Wang Zhen
The favored eunuch of Emperor Yingzong of Ming, who pushed the emperor into leading a campaign in person and brought about the Tumu Crisis.
Life
Companion to the crown prince
Wang Zhen was a native of Yuzhou who had some education. He castrated himself to enter palace service and, in the Eastern Palace, attended the crown prince Zhu Qizhen in his studies, winning his deep trust.
Dominating power through the Directorate of Ceremonial
After Yingzong took the throne, Wang Zhen took charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial and seized power by exploiting the emperor's youth. Once the "Three Yangs" had died one after another, nobody could restrain him. According to the records he even removed the iron plaque set up by Zhu Yuanzhang reading "Palace servants may not interfere in government," and he lorded it over everyone, with the officials calling him "Venerable Father."
Tumu Crisis
In 1449, when Esen of the Oirats invaded from the north, Wang Zhen urged Yingzong to lead a campaign in person. Through his mismanagement of command the army was surrounded by the Oirats at Tumubao, Yingzong was captured, and Wang Zhen himself died in the chaos of battle.
Legacy
Wang Zhen began the pattern of eunuch domination in the Ming dynasty, and the Tumu Crisis he single-handedly brought about was the turning point in the Ming's decline.
Did you know? According to the records, amid the chaos of the routed army at Tumu Fortress he was beaten to death with an iron hammer by the guard general Fan Zhong.
Key dates
- 1435Took charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial and began to dominate power
- 1442Removed the iron plaque forbidding eunuchs to interfere in government (approx.)
- 1449Pushed Yingzong into a personal campaign; killed in the Tumu Crisis