The Chosen One

When he took the Ming throne in 1521, the young emperor Shizong asked his advisors about ceremonial protocol for his deceased father. This initated a violent conflict that engulfed the whole realm and presented a virtually unsolvable conundrum to future Chinese historians. The heat and passion generated during this controversy ended only after Shizong had used the full force of the autocracy of the throne, had beaten to death 17 of his leading officials, and had alienated a great part of the rest. These events form the most important political happening in 16th century Chinese history. They are also some of the most difficult to explain, encased as they are in cultural modes of discourse and reference that are alien and have no contemporary reference. Carney Fisher is Visiting Professor in Chinese History at Bryn Mawr, and has taught at several universities in the USA, as well as at La Trobe and Melbourne universities.