Succession to the Chinese throne
Methods of imperial succession varied across Chinese dynasties.
Succession to the Chinese throne was governed by various methods before the monarchy was overthrown in 1911. The emperor typically selected a successor from among his sons, with a strong preference for the eldest son of the empress. Empress dowagers often influenced succession, and abdication, though rare, was possible.
Quick Facts
- First eldest son succession
- 762 (Emperor Daizong succeeded Emperor Suzong)
- Primogeniture established
- Ming dynasty under Hongwu Emperor
- Secret edict system created
- Yongzheng Emperor (Qing dynasty)
- First secret edict successor
- Qianlong Emperor (1735)
- Monarchy overthrown
- 1912
Facts from the source article.
Tang dynasty
In the Tang dynasty, succession theoretically followed the eldest son of the empress, but internal power struggles made it resemble blood tanistry. Every succession during the first half involved strife and bloodshed, including fratricide, filicide, and patricide. The first peaceful succession of an eldest son occurred in 762 when Emperor Daizong succeeded his father Emperor Suzong.
Ming dynasty
The Hongwu Emperor designated his eldest son Zhu Biao as heir, but after Zhu Biao's death in 1392, many expected the fourth son Zhu Di to be chosen. Instead, the emperor named Zhu Biao's eldest son Zhu Yunwen as heir, establishing primogeniture. Zhu Di later seized power in 1402 as the Yongle Emperor.
Qing dynasty
The Kangxi Emperor designated his second son Yunreng as crown prince, but this was resented by his other 34 sons. Yunreng's mental state deteriorated under plotting from his brothers, and he was twice deposed. As the Yongzheng Emperor, Yinzhen created a secret edict system: the emperor wrote an edict designating a successor, sealed it in a box behind a tablet in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The first emperor to accede through this method was the Qianlong Emperor in 1735. During the Xinhai Revolution, proposals to replace the Qing with a Han dynasty considered Duke Yansheng and the Marquis of Extended Grace but were rejected. The Qing was overthrown in 1912, though Puyi continued to reign in the Forbidden City until 1924.
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