<<ALT TAG: This painting depicts the Jingtai Emperor. He is looking directly at the viewer, with his hands in front of him in a contemplative pose.>>
Why do you think the Jingtai emperor had this portrait made? What can you infer about him from his pose? As you read, think about how your initial assumptions about him changed or stay the same. The Jingtai Emperor had come to the throne in 1449 under very unusual circumstances. His half-brother, the previous emperor, had been captured by invading Mongols. Government officials refused to pay the ransom for his brother; instead, Jingtai was made emperor. When his brother was returned, the Jingtai Emperor put him under house arrest. Six years later, his brother orchestrated a coup with the help of palace eunuchs and regained the throne. This time, it was Jingtai who was under house arrest. He died a month later. While power undoubtedly was in the hands of the emperor, China’s complex bureaucracy featured branches of government with considerable influence. Recently, scholars have unearthed evidence that the eunuchs were more than just palace guards; they may have been the equivalent of an entire branch of government.
The previous dynasty had been tolerant of different religions. Although the Ming dynasty was less tolerant in the 16th century, 15th century Ming emperors upheld their predecessor’s practices. This image demonstrates how Buddhism, which had been present in China since the Han dynasty over 1000 years earlier, was taking on Chinese values and esthetics. While the painting features Tibetan elements, the background is consistent with Chinese depictions of landscapes.
<<ALT TAG: This painting features two monks in prayer. Behind them is a nature scene.>>
Despite China’s tolerance of other belief systems, Confucianism still held the most sway. The Mandarins, or government bureaucrats, were required to study for years in order to pass an exam based on the teachings of Confucius. Confucianism also shaped daily life for the lower classes. For centuries, various versions of a book entitled Twenty-Four Exemplars of Piety formed the basis of social interaction. These exemplars featured parables designed to instruct the entire society. Examples include a child whose love for his parents is so strong that he would rather endure the bites of mosquitoes at night than drive them away, lest they bother his parents.