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Great Rites Controversy

Type Event Region Asia Time 1524

From 1524 the Jiajing Emperor clashed with Yang Tinghe's Grand Secretariat and most courtiers over temple and posthumous names and ritual for his nat…

Timeline

  1. 1524Forbidden City · North ChinaThe Jiajing Emperor wished to honor his natural father as huangkao; the Grand Secretariat insisted that Xiaozong be honored as huangkao and Prince Xingxian as huangshukao. Zhang Cong and Gui E cited the Book of Rites' 'ritual righteousness rooted in birth' in memorials, providing the emperor theoretical grounds, and court opinion split.
  2. 1524Beijing · North ChinaYang Tinghe and a large number of courtiers jointly opposed the emperor's position; the Jiajing Emperor employed court beatings to punish dissenting officials, with several ministers beaten to death or demoted. The civil official group suffered heavy losses, and the emperor gradually took control of ritual adjudication.

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