Late Ming Dynasty: So what if Emperor Chongzhen was inactive?!

Chapter 324 Chongzhen's Edict to Suppress Buddhism

Unexpectedly, the fastest to react among everyone present was the fat Prince Fu. He stood up, leaning on the chopping board, and didn't even care when he knocked over a wine glass.

His mountain-like physique contrasted sharply with the gaunt Zhu Changfang. He rushed forward, shoved Zhu Changfang to the ground, and said, panting heavily, "Your Majesty, my cousin was still hungover last night and was talking nonsense. Please don't hold it against him!"

"Your Majesty, I... sob sob sob..." Zhu Changxun stuffed his fat hand into Zhu Changfang's mouth.

Zhu Youjian remained silent for a long time before speaking in a hoarse voice: "Depose Prince Lu, Zhu Changfang, to commoner status, and order the Ministry of Rites to select his eldest son to inherit the title of Prince of Lu."

"Your Majesty!" Prince Fu cried out, "Your Majesty, I was only confused for a moment, and my crime does not warrant this. Please, Your Majesty, rescind your order!"

“Alas, Your Majesty, Chang Fang has no children yet,” the King of Zhou reminded him.

Zhu Youjian was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Does he have any brothers? It's fine if his brothers inherit the title. If he wants to practice Zen, then let him go!"

"Your Majesty, Chang Fang's elder brother died young, and his only younger brother also passed away later. Not long after his marriage, his queen also passed away, and his older sisters had long since married, and it is said that they are not living well in their husbands' families."

Now, only his mother and stepmother remain at home. Given the unpredictability of life, it's understandable that he might turn to Buddhism. Changfang's father, Prince Lujian, is Emperor Shenzong's younger brother. I implore Your Majesty to give him another chance, for the sake of Emperor Shenzong."

"I find this very strange. Didn't I give him a chance?!" Zhu Youjian said through gritted teeth.

Upon hearing this, King Zhou couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that Zhu Changfang had indeed courted disaster.

"Prince Fu, step aside! Prince Lu, I'll ask you one more time, are you absolutely determined to become a monk?!"

Prince Fu whispered in Zhu Changfang's ear, "Think about your mother!"

“Amitabha Buddha, I have heard that the realm of all Buddhas is neither form nor emptiness, beyond words and forms. First, it is the boat of precepts that crosses the river of delusion, and the sprout of goodness arises from the land of afflictions; then, it is meditation that illuminates the original mind, and the light of wisdom arises where ignorance is broken.”

Ultimately, compassion and wisdom merge into one, and birth, death, and nirvana are as empty as flowers; the dust of the mortal world is vast and the waves of delusion are surging, though I am in a cage, my heart has long yearned for the Pure Land of Lotus. Zhu Changfang put his hands together, his face serene.

"It's all over! It's all over!" Prince Fu covered his face, Prince Zhou held his forehead, and the other princes, who were not actually familiar with Zhu Changfang, were also too shocked to speak. How could there be such a fool in this world?!
"The Federation, is it? Gentlemen, this can't be considered me being cruel and ungrateful, can it?! Is there anyone here willing to adopt a son for Prince Lu Jian? Let this beast fend for himself! Monks talk about cultivating the next life, urging people to do good deeds and accumulate virtue, donating money is doing good deeds, burning incense is accumulating virtue!"
"What talk of 'laying down the butcher's knife and becoming a Buddha' is utterly despicable! It's about protecting criminals, harboring filth and corruption, being greedy and lustful, and committing all sorts of evil! You, Zhu Changfang, are a prince, so naturally those monks will treat you with kindness; if you had no power, influence, or money, you probably wouldn't even be able to enter the temple!"

With things having come to this point, there was no way to turn back. Zhu Youjian ordered his men to strip Zhu Changfang of his crown and throw him out of the Zhou Prince's residence. The old servants and guards of the Lu Prince's residence were nearly driven mad upon hearing this devastating news.

The Prince of Lu was a coveted prize. Everyone knew that Emperor Wanli doted on the Prince of Fu, but in reality, the Prince of Fu applied for 40,000 hectares of land, but due to the dissuasion of officials inside and outside the court, he only received 20,000 hectares. The Prince of Fu's proposed figure of 40,000 hectares was based on that of his uncle, the Prince of Lu Jian.

With the Wanli Emperor and Empress Dowager Li's boundless indulgence, Prince Lu Jian actually acquired four million mu of land! The various princes were worried about where to place their favored youngest sons. If they were to be adopted by the fool Zhu Changfang, they might hesitate, but adopting Prince Lu Jian was much more acceptable. Moreover, times had changed. Previously, princes were forbidden from interacting, but now the emperor had lifted the restrictions, which truly meant having an extra fiefdom within their own household. Many princes were tempted.

Ultimately, Zhu Youjian decided to let Zhu Youlang, the fourth son of Prince Gui Zhu Changying, inherit the title of Prince of Lu. However, according to the principle of "corresponding generational order", Zhu Youlang could not be Zhu Yiliu's son, but would inherit the title as a step-grandson.

Xiao Zhu Youlang is now ten years old, and it is appropriate for him to be raised by the Princess Dowager of Lu. At ten years old, he is quite sensible, which is acceptable to Prince Gui. In the future, the two sides can visit each other more often to cultivate their relationship, so it won't be a case of losing a son for nothing.

This also aligns with the custom of adoption. If an adult is directly adopted, it would be suspected of taking away the family property. For example, the case of Ming Gong An records that a family adopted an eighteen-year-old nephew as their son. The nephew still frequently returned to his original home and was indifferent to his adoptive father, which eventually led to a dispute over the family property.

Zhu Changfang was demoted to a commoner. Zhu Youjian allowed the Princess of Lu to divorce him. If they were truly deeply in love, she could relinquish her title as princess and become an ordinary citizen with him. However, given Zhu Changfang's childlessness and obsession with Zen, he probably wouldn't have any feelings for his princess.

The most tragic case is that of the Dowager Consort of Lu. The old Prince of Lu is dead, and her son has made a fool of himself. It is estimated that she will secretly help her foolish son. In the end, Zhu Youjian did not go too far and turned a blind eye to this, not intending to investigate further.

Unfortunately, this prevented Zhu Changfang from accepting the harsh reality, and he would never see the true colors of those bald monks! Zhu Youjian was truly disappointed in this fellow, and seventy percent of this resentment was directed at the monks!
The following day, Zhu Youjian issued an edict to suppress Buddhism, ordering it to be sent to the capital first, and then for the court to issue a formal order to inform the local areas. In the edict, he wrote:
I have heard that Buddhism focuses on the next life and does not emphasize this life. It believes that the suffering in this world is limited, and the more suffering they endure, the less suffering others endure. I wholeheartedly agree with this.

However, some monks do not cultivate themselves properly, are unwilling to endure hardship, and are obsessed with worldly pleasures. Doesn't this contradict the teachings of Buddhism? It shows that they are not cultivating themselves seriously at all, but are just pretending and cheating. Such fake monks should be punished by being sent to perform hard labor.

The suffering in this world is finite, and so is the food in this world. They eat a lot, while the common people eat little. Today, millions of monks and nuns rely on farmers for food, and temples occupy land without paying taxes, exhausting the wealth of the world.

Even more so, among the gentry, some have been subjected to the heretical teachings of the Bald Monk; among the Confucian scholars, some have been spouting raucous and barbarian nonsense; people do not serve their parents, but instead commit the ten evils. There is no greater depravity in public morals than this.

As for the Lamaists, they are especially hateful. They kill people as human sacrifices, skin them and break their bones to make ritual implements, and they especially like to harm women and children. Such evil and licentious worship is intolerable to Heaven!
Life, death, longevity, and premature death are all governed by the Way of Heaven, while punishment, virtue, power, and fortune are determined by the ruler. Yet, foolish monks falsely claim to be Buddhist monks, usurping the power of the monarch, usurping the mandate of Heaven, and causing profound harm to the government. How can this not be heartbreaking!

The following order is hereby issued:

1. All lamas and monks within the territory of the Great Ming Dynasty are required to leave the country within three months. Those who overstay their visas will be executed without trial and reported later!

Second, Han Chinese monks are prohibited from privately accumulating assets, and all temple and monastery properties throughout the land shall be confiscated.

Third, anyone impersonating a monk or nun will be punished with forced labor as a warning to others.

All prefectures and counties shall strictly supervise the implementation of this decree, so that tax evaders may be reinstated as registered households, and abandoned temple lands may be restored to agriculture and sericulture, striving for both military and agricultural sustenance, and national prosperity and peace. Anyone who shirks or neglects their duties shall be severely punished according to the law!

Admire this!

(End of this chapter)