Zhenjin


Zhenjin, also rendered as Jingim, Chinkim, or Chingkim, was a crown prince of the Yuan dynasty of China. He was a son of Kublai Khan and grandson of Tolui. He was posthumously honored as an emperor by his son, Temür Khan.

Life

He was born as the second son to Kublai Khan and first to Chabi Khatun. The Chinese Zen Buddhist monk Haiyun gave him the name Zhenjin when he was born in 1243. He was created Prince of Yan, became the head of the Central Secretariat by his father in 1262, and was designated as the Crown Prince of the Yuan dynasty by Kublai Khan in 1273.
He was known as a strong supporter of Confucianism, having been tutored by Han scholars such as Yao Shu, Dou Mo, Liu Bingzhong and Wang Xun. Among others, he was noted to have studied Classic of Poetry and Classic of Filial Piety. After the death of Zhenjin's rival Ahmad Fanakati, a Confucian-trained official in the South even proposed Kublai abdicate in favor of Zhenjin in 1285, as a result Kublai was furious. He was also known to be a friend of Drogön Chögyal Phagpa, who wrote the famous treatise "Explanation of the knowable" for Zhenjin.
According to the History of Yuan, he died of alcoholism on 5 January 1286, eight years before his father Kublai Khan. However, it may not have been as simple as merely drinking too much. It is also stated that shortly before his death, some ministers of the court wanted to propose that Kublai Khan abdicate his throne to Prince Zhenjin on account of old age and because Zhenjin was highly respected throughout the empire. However, Zhenjin tried to prevent this from happening. Unfortunately, Kublai Khan found out anyway and was furious, which terrified Zhenjin and may have led him to overdrink. Distressed by his death, Kublai Khan made Zhenjin's son Temür the new Crown Prince. He was posthumously renamed as Taizi Mingxiao by Kublai on 25 February 1293. Temür gave him posthumous name Emperor Wenhui Mingxiao and temple name Yuzong on 3 June 1294.

Family

He had a senior wife and a concubine:
  • Empress Huirenyusheng, of the Hongjila clanfrom Khongirad tribe, personal name Kökejin
  • * Gammala, Prince of Jin, 1st son
  • * Darmabala, Shùnzōng, 2nd son
  • * Temür Khan, Crown Prince, 3rd son
  • Concubine Anchinmishi
  • Unknown concubine
  • * Qutadmish, Grand Princess of Qi, 1st daughter
  • ** married to Körgüz from Öngüds, son of Ay Buqa, Prince of Zhao and Yuelie
  • * Nangabula, Grand Princess of Lu, 2nd daughter
  • ** married to Manzitai from Khongirad clan, Prince of Lu
  • * Princess Budagan, 3rd daughter
  • **married to Zangpo Pal

    Ancestry

In popular culture