A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Yung Chêng
2577 Yung Chêng 雍正. A.D. 1677-1735. The title of the reign of 胤 Yin or 允禎 Yün-chên, the fourth son of the Emperor K'ang Hsi, whom he succeeded in 1722. His first act was to render harmless by degradation or confinement such of his brothers as had contended for the succession. The fact that some of his opponents were Christians turned him against that religion, and all Catholic missionaries were thenceforward obliged to live either at Peking or at Macao. In 1732 he thought of expelling them, but finding that they inculcated filial obedience he left them alone, merely prohibiting fresh recruits from coming to China. Terrible floods and a great earthquake in Peking in 1730 were met by liberal relief measures, and the Emperor proved just and public-spirited and anxious for his people's welfare. He was averse to war, and did not carry on his father's vigorous policy in Central Asia; nevertheless by 1730 the Chinese rule extended to the Laos border, and the Shan States paid tribute. He was a man of letters, and completed some of his father's undertakings. Canonised as 世宗憲皇帝.