China’s mainland published “Chongzhen: Diligent Emperor of a Dying Nation” reportedly got taken down in October 2023 due to alleged implications towards the CCP leader Xi Jinping. However, a book by the same author that was also temporarily removed, “Chongzhen Biography,” is now back on sale on mainland China’s online bookstores.
Upon searching multiple well-known mainland Chinese book-selling websites such as China Book Network and Dangdang Network on September 16, 2025, a reporter from The Epoch Times found that “Chongzhen Biography” written by the late Chinese historian Chen Wutong is available for purchase. Published on August 1, 2023 by Henan Literature and Art Publishing House, the book is priced at 29.2 yuan on Dangdang Network and 47.6 yuan on China Book Network.
The cover of the book introduces, “The desolate late-world scene of Emperor Chongzhen’s 17-year reign”; “As soon as he ascended to the throne, he executed Wei Zhongxian, disbanded the Eunuch Party, governed diligently, full of aspirations, yet ended up hanging himself in Meishan, leading to Ming’s downfall.” “How much is praise and criticism in ‘The king dies, the state perishes’? How much is shifting blame in ‘I am not a king of a dying nation’?”
Chen Wutong passed away in May 2023, and his first reprinted work, “Chongzhen: Diligent Emperor of a Dying Nation,” was published on September 1, 2023. On October 16, the major websites in mainland China, including Xinhua Bookstore and private distributors, received a notice from the distributor Reader Cultural Co., Ltd., requesting the immediate removal of the book “Chongzhen: Diligent Emperor of a Dying Nation” and arrangements for returning the books, citing “printing issues.”
According to online users’ verification, this book was actually a renamed reprint of “Chongzhen’s Past,” published in 2016.
The promotional blurb on the cover of “Chongzhen: Diligent Emperor of a Dying Nation” reads, “Mistakes after mistakes lead to downfall, the more ‘diligent governance,’ the faster the demise.” The content analyzes how Emperor Chongzhen headed towards the path of a dying nation in terms of finance, party struggles, military, and appointments. At the time, public opinion believed the book was taken down due to alleged implications towards Xi Jinping.
Former Chief China Advisor to the US State Department, Yu Maochun, once stated that banning this book highlights Xi’s “extreme sensitivity or paranoia.”
The “Chongzhen Biography” published by Chen Wutong in August 2023 also seemed to have been temporarily taken down, as it was unavailable on several book purchasing platforms. There were rumors that “Chongzhen’s Past” was removed as well. However, on October 19, 2023, a reporter from The Epoch Times could still find “Chongzhen’s Past” on the long-established mainland Chinese second-hand book website “Confucius Old Books Network,” albeit with a skyrocketed price, some listed for 300 yuan, with one even priced at 1380 yuan, and only one copy left. “Chongzhen’s Past” was originally priced at 46 yuan.
Currently, besides “Chongzhen Biography,” “Chongzhen’s Past” is also being sold on Dangdang Network for a price of 37.17 yuan.
Political commentator Zhou Xiaohui wrote an article today (September 16) saying that a friend in mainland China revealed that lately, for some unknown reason, many banned books have started to be sold on mainland websites. Among them are books like “Chongzhen Biography,” which was temporarily removed at the same time as “Chongzhen: Diligent Emperor of a Dying Nation” two years ago.
Chongzhen was the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Since Xi Jinping came to power 13 years ago, his chaotic governance has led to internal and external troubles, drawing parallels to Chongzhen in many aspects.
Independent commentator Du Zheng once listed several historical figures used to imply Xi Jinping in recent years, including Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, Yuan Shao from the Three Kingdoms period, Emperor Yang of Sui, Empress Dowager Cixi, Yuan Shikai, and Huan Xuan, who established the Huan Chu in the late Eastern Jin. The article mentioned that Huan Xuan, due to his large physique, the Dragon Throne could not bear his weight, and it collapsed when he sat on it, sinking into the ground. A courtier, Yin Zhongwen, complimented him, “Your Majesty’s virtue is deep, even the land cannot bear it.” This made Huan Xuan very happy and rewarded Yin Zhongwen generously. However, a few months later, the Huan Xuan regime fell.
However, China expert Lan Shu previously told The Epoch Times that ancient Chinese emperors believed in heaven, respected it as well as the earth and human beings. The CCP is a regime that goes against heaven, earth, and humanity, so comparing the CCP leader to ancient Chinese emperors is putting a gold coating on the CCP’s face; and if Emperor Chongzhen were aware underground, he would definitely consider it an insult.
Since the 20th National Congress of the CCP, Xi Jinping’s personally selected party, government, and military confidants have been investigated one after another. Since July last year, various rumors about Xi’s power crisis, the Fourth Plenum causing trouble, and other incidents have been circulating.
The CCP held a press conference on September 12 this year, where Minister of Finance Lan Fo’an stated that by the end of 2024, local government hidden debts reached 10.5 trillion yuan.
China expert Zhang Tianliang said on the “Tianliang Political Commentary” program that official data conceals deeper structural problems, revealing that the CCP’s fiscal system is on the verge of collapse. This financial crisis is enough to make Xi Jinping “run out of options.”
Former US Air Force General Blaine Holt previously wrote in Newsweek, stating that the CCP is on the brink of collapse, and Xi Jinping may become its last ruler.