A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Chu Chi-chên
435 Chu Chi-chên 朱祁鎮. A.D. 1427—1464. The supposititious son of Chu Chau-chi, whom he succeeded in 1435 as sixth Emperor of the Ming dynasty. The Empress, acting as Regent, left the administration to the Grand Secretariat. The Emperor fell under the malign influence of Wang Chen, a eunuch who had been his constant companion as a boy, and became a devout Buddhist, spending vast sums on temples. The Oirads gave continual trouble, to say nothing of three expeditions against 麓川 Lu-ch'uan in Yünnan, and in 1449 the Emperor led an army against them. He was routed and captured by their chieftain 也先 Yeh-hsien, Wang Chên and many others being slain. Next year he was released and lived in seclusion until, on his brother's refusal to appoint his nephew his successor, Shih Hêng and the eunuch Ts'ao Chi-hsiaug forced him to re-ascend the throne. During his second term he was a mere puppet in the hands of Shih Hêng and Ts'ao Chi-hsiang; and after their fall in 1461, of another eunuch named Mên Ta, who was ultimately banished to Kuangsi. He was the first of the Ming sovereigns who gave orders that none of his concubines should be sacrificed at his death. Canonised as 英宗睿皇帝.