This is a list of Senior Grand Secretary () of the Ming dynasty in China, who is usually the most senior member in the Grand Secretariat.
Until 1380, the left and right Grand Chancellors were the top ranking officials to advise the emperor. After Hu Weiyong was executed, no other officials were appointed as Grand Chancellor. Xie Jin, who served under the Yongle Emperor, became the first mandarin to be recognised as Senior Grand Secretary.
List
Grand Chancellors (before 1380) Source: Left Grand Chancellor Term of officeRight Grand Chancellor Emperor Notes Took office Left officeTime in office, Li Shanchang(1314–1390) Jan1368 Jan1371 Xu Da(1332–1385) Hongwu(1368–1398)— Jan1371 Jan1373Wang Guangyang(?–1379) Jul1373 Oct1377Hu Weiyong(?–1380)Hu Weiyong(?–1380) Oct1377 Jan1380Wang Guangyang(?–1379)Executed Jan1380 Feb1380—Executed
Senior Grand Secretaries (after 1402) Source: Portrait Name Term of office Emperor Notes Took office Left officeTime in office, Xie Jin(1369–1415) 1402 1407 Yongle(1402–1424)Hu Guang(1370–1418)1407 June1418Died in officeYang Rong(1371–1440)14181424Yang Shiqi(1365–1444) Sep1424 Mar1444Hongxi(1424–1425)Xuande(1425–1435)Zhengtong(1435–1449)Died in officeYang Pu(1372–1446) Mar1444 Jul1446Died in officeCao Nai(1404–1449) Jul1446 Aug1449Died in officeChen Xun(1385–1462) Aug1449 Jan1457Jingtai(1449–1457)Tianshun(1457–1464)Xu Youzhen(1407–1472) Jan1457 Jun1457Xu Bin(1393–1468) Jun1457 Jul1457Li Xian(1408–1467) Jul1457 Mar1466Chenghua(1464–1487)MourningChen Wen(1405–1468) Mar1466 Jun1466Li Xian(1408–1467) Jun1466 Jan1467Died in officeChen Wen(1405–1468) Jan1467 Apr1468Died in officePeng Shi(1416–1475) Apr1468 Mar1475Died in officeShang Lu(1414–1486) Mar1475 Jul1477Wan An(1418–1489) Jul1477 Oct1487Liu Ji(1427–1493) Oct1487 Aug1492Hongzhi(1487–1505)Xu Pu(1429–1499) Aug1492 Jul1498Liu Jian(1433–1526) Jul1498 Oct1506Zhengde(1505–1521)Li Dongyang(1447–1516) Oct1506 Jan1513Yang Tinghe(1459–1529) Jan1513 Mar1515MourningLiang Chu(1451–1527) Mar1515 Nov1517Yang Tinghe(1459–1529) Nov1517 Mar1524Jiajing(1521–1567)Jiang Mian(1463–1532) Mar1524 Jun1524Mao Ji(1463–1545) Jun1524 Jul1524Fei Hong(1468–1535) Jul1524 Mar1527Yang Yiqing(1454–1530) Mar1527 Oct1529Zhang Cong(1475–1539) Oct1529 Aug1531Zhai Luan(1477–1546) Aug1531 Oct1531Li Shi(1471–1539) Oct1531 Apr1532Zhang Cong(1475–1539) Apr1532 Aug1532Li Shi(1471–1539) Aug1532 Apr1533Zhang Cong(1475–1539) Apr1533 May1535Li Shi(1471–1539) May1535 Jul1535Fei Hong(1468–1535) Jul1535 Oct1535Li Shi(1471–1539) Oct1535 Dec1538Died in officeXia Yan(1482–1548) Dec1538 May1539Gu Dingchen(1473–1540) May1539Xia Yan(1482–1548) May1539 Aug1541Zhai Luan(1477–1546) Aug1541 Oct1541Xia Yan(1482–1548) Oct1541 Aug1542Zhai Luan(1477–1546) Aug1542 Aug1544Yan Song(1480–1565) Aug1544 Jan1546Xia Yan(1482–1548) Jan1546 Feb1548Yan Song(1480–1565) Feb1548 Jun1562Xu Jie(1503–1583) Jun1562 Jul1568Longqing(1567–1572)Li Chunfang(1511–1585) Jul1568 May1571Gao Gong(1513–1578) May1571 Jul1572Zhang Juzheng(1525–1582) Jul1572 Jun1582Wanli(1572–1620)Died in officeZhang Siwei(1526–1585) Jun1582 May1583MourningShen Shixing(1535–1614) May1583 Oct1591Wang Jiaping(1536–1603) Oct1591 Apr1592Zhao Zhigao(1524–1601) Apr1592 Feb1593Wang Xijue(1534–1614) Feb1593 Jun1594Zhao Zhigao(1524–1601) Jun1594 Sep1601Died in officeShen Yiguan(1537–1615) Sep1601 Aug1606Zhu Geng(1535–1608) Aug1606 Dec1608Died in officeYe Xianggao(1559–1627) Dec1608 Sep1614Fang Congzhe(1562–1628) Sep1614 Dec1620Taichang(1620)Liu Yijing(1567–1635) Dec1620 Nov1621Tianqi(1620–1627)Ye Xianggao(1559–1627) Nov1621 Aug1624Han Kuang(1566–1644) Aug1624 Dec1624Zhu Guozhen(1557–1632) Dec1624 Jan1625Gu Bingqian(1550–?) Jan1625 Oct1626Huang Liji(1568–1637) Oct1626 Dec1627Shi Fenglai(1563–1642) Dec1627 Apr1628Chongzhen(1620–1627)Li Guopu(1585–1631) Apr1628 Jun1628Lai Zongdao(1571–1638) Jun1628 Jul1628Li Biao(1582–1636) Jul1628 Dec1628Han Kuang(1566–1644) Dec1628 Feb1630Li Biao(1582–1636) Feb1630 Apr1630Cheng Jiming(1559–1635) Apr1630 Oct1630Zhou Yanru(1593–1644) Oct1630 Jul1633Wen Tiren(1574–1638) Jul1633 Jun1637Zhang Zhifa(1573–1642) Jun1637 May1638Kong Zhenyun(1574–1644) May1638 Jul1638Liu Yuliang(1594–1642) Jul1638 Mar1639Xue Guoguan(1582–1641) Mar1639 Jul1640Fan Fucui(1580–1658) Jul1640 Jun1641Zhang Sizhi(?–?) Jun1641 Oct1641Zhou Yanru(1593–1644) Oct1641 Jun1643Chen Yan(1600–1644) Jun1643 Mar1644Jiang Dejing(1593–1646) Mar1644 Apr1644Wei Zaode(1605–1644) Apr1644Died after captured
References