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.
436
Chu Ch'i-yü 朱祁鈺. A.D. 1428-1457. Brother of Chu Ch'i-chên, on whose capture by the Oirads in 1449 he became Regent, subsequently ascending the throne as seventh Emperor of the Ming dynasty. The attack of the Oirads on Peking was beaten off, and in 1450 they sued for peace. A devout Buddhist, he built a vast new temple at the suggestion of a eunuch; and under the same influence he set up his own son as Heir Apparent in place of his nephew. Money was scarce, and in 1453 entry into the Imperial Academy was to be bought. An attempt was made to replace cash by notes, but the people would not permit it. In 1453 his son died, and in 1457, as he persistently refused to nominate his nephew to be his successor, he was deposed in favour of his predecessor and died soon afterwards. Known in
it. In 1453 his son died, and in 1457, as he persistently refused
history as 代宗 or 景帝.
437
Chu Chia 朱家. 2nd and 3rd cent. B.C. A famous knight-errant of the Han dynasty, contemporary with Liu Pang. He had over 100 retainers and crowds of servants; yet he was neither haughty nor overbearing, but always ready to sacrifice himself for others. He once saved the life of Chi Pu by receiving him when a fugitive from the wrath of Liu Pang; yet when the latter became a great man, he made no claim upon him for the service he had formerly rendered.
