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Yung Cheng Biography

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YUNG-CHING, or YUNG-CHENG, (1677-1735). The reign title of the third Emperor of the Ta Tsing, the late dynasty of China. He was the fourth son of K'ang-hi and succeeded him in 1723 at the age of 45. He banished or imprisoned all his brothers except the thirteenth, who, until his death in 1730, was his chief adviser. The Roman Catholic missionaries fell into disfavor in this reign chiefly because in troublous times the converts followed none but their directions. An edict of expulsion from the country was changed at the last moment to one of banishment, first to Canton, and later to Macao, only those being retained at Peking who were needed in the government service; 300 churches were demolished or put to profane uses, and a persecution of the native Christians was begun. Yung-Ching's reign, which was short, was filled with famines, destructive floods, and earthquakes, which gave him opportunities for paternal care of his people. He died in 1735 and was succeeded by K'ien-lung. Consult H. A. Giles, China and the Manchus (London, 1912).

The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. XXIII (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 831.