Daming Yuanfu

Why did Gao Yushi have to look at Zhu Yijun before answering this sentence?Because although Zhu Changhao in this embrace has been called "Young Master" by Chen Ju, after all, the emperor did not say this sentence himself at this time, so Gao Yushi can't treat him as a prince for granted.

This has to talk about the education of the prince in the Ming dynasty.Because the Ming Dynasty is often considered by later generations to have many strange emperors, it makes people think that the education of the princes in the Ming Dynasty is very problematic.

actually not.At least from the institutional level, Daming has relatively systematic regulations and many "routine arrangements" for the education of the prince.

There are two categories of education that the princes of the Ming Dynasty need to receive, which can be roughly divided into two categories: "preschool education" and "formal education".Among them, "preschool education" is basically concubine education and eunuch education.

Generally speaking, the children of the imperial clans of the past dynasties in China grew up in the inner courtyard of the deep palace from birth, and they were not allowed to leave the palace if they did not reach a certain age, and ordinary courtiers and attendants were also not allowed to enter the inner courtyard of the harem, and the Ming Dynasty was of course the same .The young princes in the Ming court were in this state.

Therefore, the enlightenment education of the young princes is usually undertaken by the queen mother, empress and their biological mother.Of course, this is also a common situation in ancient Chinese society. Not only the royal family, but other aristocratic families, local powerful and even ordinary families generally follow this pattern.

So, can the concubine take care of the little prince's enlightenment education?Generally speaking, it is possible.

Taizu's Empress Ma was "benevolent and wise, and good at history books", "diligent in internal governance, and paid attention to ancient teachings in her spare time." Since Empress Ma herself has a good grasp of historical books and ancient teachings, she is also very strict in educating the little prince.

As we all know, Cheng-Zhu Confucianism was the orthodox thought of the country during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.During the Hongwu period, "Zhao Yixi's book was established in the school palace".Therefore, regarding Zhu Xi's works and thoughts, the emperors of the Ming Dynasty would try their best to let their descendants study and study.Among them, Zhu Xi's "Primary School" was a very important elementary school textbook in the Ming court.

Empress Ma used "Primary School" as a model to teach young children literacy and learn etiquette while also giving them some moral constraints.Empress Xu, Chengzu Renxiao, liked reading when she was very young. At that time, she was called a hero among female students.

So, are smart and virtuous queens like Ma and Xu considered a minority in the Ming Dynasty?Not really.It is recorded: "In this dynasty, Empress Renxiao wrote "Internal Training", and there was "Female Precepts", and the Empress Dowager Zhang Sheng also had "Female Training", all of which are engraved in the Neifu and awarded in Yunei."

It can be seen that most of the women in the harem, especially the empress dowagers and empresses, were born in the families of middle- and lower-level officials, and they themselves have studied. Even if they did not read enough in the early years, they still have the opportunity to study after entering the palace.

Therefore, they compiled the original enlightenment textbooks in the palace and their own feelings into books and discourses to alert the young children, and stood them in the inner palace, so that the young children could learn from them, so as to achieve the purpose of learning.

You may want to say that their level of knowledge may not be much higher, this may be true, but such a level of knowledge is only used to enlighten young princes, it is enough no matter what.

Of course, there are other empresses and empresses who discipline the little princes severely, such as Zhu Yijun's biological mother, Empress Dowager Li, needless to say.In short, the first stop of preschool education for the little princes is the education of the concubines.

Then it was the eunuch's turn to educate.This is a rare system in the Ming Dynasty that has nothing to do with Zhu Yuanzhang.After Zhu Yuanzhang stabilized the Ming Dynasty, he took history as a mirror. In order to prevent the emergence of eunuchs, he placed less than 100 eunuchs in the palace. The eunuch's basic necessities of life should be in the inner court, thus restricting the eunuch's personal freedom.

Zhu Yuanzhang also ordered someone to put up an iron sign at the gate of the palace, on which it was written, "Officials must not interfere in political affairs, and those who intervene will be executed." But it is clear that this well-intentioned policy of suppressing eunuchs did not last long.After Zhu Di, the king of Yan, succeeded in Jingnan and ascended the throne, he appointed eunuchs to go on missions, supervise the army, divide towns and arrange the affairs of the subjects, and selected instructors to enter the inner court to teach the eunuchs to read.

In the early days of orthodoxy, "the eunuch Wang Zhen opened a study hall in the inner court, and selected officials from the Imperial Academy to review orthographic characters to teach, so the inner officials were more intelligent and understood the meaning of the text." Since then, the cultural level of eunuchs has gradually improved. Neishutang provides support for its education.Correspondingly, before the young prince was educated in the cabinet, in addition to the education of the concubine, eunuchs also became a very important part of the education of the prince.

Since the eunuchs and servants in the inner court are with the youngest son of the clan every day, their words and deeds have a subtle influence on the growth of the prince.During Chengzu's period, most of the eunuchs "accounted for elegance, Chengzu loved him, taught the present to read, dabbled in classics and history, were good at writing, and served Renzong's East Palace."

What the eunuchs studied in the Neishutang included "Four Books", "Five Classics", "University Yanyi" and "Zhenguan Zhengyao".The learning of these knowledge plays a certain role in the guidance and education of young children.For example, Emperor Xianzong's son Zhu Youtang grew up in the inner court, so he could only get along with eunuchs. When he was nine years old, a learned eunuch dictated the "Four Books" and ancient and modern political codes to him.

Of course, the eunuch's level of knowledge is still limited, and he can only teach superficial knowledge to the prince.Because Xiaozong had more contact with eunuchs, after he succeeded to the throne, Xiaozong also selected eunuch Liu Jin to serve the prince of the East Palace to study.Liu Jin was treacherous and eloquent since he was a child. He could read and write, and he often used tricks to please the prince. Xiaozong paid more attention to Liu Jin.

During the Sejong Dynasty, senior eunuchs who knew how to read and write were ordered to accompany the prince to study, read and learn basic etiquette in the palace.For example, Long Qing never had the opportunity to obtain a formal education in his early years, mainly because he was accompanied by eunuchs to study.

It wasn't until Jiajing had fewer and fewer surviving sons that Jiajing had no choice but to order Yu Wang to study in the cabinet at that time, and sent Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, Chen Yiqin and others to teach Yu Wang. Only then did Long Qing receive formal education.It was also because Long Qing realized how shallow what he had learned in the past at this time, so he later respected and trusted his "teacher" Gao Gong so much.

As for the emperor who was always illiterate after Shenzong Zhu Yijun in the original history, that was more of an accident.For example, Taichang Emperor Zhu Changluo was unable to leave the pavilion to study because of the dispute over the country, and died immediately after becoming the emperor. As a result, his son Emperor Tianqi succeeded to the throne in a hurry without completing his studies, and the carpenter emperor came out from this.

As for Chongzhen's "Sage King" Zhu Youjian, this Lord was originally a trustworthy king, and the imperial court did not arrange education for him as a prince at all.

Unexpectedly, the emperor's elder brother fell into the water while rowing a boat, and died of a cold and fever (probably) at the age of 23.Zhu Youjian suddenly picked up an emperor, but he himself would not be an emperor at all, but he thought he was rich in learning, so he made all the mistakes he could make, and finally healed all kinds of diseases in the Ming Dynasty. He was raised until he was terminally ill.

Speaking of which, the prince's preschool education generally has little to do with foreign ministers.Even if Zhu Changhao's future preschool education theoretically has nothing to do with high pragmatism, unless he wants to intervene—such as choosing a companion for Zhu Changhao.

However, formal education—that is, the prince's "going out of the court to study" has something to do with high pragmatism, especially after Zhu Yijun's statement just now.

There are two types of "princes going out of the pavilion to study": the crown prince's going out to study and the prince's (prince) going out to study.The important point here is that the difference in severity between the former and the latter is very, very, very huge.

It is a major event in the world for the crown prince to study in the pavilion. From the emperor to the ministers, everyone is extremely concerned about this, and the lecturers for the crown prince to study are also carefully selected—see what Zhu Yijun said when he was studying with Gao Yushi. The official specifications are known: the "head teacher" chief assistant Gao Gong, Cheng Guogong Zhu Xizhong, and the "executive deputy head teacher" Shen Shixing.

Correspondingly, ordinary princes or underage princes go out to study in the cabinet, that is just a formality.Except for King Yu of the Jiajing Dynasty, the others are basically perfunctory and perfunctory-of course, they still paid attention to it at the beginning, such as Zhu Yuanzhang still attached great importance to this.

However, the above is just a brief statement. This matter still needs to be professional, and it has to be discussed from an institutional perspective.

The crown prince is "the foundation of the country, so he inherits the throne from the Eucharist." As the crown prince of the country, the education of the crown prince naturally receives special attention.Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, summed up the lessons of history and established a system in which ministers with meritorious service and rich experience in politics also served as officials of the prince's east palace.Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang did not set up a special official for the East Palace, mainly to prevent the formation of a power decision-making center centered on the prince.

In the early Ming Dynasty, there was no special official system of the Eastern Palace. Except for the prince Shaoshi and Shaofu, other officials such as Zhanshi and Zanshan were all held by senior ministers and leaders.In the 20th year of Hongwu, Zhan Shiyuan was set up.Later it was changed to Zhan Shifu.Later, Zuochunfang Sijilang, Sijian and Tongshi Sheren were added.

After Chengzu succeeded to the throne, he ordered to continue the old system.Zhan Shifu, Zuochunfang, Youchunfang and Sijing Bureau jointly tutored the prince.Corresponding official posts were set up under these four institutions.

Specifically, Zhan Shi was in charge of the government affairs of the mansion, workshop, and bureau, and Shao Zhan was the assistant. Jian", "University Yanyi", "Zhenguan Zhengyao" and other books were compiled into Zhang Jinyu in the early stage, and then went to the Wenhua Hall to give lectures. Fan Enyi, Chen said to the prince."

The Bachelor of Chunfang University "in charge of the prince's invitation to the emperor, the writing of the letter, and the lectures and readings".

Washing the horse "handling the collection of scriptures and history, making canons, and publishing books and periodicals, setting up originals, copies, and storage copies for future reference, and all those who are on the East Palace in the world's atlases will be accepted and stored."Other officials of the government, workshops, and bureaus also have their own duties.

Most of Zhan Shifu is under the leadership of other officials.Before Tianshun, he was also in charge of Shangshu, Shilang, and Du Yushi.After Chenghua, the minister of the Ministry of Rites and the minister of the Ministry of Rites were taken concurrently by those who were born in the Imperial Academy.As for the Bachelor of Chunfang University, only Yang Tinghe once held this position after Jingtai, and it will not be re-appointed later, and officials such as Si Zhi, Si Jian, and Qing Jilang are not often appointed.

In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, "the crown prince went out to study in the pavilion, and other staff taught him at every point. Zhan Shifu, Zuochunfang, and Sijing Bureau no longer played a practical role in tutoring the prince, and they simply became the ranks of imperial officials." The setting of the official subordinates of the Eastern Palace gradually developed and improved.Zhan Shifu, Zuochunfang and Sijing Bureau each performed their duties, with a detailed division of labor and rules to follow, so as to provide a relatively complete education system for the prince's education.

Of course, although the official establishment of the Eastern Palace is relatively complete, most of its internal educational staff, such as Zhan Shifu, are also led by other officials, and official positions such as Sizhi and Sijian have not been set up after Jingtai.In short, in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, Zhan Shifu and other officials were in name only, and had in fact lost the function of guiding the prince to study in the cabinet.

By the way, when the prince and prince read books, Zhu Yuanzhang said in the early Ming Dynasty when he established the feudal vassal system: "The prince is enfeoffed, and those who are not in the country should go out of the cabinet to study.".For the young princes, at least Zhu Yuanzhang still attaches great importance to their education.

He stipulated for the teaching staff who carried out the education of the kings: "Teaching officials to select ministers or Jinshi should be awarded to Hanlin officials."In the distribution of official positions, there are two Hanlin inspectors, two Shizhao, and two Shishu. Most of the Hanlin reviewers are born as Jinshi, and the Shishu are selected from Zhongshusheren.

In the Tianshun period, the clan princes had long lost their real power, and the court's attitude towards the clan princes was basically raising pigs.Since it's just raising pigs, it doesn't matter how well you study.Therefore, Yingzong switched to two Jinshi to be responsible for the education of the prince when he came out of the cabinet.After the prince really leaves the palace, the Jinshi personnel will be promoted to the chief history of the palace, and continue to tutor the prince in his studies.

Generally speaking, although the original educational institutions where the Prince left the cabinet to study were not as rigorous and rigorous as the Prince Zhan's Mansion and the Bureau of Economics and Economics, their personnel allocation was relatively complete.After arriving at the Yingzong, the system was changed to teach casually, and... I am afraid there is still a mentality of "it is best not to teach too well".

Of course, in this way, normal Jinshi are not willing to teach the princes, because as I said just now, in the kingdom of princes, these two Jinshi will be promoted to be the chief history of the palace—who the hell cares about being the chief history of the fart prince?As long as I don't do this long history, if I'm lucky, I can enter the cabinet, and if I'm unlucky, I can become an official with real power. It's much better than you who just wait to die for a lifetime, okay?
The issue of the age of leaving the pavilion to study has been mentioned in the previous article of this book, so I won't talk about it here.In short, in the final analysis, it depends on the emperor. If the emperor recognized you as his heir early, then you would leave the cabinet to study very early.

The earliest one was Yingzong Zhu Qizhen, who was even only two years old - this was earlier than Gao Pragmatic Kaimeng.As for the later ones, there is no certainty. For example, Emperor Tianqi succeeded to the throne at the age of 16, and only started studying at the age of 17... This is not considered the education of the prince, it is directly regarded as the education of the emperor.

Speaking of this, Gao Yushi's performance just now has been explained-Queen Wang said, "I hope Gao Aiqing can teach Hao'er well in the future", and Gao Yushi, as a cabinet scholar at the time, can and can only teach the crown prince, and never It is impossible to teach the kings, because the lecturers of the kings are only two Jinshi who have not yet been assigned official positions.

Gao Wushi was embarrassed because of this, so he had to look at the emperor.At this time, the emperor smiled and said nothing, Gao Yushi could only take it as his acquiescence - acquiescence to what?Of course, "Hao'er" is the prince by default.

So you, Gao Aiqing, just agree, this matter does not violate the ancestral system.

As soon as Queen Wang left, Gao Wushi stood with his hands down, waiting for Zhu Yijun to speak.

Zhu Yijun was silent for a while, and suddenly heaved a long sigh, and asked with a little desolation: "Practically, if I immediately make Hao'er the crown prince, can the investigation of the medicinal diet case stop here?"

Gao Wushi didn't expect the emperor to ask such a question, so he was silent for a while and asked, "Why is the emperor like this?"

"I..." The emperor seemed to have something to say that he really didn't want to say, so he fell silent again.

"I don't want to see Concubine Zheng in such a mess. Is this reason enough?" Zhu Yijun suddenly said loudly after some time passed.Then he looked seriously into Gao Yushi's eyes, and asked slowly: "What you want is Li Hao'er, you don't have to force Concubine Zheng to death, do you?"

"Your Majesty is serious. Establishing a heir is the hope of the world, and establishing a heir is the foundation of the patriarchal clan. Is it the only minister's wish?" Gao Yushi suddenly took off his official hat, put his hands on it, and bowed down, saying: "If your majesty I think what I said is not public, and I dare not defend myself, so please leave your job and stay idle."
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