Zhengtong Emperor of China

1427–1464) was an emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor (正統) from 1436 to 1449，and as the Tianshun Emperor (天順) from 1457 to 1464.

Zhu Qizhen was the son of the Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji and his Empress Sun. He became emperor at the age of eight. At the age of 22 he was imprisoned by the Mongols when he personally directed and lost a battle against the Mongols under Esen Khan. Although he was a prisoner of the Mongols, he became a good friend to the khan. Meanwhile, his brother Zhu Qiyu was installed as the Jingtai Emperor. This reduced Zhengtong's imperial status.

The Zhengtong Emperor was released one year later but when he returned to China, he was put under house arrest by his brother for six years. After the death of his heir apparent, the Jingtai Emperor fell ill and he was deposed by a palace coup which eventually reinstalled Zhu Qizhen as emperor, who called his second reign Tianshun ("heavenly obedience").

He is buried in the Yuling (裕陵) tomb of the Ming Dynasty Tombs.

Note: Tianshun (天順) was also the name of a Yuan Dynasty reign.