Zhang Juzheng
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Zhang Juzheng or Chang Chü-cheng 張居正 (1525 - 1582) was a powerful Grand Secretary in the Ming Dynasty under the Longqing and Wanli emperors. Zhang was born in Jiangling, Hubei province, China and died in Beijing.
His benevolent rule and strong foreign and economic policies are considered to have brought the Ming Dynasty to its peak. He is credited with centralizing government, limiting special privileges, and reclaiming tax-exempt land. Zhang also played a very important role as mentor and regent during the early years of the reign of Emperor Wanli. He strongly influenced the young emperor and guided Wanli through his teenage years. However after Zhang died in 1582, many of his reforms and policies were ignored which slowly led to the disintegration of the dynasty in the years ahead. After his death, his family was purged and his wealth and estate confiscated on the Emperor's order. Zhang would only be reinstated more than half a century later, just before the downfall of the Ming dynasty.
[edit] In literature
Zhang Juzheng (Wade-Giles: Chang Chü-cheng) is an important character in Ray Huang's 1587: A Year of No Significance, a well-known documentary book on the period. A popular book by mainland Chinese Internet writer "Dang Nian Ming Yue", called "The Ming Dynasty's Events", also featured Zhang Juzheng as a main character.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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