Glossary

Zhengde

正德

Term · calendar

Chinese era name (正德) of the Ming for the years 1506–1521: 1506 is Zhengde 1 (元年) and Zhengde 16 is 1521. Zhengde (正德) is a Chinese era name (nianhao) of the Ming, proclaimed in 1506. Under the Ming and Qing an emperor kept one era for his whole reign and is known by it: the Zhengde Emperor. Its years are counted in lunar years: 1506 is Zhengde 1 (元年), 1521 its last year, Zhengde 16. A Chinese source dates a year within it as “Zhengde 2” (正德二年) rather than by a continuous count. Before: Hongzhi. After: Jiajing.