Perpetual Happiness: The Ming Emperor Yongle

by Shih-Shan Henry Tsai

The reign of Emperor Yongle, or "Perpetual Happiness," was one of the most dramatic and significant in Chinese history. It began with civil war and a bloody coup, saw the construction of the Forbidden City, the completion of the Grand Canal, consolidation of the imperial bureaucracy, and expansion of China's territory into Mongolia, Manchuria, and Vietnam.

Beginning with an hour-by-hour account of one day in Yongle's court, Shih-shan Henry Tsai presents the multiple dimensions of the life of Yongle (Zhu Di, 1360-1424) in fascinating detail. Tsai examines the role of birth, education, and tradition in molding the emperor's personality and values, and paints a rich portrait of a man characterized by stark contrasts. Synthesizing primary and secondary source materials, he has crafted a colorful biography of the most renowned of the Ming emperors.

The open access publication of this book was made possible by a grant from the James P. Geiss and Margaret Y. Hsu Foundation.

Genres: China, History, Nonfiction, Biography

286 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

SHIH-SHAN HENRY TSAI is professor of history and director of Asian studies at the University of Arkansas. He is the author of four books, including Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty.

(from https://www.washington.edu/uwpress/se...)

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-crafted, very readable introduction to the Ming emperor Yongle, full of both rich factual content and fascinating details that weave together many bits of information you probably already know but perhaps have not yet connected (for example, the relationship many Southeast and East Asian countries had with Yongle and his court that ranged from very good [Korea], to not-so-good [Annam or Vietnam]; how the 8 tones of Chinese music are tied to particular instruments; the difference between Mongols, Manchus and Tartars and the complexities of their relationships; the popularity of Korean court concubines; the use of eunuchs as agents in the tea-horse trade, the completion of the Grand Canal, building of Beijing's Forbidden City, and more). It's a perfect introduction to 14th/15th century China--meticulously researched (with references in the end notes), and then written to fascinate, entertain and educate general readers interested in Chinese (and Asian) history.

Yongle was the founding Ming emperor Hongwu's fourth son (born Zhu Di, or the Prince of Yan), who usurped the throne from the designated heir apparent after their father's death in the 4th year (?) of his older brother's rule...and then tried to expunge his name and memory from Ming history. In doing so, he expanded and defended the empire, re-established Chinese society after a century of foreign (Mongol) rule, created the world's largest encyclopedia of its time, moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing, and sent out the eunuch Admiral Zheng He who became one of history's greatest explorers.

Nine chapters cover his life and accomplishments (and shortfalls--ego, temper, and a tendency to imprison and punish court nay-sayers)...and there is enough information on Hongwu to make it a good introduction to the early years of the Ming Dynasty in general.

An excellent bibliography and a list of Chinese names in Chinese characters provide the means for readers who read Chinese to go on to more in-depth research. Moreover, not only have a large number of primary resources been used and cited but there are also useful references to other scholars' work which have also been examined and one can consult for additional reading.

As an educator and trainer of museum docents, this volume is a true 'find' that I will add to our recommended reading list. It is by far the best book or resource on the early days of the Ming that I have found (and I've read dozens) nor would I call it overly academic, but a well-written in-depth excellent book for anyone truly interested in Ming Dynasty history.

[Edward Butler · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting subject, but rather dry, lacking in much insight. The maps were inadequate; an analytical bibliography would have been useful, too. Best as a preparatory treatment.

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography of Zhu Di, known as the Yongle Emperor, who was one of the main emperors in the Ming dynasty. He was the fourth son of the founder of this dynasty and he usurped power from his nephew after his father's death, something that troubled him for the rest of his life. He was a complex man, who could be tempestuous and downright murderous, but who also cared about good governance in accordance with Confucian principles. The Yongle emperor fought the Mongols, incorporated Annam (though the Ming were not able to withstand the independent-minded and well-organised Vietnamese), moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing, had the Forbidden City constructed, and extensively used eunuchs. The latter choice had mixed results: eunuchs later in the dynasty abused their power at times, but they also served competently as diplomatic envoys and military commanders. In fact, the Yongle Emperor sponsored the magnificent sea journeys of the eunuch Zeng He - tremendous in scale with enormous ships and extensive manpower, which managed to reach as far as the Eastern Coast of Africa. The book could have done with more maps, but is otherwise well presented.

[H.R.H. Carpathia]

The book covers the life of the Yongle emperor. From the hour he took the throne from his nephew, to moving the capital and building the forbidden city, to his glorious treasure fleet which sailed all around southern Asia, reaching as far as the east-African coast. Within it are historical voices, and opinions of the time, and how the emperor ran the government as well as the things he believed to be most important.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating subject and aspects of it covered really well. For someone with a limited knowledge of Chinese geography the maps were a little bare. This meant that it was difficult to link some of the narrative to the maps. I also thought that too many names of officials were mentioned, almost in lists whereas perhaps focussing more on the really key players and influencers would have made it a better read. It is a useful book to build knowledge on a fascinating emperor.