The Xuande emperor (宣德, 1398-1435) of the Ming dynasty.

the Xuande emperor (宣德, 1398-1435) was the 5th emperor of the Ming dynasty. He was the eldest son of the Hongxi Emperor, born Zhu Zhanji (朱瞻基). His reign from 1425 to 1435 is called the golden age of the Ming Dynasty because the country was stable, secure and prosperous, along with the short reign of his father this era is often called the "age of Ren-Xuan" after their temples, Renzong and Xuanzong. After ascending to the throne, most of the officials under his father remained employed and his relationship with them was very compact. He always kept his distance from corrupt officials and trusted those who were competent. Kuang Zhong, the governor of Suzhou, an official known for his honesty and candour, was one of his confidants.

In 1428, Liu Guan, a disreputable censor was sacked and sentenced to hard labor, replaced by the anti-corruption Gu Zuo. Gu Zuo sacked 43 censors in Beijing and Nanjing for their incompetence, several people were demoted, imprisoned, and exiled, but no one was sentenced to death. The censors investigated the entire Ming administration including the military. That same year Xuande reformed regulations regarding conscription and the treatment of deserters.