Xing An (eunuch)

Xing An (simplified Chinese: 兴安; traditional Chinese: 興安; pinyin: Xīng ān; 1389–1459), or Hưng An, was a Vietnamese-born Ming dynasty eunuch.

Biography

Xing was born in 1389 and arrived in China from Vietnam in 1407. In 1426, he was appointed as Personal Eunuch Attendant (長隨) and Chief Steward (奉御), responsible for managing the treasury. In 1436, when Emperor Yingzong ascended the throne, he and the eunuch Jin Ying from the Directorate of Ceremonial, both gained favor and trust from the emperor.

In 1449, during the Autumn, Yingzong was captured by the Oirats during the Tumu Crisis. Zhu Qiyu, Prince of Cheng, requested him and Jin Ying to gather court officials to discuss state affairs. Reader-in-waiting Xu Cheng proposed moving the capital south, but was rebuked by Xing An, who said, "Anyone who dares to suggest moving will be executed." Xu Cheng then went to Empress Dowager Sun to advise Prince of Cheng to appoint Yu Qian to prepare for war and defense. In 1450, the Oirats leader Esen besieged the capital and reached the Deshengmen. The Jingtai Emperor ordered Xing An and Li Yongchang (李永昌) to work with Yu Qian and Shi Heng (石亨) to manage military affairs. Esen sent envoys to negotiate peace and return Yingzong. The court discussed who to send as envoys. The Jingtai Emperor asked him to come out and speak to the court, saying, "Who among you is capable of being a messenger? Who can be like Wen Tianxiang and Fu Bi (富弼)?" Wang Zhi (王直) said that he should not rebuke the court officials, and Xing An was speechless. Chief Supervising Secretary Li Shi (李寔) was appointed as the envoy, but the imperial edict did not mention bringing back the emperor emeritus. Li Shi was shocked and asked the Grand Secretariat for clarification. On the way, he met Xing An, who said, "Just follow the imperial decree and don't worry about anything else." Later, Jingtai wanted to crown his son Zhu Jianji (朱見濟) as the crown prince, and many suspected him of being involved in a conspiracy. Xing An, known for his moral integrity, was aware of Yu Qian's talent and protected him. In 1456, he was ordered to visit the critically ill Yu Qian with Shu Liang (舒良).

In 1457, Yingzong was restored to the throne and killed the eunuchs Wang Cheng (王誠), Shu Liang, Zhang Yong (張永), Wang Qin (王勤), and others who were trusted by Jingtai, accusing them of being involved in a plot to replace the crown prince and conspiring with Yu Qian and Wang Wen to enthrone Zhu Zhanshan, Prince of Xiang. The supervising secretaries and censors suggested that Xing An was a co-conspirator with Wang Cheng and Shu Liang and should be punished accordingly, but Yingzong, out of respect for his old age, only stripped him of his position and allowed him to retire. He died in 1459.