What is the historical image of Emperor Xiaozong Zhu Youzhu What is so unique about him

In China’s long imperial society of over two thousand years, the emperor was the highest ruler of the country and a symbol and representative of authoritarian rule. Today, the editor of History Encyclopedia brings you relevant content to share with you.
In ancient feudal society, the emperor was revered as the ruler of the world and held absolute supreme imperial power. When it comes to the emperor and his love, the first impression that comes to people is that the emperor has many concubines, including three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines.
In ancient noble families, some also had many wives and concubines. Even ordinary families had concubines, let alone emperors.
If an emperor only deeply loves one woman and has only one concubine, then this emperor is definitely a peculiar person in the imperial profession.
Not to mention, there was indeed such an emperor among ancient emperors, and he was the ninth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Xiaozong Zhu Youzhu, with the reign title Hongzhi.
Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youzhong, was frugal, diligent in governance, and loved the people, creating a prosperous era of “Hongzhi Zhongxing”. Importantly, he did not indulge in women’s pleasures, and there was only one empress dowager in the harem, namely Empress Xiaokang Jing Zhang.
It is precisely because of this that Zhu Youzhong was also a person who advocated for a monogamous emperor. This was very rare in ancient feudal society.
Because in ancient times, it was allowed for a man to have three wives and four concubines, let alone an emperor who was revered as the ruler of China. But all of this has nothing to do with Zhu Youzhong. He was the only Chinese emperor who practiced monogamy through practical actions. He lives an ordinary life with his queen every day, just like ordinary people.
They are together as a couple, eating together, reciting poems together, and discussing the past and present together.
That’s why it makes people feel that Emperor Xiaozong of Ming, Zhu Youzhu, is very unique. Of course, the term ‘peculiar’ used here is a compliment, meaning to praise him.
In fact, overall, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youzhong, was indeed a well-known emperor. He was diligent in governance, loved the people, did not act recklessly, respected his ministers, and was kind to the people. His generosity and kindness were definitely among the top choices among ancient emperors.
Emperor Xiaozong of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youzhong, and Empress Zhang had two sons and one daughter together, but their second son died young, leaving only their eldest son Zhu Houzhao and daughter Princess Taikang.
When it comes to Zhu Houzhao, you may not be unfamiliar with him. He is the extremely playful and absurd Emperor Zhengde. However, although Zhu Youzhong knew that Zhu Houzhao was playful and absurd, who let him have only Zhu Houzhao as a prince! So although Zhu Houzhao was playful, the position of crown prince was still his.
Of course, it is worth mentioning that although Emperor Zhengde Zhu Houzhao was indeed absurd, he still made achievements. At least he was not confused about some major events, such as disaster relief and tax exemption, quelling the rebellion of Prince Ning, and defeating the Mongol prince.