Wei Zhongxian

or Wei Chung-hsien

born 1568, Suning, Heibei province, China

died 1627, Anhui province

Eunuch who dominated the Chinese government in 1624–27.

As a close companion to the nurse of the future Tianqi emperor (r. 1620–27), Wei captured the young prince's trust. Once on the throne, the weak and indecisive emperor let Wei become the actual ruler. Wei levied crushing taxes on the provinces, ruthlessly exploited the population, hounded his enemies, terrorized the official class, and filled the government with sycophants and opportunists. He fell from power when the emperor died and hanged himself to avoid trial. He is considered the most powerful eunuch in Chinese history.

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▪ Chinese official

Wade-Giles romanization  Wei Chung-hsien , also called  Li Jinzhong 

born 1568, Suning, now in Hebei province, China

died 1627, Anhui province, China

      eunuch who completely dominated the Chinese government between 1624 and 1627, ruthlessly exploiting the population and terrorizing the official class. He is usually considered by historians to have been the most powerful eunuch in Chinese history.

      Wei's career began as a butler in the service of the mother of Zhu Youjiao, the future Tianqi emperor, who reigned from 1620 to 1627 during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Wei became a close companion of Zhu's nurse and with her aid completely captured the young prince's trust. Upon ascending the throne at the age of 15, the Tianqi emperor preferred to devote his time to carpentry rather than to statecraft. In any case, he was too weak and indecisive to provide leadership. Wei, therefore, was able to take advantage of the monarch and become the actual ruler.

      In 1624 Wei induced the emperor to give him what amounted to a power of attorney. He hired a division of eunuch troops to control the palace and created a network of spies throughout the empire. Extortionate taxes were levied in the provinces, and the government became filled with unprincipled opportunists. When members of the Donglin party, a group of idealistic Confucian officials dedicated to government reform, attempted to oppose Wei, he responded with a wide-ranging attack on Donglin supporters. Hundreds of loyal officials were put to death or driven out of office.

      The remaining officials became sycophants vying for Wei's favour. Temples were erected in his honour, auspicious omens were ascribed to his influence, and in one memorial he was even likened to Confucius. When the emperor died in 1627, however, Wei fell from power. Banished by the new emperor, the eunuch hanged himself to avoid trial.

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