Xing An (eunuch)

Xing An (simplified Chinese: 兴安; traditional Chinese: 興安; pinyin: Xīng ān; Vietnamese: Hưng An; 1389–1459), a native of Đại Việt (present-day northern Vietnam), was a Ming dynasty eunuch.

He was born in 1389 and arrived in China from Đại Việt in 1407. In 1426, he was appointed as Personel 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 were both favored and trusted.^[1]

In the autumn of 1449, Emperor Yingzong was captured by the Oirats during the Tumu Crisis. Zhu Qiyu, Prince of Cheng, requested that he and Jin Ying to gather the court officials to discuss state affairs. Reader-in-waiting Xu Cheng suggested moving south, but was rebuked by Xing An, who said, "Anyone who dares to suggest relocation will be executed". Xing An then went to inform Empress Dowager Sun and advised Prince of Cheng to appoint Yu Qian to prepare for war and defense.^[1]

In 1450, the leader of the Oirats, Esen, besieged the capital and reached the Deshengmen. The Jingtai Emperor ordered Xing An and Li Yongchang (李永昌) to work together with Yu Qian and Shi Heng to manage military affairs. Esen sent envoys to negotiate peace and wanted to return Emperor Yingzong. When the court discussed appointing envoys to go on the mission, the Jingtai Emperor asked him to come out and speak to the courtiers, saying, "Who among you is suitable to respond to the envoy? Who can be like Wen Tianxiang and Fu Bi?" Wang Zhi said that his scolding of the courtiers was inappropriate, and Xing An was speechless. Chief Supervising Secretary Li Shi (李寔) was sent to deliver a message, but the edict did not mention the return of the former emperor. Li Shi was greatly surprised and asked for clarification at the Grand Secretariat, where he met Xing An on the way. Xing An told him, "Just follow the decree and don't worry about anything else". Later, the Jingtai Emperor wanted to crown his son Zhu Jianji as the crown prince, and many suspected that he was involved in the conspiracy. Xing An possesses moral integrity and recognizes Yu Qian's virtuous character, making every effort to protect him.^[1]

In 1456, he was ordered to visit the critically ill Yu Qian with Shu Liang (舒良). In 1457, Emperor Yingzong was restored to the throne, and the eunuchs Wang Cheng (王誠), Shu Liang, Zhang Yong (張永), Wang Qin (王勤), and others who had been trusted by the Jingtai Emperor were executed. They were said to be involved in changing the crown prince and conspired with Yu Qian and Wang Wen (王文) to enthorne a vassal prince. The supervising secretaries and censors accused Xing An, Wang Cheng, and Shu Liang of being accomplices and should be punished together. However, Emperor Yingzong took into consideration Xing An's old age and showed leniency by only stripping him of his positions and allowing him to retire.^[1][2] He died in 1459.