Glossary

Zhengtong

正統

Term · calendar

Chinese era name (正統) of the Ming for the years 1436–1449: 1436 is Zhengtong 1 (元年) and Zhengtong 14 is 1449. Zhengtong (正統) is a Chinese era name (nianhao) of the Ming, proclaimed in 1436, the first era of Emperor Yingzong, who is known by it as the Zhengtong Emperor; on his return to the throne in 1457 he proclaimed the Tianshun era. Its years are counted in lunar years: 1436 is Zhengtong 1 (元年), 1449 its last year, Zhengtong 14. A Chinese source dates a year within it as “Zhengtong 2” (正統二年) rather than by a continuous count. Before: Xuande. After: Jingtai.