Jiang Bin (Ming dynasty)

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Jiang Bin (Chinese: 江彬; pinyin: Jiāng Bīn; d. 1521) was a Chinese officer and a favorite of the Zhengde Emperor, the emperor of the Ming dynasty. He rose to become one of the most influential men in Ming China, starting from 1512. However, after Zhengde's death in 1521, Jiang Bin's attempts to gain power were unsuccessful. The new government, led by Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe, ultimately executed him.

Biography[edit]

Jiang Bin was a cavalry officer from a military household who was assigned to the garrison at Xuanfu. He was known for his exceptional archery skills and in 1511, he proved his prowess in battles against rebels in Nanzhili.[1] Despite being hit by three arrows, one of them in the ear, Jiang Bin continued to fight with determination.[2] In 1512,[2] he managed to secure an audience with the Zhengde Emperor by bribing Qian Ning (錢寧).[1] The young and impressive twenty-year-old caught the emperor's attention with his strength and bravery, as well as his captivating tales of battle. However, Qian Ning's support for Jiang Bin waned when he realized that he was losing influence.[2]

Jiang Bin suggested to the emperor that a rotation of units be introduced. He argued that the garrison in the capital lacked combat experience and would not be able to effectively fight against the rebels. Therefore, he proposed that experienced units from the borderlands be summoned to Beijing, while soldiers from the capital be sent to the borders to gain experience. Despite facing opposition from Grand Secretary Li Dongyang, the emperor implemented this reform[2] and placed the troops under Jiang Bin's command.[3]

In 1516, the Zhengde Emperor, who was tired of constant criticism from officials, began to consider the idea of going to Xuanfu. Jiang Bin, in an attempt to distance Zhengde from Qian Ning, convinced the emperor that Xuanfu had better musicians and women, and that he would have real skirmishes with the Mongols in the borderlands instead of simulated battles in Beijing.[4] In the autumn of 1517, the emperor traveled to the borderlands and stayed there for two years. Jiang Bin served as his first adjutant, and for his role in a successful battle with the Mongols in October 1517, he was appointed as a count.[5] Specifically, he was given the title of Count of Pinglu (平虜伯, Pinglu bo).

In the years 1519–1521, Jiang Bin accompanied the emperor on his journey to Nanjing. However, upon their return to Beijing, the emperor passed away without naming a successor. Jiang Bin then attempted to take control of the imperial city and place Zhu Junzhang, a prince from Datong and a distant relative of the emperor, on the throne. His first step was to forge a decree on 15 April, which gave him authority over the border troops stationed in Beijing. However, his plan was unsuccessful as he was not present when the emperor died on 20 April. Instead, two eunuchs recorded the emperor's supposed last words,[6] in which he named his mother, Empress Dowager Zhang, and the Grand Secretaries as rulers of the empire.[7] Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe proposed that the emperor's closest cousin, thirteen-year-old Zhu Houcong, son of the recently deceased Zhu Youyuan, Prince of Xing, be named as the new emperor. He gained the support of Lady Zhang and the government for this decision.[7]

However, Jiang Bin still had an army at his disposal. He returned to the Forbidden City on 22 April, when Yang Tinghe informed him of the decree to return the border troops from Beijing to the border, effectively stripping him of his main support. Despite being urged by his allies to take action, Jiang hesitated[7] until he was finally arrested on 24 April. Yang Tinghe obtained consent for his arrest from the eunuch-heads of the Directorate of Ceremonial (Wei Pin and Zhang Ruyi) in exchange for the immunity of the other eunuchs. Only Jiang's allies among the officers were arrested.[8] As a result, Jiang's fortune, consisting of 70 chests of gold, 2,200 chests of silver, and other valuables, was confiscated and he was ultimately executed.[9]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b Israel (2009), p. 139.
  2. ^ a b c d Geiss (1988), p. 414.
  3. ^ Geiss (1988), p. 415.
  4. ^ Geiss (1988), p. 418.
  5. ^ Goodrich & Fang (1976), p. 312.
  6. ^ Geiss (1988), p. 436.
  7. ^ a b c Geiss (1988), p. 437.
  8. ^ Geiss (1988), p. 438.
  9. ^ Goodrich & Fang (1976), p. 313.

Works cited[edit]

  • Israel, George Lawrence (2009). On the Margins of the Grand Unity: Empire, Violence, and Ethnicity in the Virtue Ethics and Political Practice of Wang Yangming (1472-1529). Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest. ISBN 9780549910312.
  • Geiss, James (1988). "The Cheng-te reign, 1506-1521". In Twitchett, Denis; Fairbank, John K (eds.). The Cambridge History of China Volume 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368–1644, Part 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 403–439. ISBN 0521243327.
  • Goodrich, L. Carington; Fang, Chaoying (1976). Dictionary of Ming Biography, 1368-1644. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-03801-1.
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