| dc.description.abstract | After the Xi Zong Emperor came to power, the Chinese court eunuch Wei Zhongxian intervened in political affairs to accumulate power. Wei engaged henchmen, broke the law, and violated codes of discipline. At that time, Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou, who were attempting to eliminate crime and praised righteous behavior, first accused Wei of 24 crimes and reported to the emperor in Tianqi 4 (1624 AD) and subsequently impeached him and his henchmen of various other crimes. Holding a grudge regarding this, Wei framed six people that were against him for accepting bribes from Xiong Tingbi. They were then imprisoned, tortured, and forced to return the allegedly stolen money. Eventually, the six people including Yang and Zuo were treated unjustly and died in prison; they are referred to as the Tianqi Martyrs.
The Tianqi Martyrs possessed moral integrity and did not fear those in power. Such a disposition was cultivated through learning from their fathers, who endeavor to serve as exemplary figures, as well as through lessons from teachers hired by their fathers. They were taught core Confucian values such as loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness. Moreover, their mothers nurtured the strength of their honesty and integrity in their daily lives. The martyrs’ wives took care of their families, demonstrating filial respect to their parents, and raising their children so that the Tianqi Martyrs could pursue their goals and aspirations in the imperial court without having to worry about their families.
However, when the Tianqi Martyrs were sent to jail and whipped to death, their family members also experienced considerable hardship. Frantically seeking help to rescue them, the martyrs’ families lost all their wealth and possessions and became homeless. After the Si Zong Emperor came to power, the martyrs’ families presented a written statement to the emperor to vindicate the false accusations of the martyrs and ask for justice done to Wei and other culprits. The womenfolk of the martyrs’ family remained widowed and faithful to their marriage; they endeavored to make a living and pass on their family values to their children. The hardships and difficulties that their families experienced were ineffable.
During the transition period between Ming and Qing dynasties, the political environment became complex and volatile. The offspring of the Tianqi Martyrs bore the reputation of being the descendants of their fathers. Thus, they were under pressure from the high moral standards of society and faced a dilemma when making decisions to live or die and take up official positions or retire from public life. Moreover, they had to confront public opinions and criticism regarding the decisions they made. However, traditional historical narratives have mostly focused on the Tianqi Martyrs’ great achievements. By contrast, the endeavors and hardships of their offspring were almost entirely overlooked. The present study investigated the Tianqi Martyrs’ families, specifically exploring the hardships that the family members of these political victims underwent and their responses after the martyrs passed away, to depict their determination and perseverance in the face of adversities throughout their lives.
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