Childhood and youth, appointment as heir to the throne

Zhu Changluo, the future Taichang Emperor, was born in 1582, during the tenth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, as the emperor's first son. His mother, Lady Wang, was a servant of Empress Dowager Li, the Wanli Emperor's mother. Although the Wanli Emperor initially wanted nothing to do with the child, Lady Li convinced him to acknowledge paternity by presenting records of his visits. She also pushed for Lady Wang's promotion to imperial concubine with the title "Consort Gong". However, the emperor's interest in Lady Wang quickly faded as he became infatuated with another concubine, Lady Zheng, who also bore him a son named Zhu Changxun (1586–1641). As a result, Zhu Changluo, despite being the eldest, was ignored by the emperor.

In 1586, the question of succession arose when the emperor promoted Lady Zheng to the rank of "Imperial Noble Consort" (Huang Guifei), placing her just below the empress and above his other concubines, including Lady Wang. It was evident to those around him that he preferred Lady Zheng's son Zhu Changxun—his third son (the second had died in infancy)—to succeed him rather than Zhu Changluo. This caused a division among officials, with some advocating for the rights of the first son based on legal primogeniture, while others supported Lady Zheng. In response to the widespread support for the eldest son, the emperor delayed making a decision. He justified the delay by stating that he was waiting for a son from the empress. When the request was made to appoint Zhu Changluo as crown prince at the age of eight so that his education could officially begin, the emperor defended himself by saying that princes were traditionally taught by eunuchs.

In 1589, the emperor agreed to appoint Zhu Changluo as his successor. However, this decision was met with opposition from Lady Zheng, causing controversy and, two years later, even arrests when a pamphlet was circulated in Beijing accusing her of conspiring against the emperor's eldest son with some high officials. Despite this, the emperor tried to portray Lady Zheng in a positive light to the public.

The failure to name a successor sparked protests from not only opposition-minded officials, but also high dignitaries such as grand secretaries Shen Shixing (in office 1578–91) and Wang Xijue (in office 1584–91 and 1593–94). The empress and Empress Dowager Li also supported the rights of Zhu Changluo. However, it was not until 1601, under pressure from further protests and requests, that the Wanli Emperor finally appointed Zhu Changluo as crown prince. At the same time, Zhu Changxun was given the title of Prince of Fu, but he was kept in Beijing instead of being sent to the province as originally planned when he turned eighteen in 1604. This fueled rumors that the question of succession was still open. It was not until 1614, after a long series of appeals and protests, that the emperor's mother intervened and insisted on sending Zhu Changxun to the provincial seat.

Case of the attack with the stick

Related to the succession debates was the "case of the attack with the stick". In late May 1615, a man named Zhang Chai was arrested near the palace of Zhu Changluo for carrying a stick. It was later discovered that Zhang Chai was mentally unstable and had intended to use the stick to resolve a conflict with two eunuchs he did not get along with. Initially, the case was closed and Zhang Chai was executed. However, prison official Wang Zhicai intervened and pushed for a public investigation involving representatives from the Ministry of Justice. This new version of the case suggested that Zhang Chai was mentally sound and had been manipulated by two eunuchs close to Lady Zheng and her brother. This raised suspicions that their goal was to kill the heir and install Lady Zheng's son in his place. The case caused a stir at court and the Wanli Emperor took the unprecedented step of summoning civil and military officials from the Beijing authorities for a meeting. This was the first time the emperor had met with officials from the "outer court" since 1602. He appeared before them with his family, including Zhu Changluo, Zhu Changluo's sons and daughter, and expressed his disappointment and disbelief that they would doubt his relationship with the heir in whom he trusted and relied upon. Zhu Changluo also confirmed his close relationship with his father and asked for an end to the whole affair. Despite this, the emperor ordered the execution of Zhang Chai and the two eunuchs involved in the case. However, representatives from the Ministry of Justice demanded further investigation and the grand secretaries brokered a compromise. Zhang Chai was executed the next day, but the suspected eunuchs were to be interrogated. The interrogation did take place, but both eunuchs remained under the supervision of the emperor's eunuchs. On the fifth day after the emperor's speech, the officials were informed that the eunuchs had died. The case then fell silent.

Emperor

On 18 August 1620, the Wanli Emperor died. His son, Zhu Changluo, officially took the throne on 28 August 1620 (the first day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar). Many people in Beijing saw this new monarch as a chance for a fresh start. As he was not related to his father, there was hope that he would abandon the Wanli Emperor's policies. On 19 August, 1 million liang (37.3 tons) of silver from the palace treasury was sent to defend the northeastern borders, due to the critical situation in Liaodong, where Nurhaci's Jurchens were attacking. Additionally, the mining and commercial taxes that had been introduced in the 1590s were abolished, and the eunuch tax commissioners, who were responsible for collecting these taxes, were recalled from the provinces. All of these actions were carried out in accordance with the last wishes of the deceased emperor. On 21 August, the Taichang Emperor sent another million liang of silver to Liaodong.

Zhu Changluo chose the name Taichang for his era, symbolizing peace and prosperity in contrast to the turmoil of the previous reign. To address the long-standing issue of vacant positions in the administration, the new emperor appointed many critics of the previous government who had been removed from their positions for opposing the Wanli Emperor. Among the first to be summoned were Zuo Yuanbiao (; 1551–1624) and Feng Congwu (; 1556–1627), both associated with the Donglin movement. The Donglin supporters had largely supported Zhu Changluo during the dispute over the succession in the 1580s and 1590s.

Illness and death, the Red Pill Case

Three days after his enthronement, the Taichang Emperor fell ill. On 5 September, his condition worsened, and he called for a physician. During audiences on 8 and 9 September, he appeared unwell and soon took to his bed. On 13 September, he was visited again by the physician and a group of officials. The emperor complained of insomnia and loss of appetite. The officials were concerned and when they heard that Cui Wensheng, the eunuch in charge of the imperial clinic, had given the emperor a laxative, they accused him of incompetence. The officials believed that the emperor needed strengthening medicine instead. The emperor refused to accept the accusation, but also stopped taking the mentioned medicine.

Several days passed with Taichang officiating from his bed, but on 17 September, he became overwhelmed and began to speak of his impending death. During a visit from concerned officials, led by Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, on 25 September, the emperor requested red pills, which he had heard were being produced by Li Keshao, an assistant director in the Court of State Ceremonial. Li later testified that he believed his pills helped strengthen the emperor's diseased body. That same day, the imperial guards and eunuchs brought Li Keshao to the emperor, who ordered him to make the pills. In the presence of the aforementioned (thirteen) officials, Li made the pills using lead, autumn mineral, human milk and cinnabar—all tonic drugs in traditional Chinese medicine—which were provided to him by the emperor's eunuchs. He then gave one pill to the emperor, who felt relieved and became hungry, requesting another pill. However, Li refused, stating that one pill was enough and two would be too many. The emperor then sent Li Keshao and the officials home after midnight. The following morning at dawn, the eunuchs announced that the emperor had died. Some members of the Donglin movement accused Li Keshao and Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe of poisoning the emperor, while others among the thirteen officials present took a more cautious approach, attempting to absolve themselves of any negligence. The controversy surrounding the red pills—whether they caused the emperor's death intentionally or unintentionally—sparked heated debates and accusations over the next few years.

After the Taichang Emperor's death, a power struggle emerged over the succession of his fourteen-year-old successor, Zhu Youjiao. Lady Li, the Taichang Emperor's favored concubine, clashed with the ministers and grand secretaries for control. Despite Lady Li's resistance and that of her eunuchs, the eunuchs loyal to the officials ultimately handed the boy over to them and banished Lady Li to another palace. Zhu Youjiao officially ascended to the throne on 1 October 1620.

Family

Consorts and issue

• Empress Xiaoyuanzhen, of the Guo clan (; 1580–1613)

　• Princess Huaishu (; 1604–1610), personal name Huijian, second daughter

• Empress Dowager Xiaohe, of the Wang clan (; 1582–1619)

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

　• Zhu Youxue, Prince Huai of Jian (; 1607–1610), second son

• Empress Dowager Xiaochun, of the Liu clan (; 1588–1615)

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

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

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

　• Princess Ningde, personal name Huiyan, sixth daughter

　　• Married Liu Youfu in 1626

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

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

　• Zhu Youxu, Prince Huai of Xiang, sixth son

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

　• Zhu Youmo, Prince Hui of Huai (; 30 November 1610 – 1615), fourth son

　• Princess Le'an (; 1611–1643), personal name Huiti, ninth daughter

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

　• Zhu Huizhao, (; 1616–1617), tenth daughter

• Consort Jing, of the Feng clan

　• Zhu Youshan, Prince Zhao of Hui (; b. 1620), seventh son

• Concubine Shen, of the Shao clan

　• Princess Daowen (; 1621–1621), personal name Huizheng, 11th daughter

• Concubine Xiang, of the Zhang clan

• Concubine Ke, of the Li clan

• Concubine Ding, of the Guo clan

• Lady of Selected Service, of the Wang clan

　• Zhu Youji, Prince Si of Qi (; 14 August 1609 – 1616), third son

• Lady of Selected Service, of the Zhao clan (; d. 1620)

• Unknown

　• Princess Daoyi, first daughter

　• Zhu Huiheng, third daughter

　• Princess Daoshun (; 1606–1607), personal name Huixian, fourth daughter

　• Zhu Huiweng, (; 1608–1609), fifth daughter

　• Zhu Huiwan, eighth daughter

人物生平

早年

朱常洛系明神宗長子，萬曆十年八月十一日（1582年8月28日）生，母恭妃王氏原是祖母李太后身邊的宮人。不久，明神宗鄭貴妃生三子朱常洵，深得寵愛。長子朱常洛一直受到冷遇，群臣紛紛上書要求立儲，是為國本之爭，明神宗要不是貶斥群臣，就是虛與委蛇地敷衍應付。祖母李太后以為不妥。一日，李太后詢問神宗未立朱常洛為太子的緣故。神宗說：「他是宮人所生。」李太后大怒道：「你也是宮人所生（李太后亦是宮人出身）。」神宗聽後惶恐，伏地不敢起。

萬曆二十九年（1601年）十月，明神宗被迫冊立長子朱常洛為太子，同時，立三子朱常洵為福王、五子朱常浩為瑞王、六子朱常潤為惠王、七子朱常瀛為桂王。太子朱常洛以仁厚著稱，朝野皆認為其將來可為明君。但常洛的地位不穩固，鄭貴妃時時刻刻想要為朱常洵爭奪儲君之位，引發了兩次妖書案，牽連眾多大臣。而後，甚至有鄭貴妃手下的兩名宦官指使刺客，欲以木梃刺殺朱常洛，是為梃擊案，神宗為了不牽連鄭貴妃，將該刺客、宦官等三人全部殺死。

朱常洛被立為太子後，就移居慈慶宮，從此與其母王恭妃被隔絕不得相見。萬曆三十四年（1606年），朱常洛的妾侍王氏生下皇長孫朱由校（日後的明熹宗），神宗為表慶祝，為李太后加尊號，又進封王恭妃為皇貴妃，賜金冊金寶，但仍將其屏居景陽宮。萬曆三十九年九月十三日（1611年10月18日），王恭妃病篤，朱常洛聞言急往景陽宮探視，見景陽宮門深鎖，于是破壞門鎖入內探視。當時王恭妃已雙眼失明，于是以手代眼，拉著朱常洛的衣角：「兒長大如此，我死何恨！」言畢王恭妃便與世長辭。《酌中志》則記載為王恭妃病重時太子每日從蒼震門入內問安；《先撥志始》更記載王恭妃察覺到鄭貴妃家人偷聽，提醒太子，結果母子倆直到王恭妃去世也沒有說話。大學士葉向高說：「皇太子母妃薨，禮宜從厚。」神宗不應，複請，才得到允准。

明光宗即位與駕崩

萬曆四十八年（1620年）七月二十一日，明神宗駕崩。太子朱常洛立即發內帑（皇帝私房錢）百萬犒賞邊關將士。停止所有礦稅，召回以言得罪的諸臣。不久，再發內帑百萬犒邊。八月即位，改元泰昌，是為明光宗。福王生母鄭貴妃為了攏絡明光宗，獻上八個美少女。八名美少女同時與明光宗發生性行為，明光宗樂此不疲，太監崔文升進以春藥。在位不足三十天的明光宗在九月初一因服用李可灼的紅丸春藥而突然死亡，史稱紅丸案。

明光宗遺詔：

為政舉措

在位一個月，明光宗於群臣幫助下，推行不少政策，如：廢礦稅、餉邊防、補官缺。

首先下令罷免全國範圍內的礦監、稅使，停止任何形式的的採榷活動，礦稅的拖欠當年七月以前一概蠲免。礦稅早為人們所厭惡，所以詔書一頒布，朝野歡騰。

光宗皇帝即位後，對各省小民拖欠的九厘遼餉，下令蠲免20%。

第三件事是補充官缺。朱常洛先命令禮部右侍郎、南京吏部侍郎二人為禮部尚書兼內閣大學士；隨後，將何宗彥等四人均升為禮部尚書兼內閣大學士；啟用卸官歸田的舊輔臣葉向高，同意將因為「上疏」爭國本獲罪的三十三人和為礦稅等獲罪的十一人一概錄用。因此有人感慨明光宗矯枉過正，造成了前所未有的「官滿為患」的局面。

陵寢墓地

明光宗下葬的「慶陵」原是為明景帝所建，唯景帝為英宗所貶，葬于西郊金山，故空出一處皇陵。由于明光宗在位時間僅，來不及修建陵墓，故繼位的長子明熹宗朱由校將光宗安葬于此陵墓。

任用官吏

內閣首輔

• 方從哲

• 吳道南

名將

• 熊廷弼

太監

• 崔文升：鄭貴妃宮中內侍。

• 王安：司禮秉筆太監，勸帝行諸善政，為人剛直而疏，但善病，不能數見帝，因而魏忠賢始進。

• 魏忠賢：明末閹黨領袖，與東林黨激烈鬥爭，爆發東林黨爭。

家庭成員

后妃

• 皇太子妃郭氏：萬曆二十九年冊為皇太子妃，萬曆四十一年薨，年三十四歲，謚恭靖皇太子妃。明熹宗即位後，加謚孝元昭懿哲惠莊仁合天弼聖貞皇后，遷葬慶陵、祔廟。生皇二女懷淑公主朱徽娟。

• 才人王氏：初為選侍，萬曆三十二年進才人，萬曆四十七年三月薨，年三十八歲。明熹宗追謚孝和恭獻溫穆徽慈諧天鞠聖皇太后，遷葬慶陵。生皇長子明熹宗、皇二子簡懷王朱由㰒。

• 淑女劉氏：萬曆四十二年失上意被譴死，年二十七歲。明熹宗即位後，追封賢妃。明思宗追謚孝純恭懿淑穆莊靜毘天毓聖皇太后，遷葬慶陵。生皇五子明思宗。

• 選侍李氏：深受明光宗寵愛，時稱「西李」，撫養過明熹宗、明思宗一段時間。原為選侍，明光宗命冊為皇貴妃，駕崩未果。明熹宗即位後，移宮案強行移居仁壽殿，天啟四年冊為康妃。甲申之變從宮中逃出，後回到京師，由清廷贍養終身。康熙十三年薨，年八十餘歲。生皇四子懷惠王朱由模、皇八女樂安公主、皇十女朱徽妱。

• 選侍李氏：時稱「東李」，撫養過明思宗一段時間。原為選侍，明光宗即位後一個月崩，未冊封姬妾。明熹宗天啟三年冊為莊妃，天啟四年薨，年三十七歲。

• 選侍趙氏，天啟年間賜死。

• 選侍王氏，早逝。生皇三子齊思王朱由楫。

• 選侍傅氏，初為淑女，後為選侍。明光宗即位後命冊為妃，駕崩未果。明熹宗即位後將她強行移往別宮，天啟四年冊為懿妃。崇禎十四年，曾經幫助崇禎帝繪畫了最初同為淑女的孝純皇太后的肖像。據白洋澱的地方志，甲申之變逃到了白洋澱鄉間，同年薨，年五十七歲。生皇六女寧德公主、皇七女遂平公主。

• 馮氏，明光宗即位後一個月崩，未冊封姬妾。明熹宗即位後未加尊封。明思宗冊為敬妃。甲申之變從宮中逃出，後回到京師，由清廷贍養終身。生皇七子慧昭王朱由橏。

• 邵氏，明光宗即位後一個月崩，未冊封姬妾。明熹宗即位後未加尊封。明思宗冊為慎嬪。甲申之變從宮中逃出，後回到京師，由清廷贍養終身。生皇十一女悼溫公主朱徽姃。

• 淑女張氏，原為淑女，明光宗即位後一個月崩，未冊封姬妾。明熹宗即位後幽禁在乾西，未加尊封。明思宗冊為襄嬪。甲申之變從宮中逃出，後回到京師，由清廷贍養終身。

• 淑女李氏，原為淑女。明光宗即位後一個月崩，未冊封姬妾。明熹宗即位後幽禁在乾西，未加尊封。明思宗冊為恪嬪。甲申之變從宮中逃出，後回到京師，由清廷贍養終身。

• 淑女郭氏，原為淑女。明光宗即位後一個月崩，未冊封姬妾。明熹宗即位後幽禁在乾西五所，未加尊封。明思宗冊為定嬪。甲申之變從宮中逃出，後回到京師，由清廷贍養終身。

子女

子

• 皇長子明熹宗朱由校。母孝和皇太后王氏。

• 皇二子簡懷王朱由㰒：四歲殤。天啟年間，明熹宗追封。母孝和皇太后王氏。

• 皇三子齊思王朱由楫：八歲殤。崇禎年間，朱由檢追封。母選侍王氏。

• 皇四子懷惠王朱由模，五歲殤。崇禎年間，朱由檢追封。母康妃李氏。

• 皇五子明思宗朱由檢。母孝純皇太后劉氏。

• 皇六子湘懷王朱由栩：出生後夭折。崇禎年間，朱由檢追封並賜名。

• 皇七子慧昭王朱由橏：出生後夭折。崇禎年間，朱由檢追封並賜名，母馮氏追封敬妃。

女

• 皇長女悼懿公主，早薨。《明史》無載，根據《熹宗實錄卷》記載，悼懿公主為熹宗之姊，而熹宗為光宗皇長子，因此斷定悼懿公主為光宗諸子女中最長者。而自懷淑公主以後諸公主之排行應依序順延。

• 皇二女懷淑公主朱徽娟，七歲殤。明熹宗追封。母孝元皇后郭氏。

• 皇三女朱徽姮（1605年後？－1623年？），早薨。《明熹宗實錄》記載『天啟三年七月辛卯文書房傳出黑字揭帖，朕妹封長公主于天啟三年七月初二日卯時薨逝，合行書宜照雲和公主（明神宗第三女）例行。』母不詳。

• 皇四女朱徽嫙，萬曆三十四年十月生，《明神宗實錄》記載『皇太子第三女』，次年正月賜名，萬曆三十五年十一月戊辰日薨，年方周歲。明思宗追封，謚悼順。庶出，母不詳。

• 皇五女朱徽㜲，萬曆三十六年七月生，出生百日賜名，次年薨，年方周歲。明思宗追封。庶出，母不詳。

• 皇六女寧德公主朱徽妍，天啟六年尚劉有福，康熙年間卒。母懿妃傅氏。

• 皇七女遂平公主朱徽婧，天啟六年尚齊贊元，生四女。崇禎六年薨，年二十二歲。母懿妃傅氏。

• 皇八女朱徽婉（1611年－？），封號不詳，早薨，未出降。庶出，母不詳。

• 皇九女樂安公主朱徽娖（一說「徽媞」），尚鞏永固。母康妃李氏。

• 皇十女朱徽妱，萬曆四十四年十月生，出生三日告奉先殿，賜宴輔臣，然而不到百日夭折，未取名。明思宗追封並賜名。母康妃李氏。

• 皇十一女悼溫公主朱徽姃，父明光宗遺腹女，夭折。母慎嬪邵氏

人物評價

《明實錄》：「自古帝皇仁心仁聞洽于天下，未有不須久道而後成者，必世後仁聖人言之矣。乃光宗貞皇帝在位僅三旬，升遐之日，深山窮谷莫不奔走悲號，何？聖化之神感孚若是速也。蓋帝睿質夙成，蚤親師傳，養德青宮已洞悉四海之難艱。故當神皇晏駕時，遺詔未頒，德音據播 ；大寶初嗣，仁政沛施。捐朽蠹而九塞飽騰，撤狐蟊而廛勸動政。地廣股肱之助，諫垣充耳目之司。黃髮並升于公庭，白駒不滯于空谷。至于虛懷延接一月，而三召臣工銳意圖。幾浹旬而兩蠲而稅額 。德意獨行，獨斷爕理，莫施其功，威權自攬。自綜執月，御不參其柄。鑠乎盛矣，曠千古而僅見者也，乃其尤難者以何思何慮之天，處若危若疑之地。衝齡出講，已歷艱辛，而容色溫然，動止泰然。內庭有菀枯之形，若勿知也者；外庭有羽翼之激，若勿聞也者。即冊立，尋常事耳。時而舉碁，時而反汗。大臣去，小臣譴，宜何如動于耳目者。 而帝也，有夔夔無慄慄。潛之又潛，巧伺者不能窺，善孽者不能中。福藩就國，慟哭抱持。張差發難，帝侍神皇。左右親傳睿旨，曉諭百官群囂遂息，所全實多。登極後即遵遺命進封皇貴妃，廷臣力爭，竟不忍奪以戚畹，哀請而後止，毫不芥蔕于前事也。此即虞舜大孝何以加茲？以舜之孝，擴堯之仁，然則帝之所以感動人心又自有在，而非僅僅更張注措之跡者矣。夫官天下者，壽在令名；家天下者，壽在長世。神皇即不豫，何難四十日留也。使帝之出震未及而幹蠱，莫施天下之事將不可知。然則我國家億萬年無疆之祚，皆帝四十日之所延也。帝之功德又豈但在普天之思慕已哉，天眷宗社不虗也。」

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