Ming Shi-lu by Reign

The Ming Shi-lu is a collection of the shi-lu (or Veritable Records) of 13 of the 15 reigns during the Ming dynasty. The other two reigns are generally omitted from the “official” lists, for different reasons. The shi-lu of the Jian-wen Emperor (the second emperor) was not officially compiled as that emperor was deposed by his uncle Zhu Di (who became the Yong-le Emperor) in 1402, and the latter had the chronologies of the preceding two reigns re-arranged. Under the new chronology, the reign of Zhu Di’s father (the Hong-wu Emperor) extended up until his own reign began and the intervening reign of his nephew was consigned to oblivion. Also, the shi-lu of the final emperor of the Ming dynasty could not, obviously, have been compiled by officials of the Ming dynasty and is thus not considered an “official” compilation. The other unusual shi-lu is the Ying-zong Shi-lu which includes three reigns, beginning with the Zheng-tong reign of Zhu Qi-zhen, prior to his being captured and carried off by the Mongols in 1449, then the Jing-tai reign of his half-brother Zhu Qi-yu and finally the Tian-shun reign of Zhu Qi-zhen subsequent to his restoration. Apart from the Ying-zong shi-lu, each of the shi-lu comprises an account of one emperor's reign, and was compiled after the Emperor's death. For more on the Ming Shi-lu as a historical source, download the complete essay here.