Sun Zhong

Sun Zhong, courtesy name Zhujing, was born in 1368 and died in 1452. He was from Zouping County, Jinan Prefecture, in the Shandong Province under the jurisdiction of the Shandong Province Administrative Commission. His father was Sun Shi, the Empress Xiaogongzhang’s maternal grandfather and an in-law of the Ming Yingzong Emperor. Originally named Sun Yu, Sun Zhong served as a magistrate overseeing Yongcheng and supervised the planning of the Tian Shou Mountain Imperial Tombs, eventually rising to become a senior clerk at the Honglu Temple. His four daughters were selected to enter the Inner Palace of the Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji. After Zhu Zhanji ascended the throne as Ming Xuanzong, his daughter was honored as Empress Dowager. Sun Yu changed his name to Sun Zhong and was promoted to Assistant Military Governor, serving as a deputy in the Central Army Command Office.

In the third year of the Xuande Dynasty (1428), Empress Hu Shanshang was deposed. Sun’s family was honored with the title of imperial consort, and Sun Zhong was granted the noble title of Huochang Bo (Count of Huichang). Later, Sun Zhong requested to return to his hometown. Emperor Xuanzong awarded him a poem composed by the imperial court and ordered eunuchs to accompany him. Upon returning to the capital, the emperor and empress personally hosted him and showed filial piety. His wife, Dong Yuanzhen, was summoned to the palace multiple times and received rewards. During the Zhengtong era, as the Emperor's grandmother, Sun’s family dispatched envoys every birthday to honor and reward the entire Sun clan. Eunuch Wang Zhen held absolute power at court, while the ritual officer Li Shimian violated protocol. Sun Zhong once submitted a memorial to the court, and the empress dowager told Yingzong that Li Shimian had been released from punishment.

Sun Zhong’s household servants lent money to common people at interest rates far exceeding the principal, causing widespread suffering among the populace who then lodged complaints with the court. The court ordered the household servants to garrison the border, without holding Sun Zhong accountable. Sun Zhong passed away in 1452. His posthumous name was Kangjing, and he was granted the title of Marquis of Huichang. After Emperor Yingzong was restored to the throne, Sun Zhong was posthumously honored as Grand Tutor and Duke of Anguo, with the posthumous name Gongxian. During the Chenghua reign, he was again posthumously promoted to Grand Master and Left Pillar State.