The Change Of The Imperial Edict Prison And The Early Ming Dynasty’s Politics

The imperial edict prison(IEP)prevailed in the Ming Dynasty and had a profound impact on the Ming Dynasty’s politics.The IEP was the special case which followed the emperor’s will in the process of trial.It had strong arbitrariness and weak procedural characteristics.Although these characteristics made the IEP a powerful weapon for emperors to strengthen their power,they also foreshadowed the change of the IEP.The scholars stuck to the morality and restricted the imperial power in the political practice.Therefore,they were often persecuted by the emperors and became the main prisoners in the IEP.As the emperor relied on the eunuch,the eunuch became more powerful and began to use the IEP to attack the scholars.By the end of the orthodox period,the imperial power was declining and the eunuch became the chief executor of the IEP.On the surface,the eunuchs used the IEP to maintain the imperial power.But In essence,it was the invasion and destruction of the imperial power.The result of setting up the IEP is deviated from the original intention.The IEP was gradually transformed from the tool of maintaining the imperial power into a tool for the power to seize power between the main bodies.The political balance between the emperors and subjects was broken and the orderly operation of the political operation was hindered.In the struggle for power,scholars were tied up in prison and suffered double persecution by emperors and eunuchs.They suffered physical and mental torment.And the humiliating attribute of the IEP was highlighted.However,the identification of the scholars,the praise of other scholars and the rehabilitation of the later emperor made the scholars get honor.The honorary attribute of the IEP was highlighted.Therefore,the cultural connotation of the IEP had changed from humiliating to honor.On the surface,the change of the IEP was a variation of the political function and cultural connotation.But the essence was the self-regulation of the imperial power.The change of the IEP had already been completed in the early Ming Dynasty and made deep influence to the politics.It also played a role in shaping and distorting the spirit of scholars.