Annam was left to itself, and the north-western frontier which he occasionally visited was withdrawn to a point in 宣化 Hsüan-hua in Chihli. A well-meaning monarch, he lightened the grain tribute, allowed commutation in rice for all penalties, and in 1429 established custom-houses at important centres. By organising within the palace a school for youthful eunuchs, he fostered their growing power. His favourite concubine, who palmed off on the childless monarch a supposititious son, succeeded in displacing the Empress. Canonised as 宣宗章皇帝.
433
Chu Ch'ang-lo 朱常洛. A.D. 1582-1620. Son of Chu I-chün, whom he succeeded in 1620 as fourteenth Emperor of the Ming dynasty. On his accession the mining taxes were abolished, and the eunuch collectors were recalled. He died after a reign of two months under suspicious circumstances, and his father's favourite, the concubine Chêng, in vain tried to retain power by taking possession of his eldest son. She was forced to retire, and two eunuchs, of whom one was the infamous Wei Chung-hsien, obtained control of the Emperor. Canonised as 光宗貞皇帝.
434
Chu Chi-wêng 祝雞翁. The surname and sobriquet of an old hermit, who lived under the Chou dynasty and amused himself by breeding chickens.
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
