chinese calculation) were cancelled.

The Red Pills

According to non-official primary sources, the Taichang Emperor's illness was brought about by excessive sexual indulgence after he was presented with eight maidens by Lady Zheng. The emperor's already serious condition was further compounded by severe diarrhoea after taking a dose of laxative, recommended by an attending eunuch Cui Wensheng on 10 September. Finally on 25 September, to counter the effects of the laxative, he asked for and took a red pill presented by a minor court official named Li Kezhuo, who dabbled in apothecary.

Death

It was recorded in official Ming histories that the Taichang Emperor felt much better after taking the red pill, regained his appetite and repeatedly praised Li Kezhuo as a "loyal subject". That same afternoon, the emperor took a second pill and was found dead the next morning on September 26, 1620.

The death of an emperor who was seemingly in good health within the span of a month sent shock waves through the Ming Empire and rumours started spreading. The much talked about mystery surrounding the Taichang Emperor's death became known as the infamous "Case of the Red Pills" (红丸案), one of three notorious 'mysteries' of the late Ming dynasty. Consort Kang of the Li Clan was also involved in this matter. The fate of Li Kezhuo, whose pills were at the center of this controversy, became a hotly contested subject between competing power factions of officials and eunuchs vying for influence at the Ming imperial court. Opinions ranged from awarding him money for the emperor's initial recovery to executing his entire family for murdering the emperor. The question was finally settled in 1625 when Li Kezhuo was exiled to the border regions on the order of the powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian, signalling the total dominance of eunuchs during the reign of the Taichang Emperor's son, the Tianqi Emperor.

Legacy

The Taichang Emperor's unexpected death threw the Ming imperial court into some logistical disarray. Firstly, the court was still officially in mourning over the death of the Wanli Emperor, whose corpse at this point was still lying in state waiting for an auspicious date to be interred. Secondly, all imperial tombs were custom made by the reigning emperor and there was no proper place to bury the Taichang Emperor, who had only just ascended the throne. A tomb was hastily commissioned over the foundation of the demolished tomb of the Jingtai Emperor. The construction was finally completed on the eighth month of 1621 and consecrated Qingling (庆陵). Finally, on the question of naming the emperor's reign, although the emperor had taken the formal era name of "Taichang", it was sandwiched between the 48th year of the Wanli era (1620) and the first year of the Tianqi era (1621). After much discussion, the Ming imperial court accepted Zuo Guangdou's suggestion to designate the Wanli era as having ended in the seventh lunar month of 1620, while the Taichang era spanned from the 8th to 12th months in the same year. The Tianqi era officially started from the first lunar month of 1621.

From a historical perspective, the Taichang Emperor's reign by nature of its short time span amounts to nothing more than a footnote in Ming history. It exposed the constitutional weakness of the Ming dynasty's autocratic system when headed by a weak emperor as typified by the Taichang Emperor and his successor, the Tianqi Emperor. From the limited information gleaned from official Ming histories on the life of the emperor, he came across as an introverted half-literate alcoholic satirical weakling. Given this dismal track record there is no evidence that had the Taichang Emperor's reign lasted any longer than it did, he could have turned around the fortunes of the beleaguered Ming dynasty after the long steady decline of the later years of the Wanli Emperor's reign.

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Xiaoyuanzhen, of the Guo clan (孝元贞皇后 郭氏; 1580–1613)

　• Princess Huaishu Daoyi (怀淑悼懿公主; 1604–1610), personal name Huijuan (徽娟), second daughter

• Empress Dowager Xiaohe, of the Wang clan (孝和皇太后 王氏; 1582–1619)

　• Zhu Youjiao, the Tianqi Emperor (熹宗 朱由校; 23 December 1605 – 30 September 1627), first son

　• Zhu Youxue, Prince Jianhuai (简怀王 朱由㰒; 1607–1610), second son

• Empress Dowager Xiaochun, of the Liu clan (孝纯皇太后 刘氏; 1588–1615)

　• Zhu Youjian, the Chongzhen Emperor (思宗 朱由检; 6 February 1611 – 25 April 1644), fifth son

• Consort Gongyizhuang, of the Li clan (恭懿庄妃 李氏; 5 December 1588 – 6 December 1624)

• Consort Yi, of the Fu clan (懿妃 傅氏; 1588–1644)

　• Princess Ningde (宁德公主), personal name Huiyan (徽妍), sixth daughter

　　• Married Liu Youfu (刘有福) in 1626

　• Princess Suiping (遂平公主; 1611 – 8 February 1633), personal name Huijing (徽婧), seventh daughter

　　• Married Qi Zanyuan (齐赞元) in 1627, and had issue (four daughters)

• Consort Kang, of the Li clan (康妃 李氏; 1584–1674)

　• Zhu Youmo, Prince Huaihui (怀惠王 朱由模; 30 November 1610 – 1615), fourth son

　• Princess Le'an (乐安公主; 1611–1643), personal name Huiti (徽媞), eighth daughter

　　• Married Gong Yonggu (巩永固; d. 1644), and had issue (three sons, two daughters)

　• Princess (公主; 1616–1617), personal name Huizhao (徽妱), tenth daughter

• Consort Yi, of the Ding clan (懿妃 定氏)

　• Zhu Youxu, Prince Xianghuai (湘怀王 朱由栩), sixth son

• Consort Jing, of the Feng clan (敬妃 冯氏)

　• Zhu Youjian, Prince Huizhao (慧昭王 朱由橏; b. 1620), seventh son

• Concubine Shen, of the Shao clan (慎嫔 邵氏)

　• Princess Daowen (悼温公主; 1621), personal name Huizheng (徽姃), 11th daughter

• Xuanshi, of the Wang clan (选侍 王氏)

　• Zhu Youji, Prince Qisi (齐思王 朱由楫; 14 August 1609 – 1616), third son

• Unknown

　• Princess Daoyi (悼懿公主), first daughter

　• Third daughter (d. 1623), personal name Huiheng (徽姮)

　• Princess Daoshun (悼顺公主; 1606–1607), personal name Huixuan (徽嫙), fourth daughter

　• Princess (公主; 1608–1609), personal name Huiweng (徽㜲), fifth daughter

　• Eighth daughter (b. 1611), personal name Huiwan (徽婉)

Ancestry

人物生平

早年

明神宗长子，万历十年（1582年）八月生，母恭妃王氏原是祖母李太后身边的宫人。不久，明神宗郑贵妃生三子朱常洵，深得宠爱。长子朱常洛一直受到冷遇，群臣纷纷上书要求立储，是为国本之争，明神宗要不是贬斥群臣，就是虚与委蛇地敷衍应付。祖母李太后以为不妥。一日，李太后询问神宗未立朱常洛为太子的缘故。神宗说：他是宫人所生。李太后大怒：你也是宫人所生（李太后亦是宫人出身）。神宗听后惶恐，伏地不敢起。

万历二十九年（1601年）十月，明神宗被迫册立长子朱常洛为太子，同时，立三子朱常洵为福王、五子朱常浩为瑞王、六子朱常润为惠王、七子朱常瀛为桂王。太子朱常洛以仁厚著称，朝野皆认为其将来可为明君。但常洛的地位不稳固，郑贵妃时时刻刻想要为朱常洵争夺储君之位，引发了两次妖书案，牵连众多大臣。而后，甚至有郑贵妃手下的两名宦官指使刺客，欲以木梃刺杀朱常洛，是为梃击案，神宗为了不牵连郑贵妃，将该刺客、宦官等三人全部杀死。

朱常洛被立为太子后，就移居慈庆宫，从此与其母王恭妃被隔绝不得相见。万历三十四年（1606年），朱常洛的妾侍王氏生下皇长孙朱由校（日后的明熹宗），神宗为表庆祝，为李太后加尊号，又进封王恭妃为皇贵妃，赐金册金宝，但仍将其屏居景阳宫。万历三十九年九月十三日（1611年10月18日），王恭妃病笃，朱常洛闻言急往景阳宫探视，见景阳宫门深锁，于是破坏门锁入内探视。当时王恭妃已双眼失明，于是以手代眼，拉著朱常洛的衣角：「儿长大如此，我死何恨！」言毕王恭妃便与世长辞。《酌中志》则记载为王恭妃病重时太子每日从苍震门入内问安；《先拨志始》更记载王恭妃察觉到郑贵妃家人偷听，提醒太子，结果母子俩直到王恭妃去世也没有说话。大学士叶向高说：「皇太子母妃薨，礼宜从厚。」神宗不应，复请，才得到允准。

明光宗即位与驾崩

万历四十八年（1620年）七月二十一日，明神宗驾崩。太子朱常洛立即发内帑（皇帝私房钱）百万犒赏边关将士。停止所有矿税，召回以言得罪的诸臣。不久，再发内帑百万犒边。八月即位，改元泰昌，是为明光宗。福王生母郑贵妃为了拢络明光宗，献上八个美女。明光宗纵欲过度不久病倒，太监崔文升进以泻药而狂泻。在位不足三十天的明光宗在九月初一因服用李可灼的红丸而猝死驾崩，史称红丸案。

明光宗遗诏：

为政举措

在位一个月，明光宗于群臣帮助下，推行不少政策，如：废矿税、饷边防、补官缺。

首先下令罢免全国范围内的矿监、税使，停止任何形式的的采榷活动。矿税早为人们所厌恶，所以诏书一颁布，朝野欢腾。

其次是饷边防。明光宗下令由大内银库调拨二百万两银子，发给辽东经略熊廷弼和九边巡抚按官，让他们犒赏将士；并拨给运费五千两白银，沿途支用。明光宗还专门强调，银子解到后，立刻派人下发，不得擅自入库挪为它用。

第三件事是补充官缺。朱常洛先命令礼部右侍郎、南京吏部侍郎二人为礼部尚书兼内阁大学士；随后，将何宗彦等四人均升为礼部尚书兼内阁大学士；启用卸官归田的旧辅臣叶向高，同意将因为「上疏」争国本获罪的三十三人和为矿税等获罪的十一人一概录用。因此有人感慨明光宗矫枉过正，造成了前所未有的「官满为患」的局面。

陵寝墓地

明光宗下葬的「庆陵」原是为明景帝所建，唯景帝为英宗所贬，葬于西郊金山，故空出一处皇陵。由于明光宗在位时间仅，来不及修建陵墓，故继位的长子明熹宗朱由校将光宗安葬于此陵墓。

任用官吏

内阁首辅

• 方从哲

• 吴道南

名将

• 熊廷弼

太监

• 崔文升：郑贵妃宫中内侍。

• 王安：司礼秉笔太监，劝帝行诸善政，为人刚直而疏，但善病，不能数见帝，因而魏忠贤始进。

• 魏忠贤：明末阉党领袖，与东林党激烈斗争，爆发东林党争。

家庭成员

后妃

• 皇太子妃郭氏：明神宗万历二十九（1601年年十月册为皇太子妃，万历四十一（1613年）十一月薨，谥「恭靖」。明熹宗即位，加谥「孝元昭懿哲惠庄仁合天弼圣贞皇后」。

• 才人王氏：明熹宗生母。初为选侍，明神宗万历三十二（1604年）年进才人，万历四十七（1619年）三月薨。明熹宗即位，追谥「孝和恭献温穆徽慈谐天鞠圣皇太后」。

• 淑女刘氏：明思宗生母。明熹宗即位，追封贤妃。明思宗即位，追谥「孝纯恭懿淑穆庄静毗天毓圣皇太后」。

• 李康妃：深受明光宗宠爱，时称「西李」，驾崩之前欲加封贵妃，未果。明熹宗天启四（1624年），加封康妃。

• 李庄妃：时称「东李」，明熹宗天启四（1621年），加封庄妃。

• 赵选侍，天启时候赐死。

• 王选侍，早逝。

• 傅懿妃。

• 冯敬妃。

• 邵慎嫔。

• 张襄嫔。

• 李恪嫔。

• 郭定嫔。

子女

子

• 明熹宗朱由校。

• 简怀王朱由㰒：四岁殇。

• 齐思王朱由楫：八岁殇。

• 怀惠王朱由模，五岁殇。

• 明思宗朱由检。

• 湘怀王朱由栩：早殇。

• 慧昭王朱由橏：早殇。

女

• 悼懿公主，早薨。明史未见记载，根据《熹宗实录卷》记载，悼懿公主为熹宗之姊，而熹宗为光宗皇长子，因此断定悼懿公主为光宗诸子女中最长者。而自怀淑公主以后诸公主之排行应依序顺延。

• 怀淑公主 朱徽娟，母孝元皇后郭氏。七岁早薨，追册。

• 朱徽姮，早逝。

• 朱徽嫙，早逝。

• 朱徽㜲，夭折。

• 宁德公主 朱徽妍，母傅懿妃。下嫁刘有福，卒康熙间。

• 遂平公主 朱徽婧，母傅懿妃。天启七年下嫁齐赞元。22岁薨。

• 朱徽婉，早逝。

• 乐安公主 朱徽媞（一说「徽娖」），母李康妃。下嫁巩永固。

• 朱徽妱，夭折。

• 悼温公主 朱徽姃，母邵慎嫔。夭折。

人物评价

《明实录》：「自古帝皇仁心仁闻洽于天下，未有不须久道而后成者，必世后仁圣人言之矣。乃光宗贞皇帝在位仅三旬，升遐之日，深山穷谷莫不奔走悲号，何？圣化之神感孚若是速也。盖帝睿质夙成，蚤亲师传，养德青宫已洞悉四海之难艰。故当神皇晏驾时，遗诏未颁，德音据播 ；大宝初嗣，仁政沛施。捐朽蠹而九塞饱腾，撤狐蟊而廛劝动政。地广股肱之助，谏垣充耳目之司。黄发并升于公庭，白驹不滞于空谷。至于虚怀延接一月，而三召臣工锐意图。几浃旬而两蠲而税额 。德意独行，独断爕理，莫施其功，威权自揽。自综执月，御不参其柄。铄乎盛矣，旷千古而仅见者也，乃其尤难者以何思何虑之天，处若危若疑之地。冲龄出讲，已历艰辛，而容色温然，动止泰然。内庭有菀枯之形，若勿知也者；外庭有羽翼之激，若勿闻也者。即册立，寻常事耳。时而举碁，时而反汗。大臣去，小臣谴，宜何如动于耳目者。 而帝也，有夔夔无栗栗。潜之又潜，巧伺者不能窥，善孽者不能中。福藩就国，恸哭抱持。张差发难，帝侍神皇。左右亲传睿旨，晓谕百官群嚣遂息，所全实多。登极后即遵遗命进封皇贵妃，廷臣力争，竟不忍夺以戚畹，哀请而后止，毫不芥蒂于前事也。此即虞舜大孝何以加兹？以舜之孝，扩尧之仁，然则帝之所以感动人心又自有在，而非仅仅更张注措之迹者矣。夫官天下者，寿在令名；家天下者，寿在长世。神皇即不豫，何难四十日留也。使帝之出震未及而干蛊，莫施天下之事将不可知。然则我国家亿万年无疆之祚，皆帝四十日之所延也。帝之功德又岂但在普天之思慕已哉，天眷宗社不虗也。」

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