Zhang Juzheng
Statesmanship & Statesmen • Historical Archive • 🇨🇳 China • 9 views

Zhang Juzheng 🇨🇳

張居正 (Known as "Senior Grand Secretary")
Senior Grand Secretary, Statesman, Political Leader, Historical Figure
Born 1525-05-24 🇨🇳 Jiangling, Hubei, China
Passed Away 1582-07-09 Beijing, China
Lifespan 57 years old
9 views
Notice / Correction
"Steering the ship of state through perilous waters to restore imperial glory."

Archival Overview

Greatest statesman of the Ming Dynasty; instituted the 'Single Whip Law' (Yitiao Bianfa) simplifying all taxes into single silver payments and restored Ming fiscal solvency.

Biographical Record

Zhang Juzheng was a Chinese statesman who served as Senior Grand Secretary (de facto Prime Minister) of the Ming Dynasty from 1572 until his death in 1582 during the reign of the young Wanli Emperor. He revitalized the decaying Ming state through rigorous bureaucratic audits, peace treaties with the Mongols, nationwide land cadastres, and the Single Whip Law.

Greatest statesman of the Ming Dynasty; instituted the 'Single Whip Law' (Yitiao Bianfa) simplifying all taxes into single silver payments and restored Ming fiscal solvency.

Key Life Milestones

1573-03-01

Enacting the Kaocheng Method

Instituted strict bureaucratic performance evaluation system with explicit deadlines to eradicate official negligence and corruption.

1581-02-12

The Single Whip Law

Promulgated empire-wide fiscal reform consolidating complex labor services and taxes into a unified payment collected strictly in silver.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Jiangling, Hubei, China
Beijing, China
GPS: 39.9042, 116.4074
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