Background
Yang was born and died in Xindu, Sichuan province, China.
Yang was born and died in Xindu, Sichuan province, China.
Yang Tinghe earned the Jinshi degree in the imperial examination in 1478 at the age of 19. After the death of the Zhengde Emperor in 1521, Yang became the de facto policy maker of the imperial government for 37 days. He conducted a series of reforms in these 37 days, abolished many unpopular legacies of Wuzong, including the arrest of his favorite, general Jiang Bin.
Yang Tinghe was forced to retire after his political failure during this so-called Great rites controversy in 1524.
The poets Yang Shen and Huang East were Yang Tinghe"s son and daughter-in-law.