China: Memorial stone on Jingshan Hill, Beijing, where the Chongzhen Emperor hanged himself in 1644. In April 1644, as rebel leader Li Zicheng prepared to take the Ming capital of Beijing. Rather than face capture and probable execution at the hands of the newly-proclaimed Shun Dynasty, Chongzhen arranged a feast and gathered all members of the imperial household aside from his sons. Using his sword, he killed all of them there. All died except his second daughter, Princess Chang Ping, who had her left arm severed by her father. He then hanged himself from a tree on Jingshan Hill.
In April 1644, as rebel leader Li Zicheng prepared to take the Ming capital of Beijing. Rather than face capture and probable execution at the hands of the newly-proclaimed Shun Dynasty, Chongzhen arranged a feast and gathered all members of the imperial household aside from his sons. Using his sword, he killed all of them there. All died except his second daughter, Princess Chang Ping, whose attempt to resist the sword blow resulted in her left arm being severed by her father. Then, still wearing his imperial attire, Chongzhen fled to Jingshan Hill and hanged himself on a tree. He was buried in Siling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty Tombs - the last to be buried there.
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Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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