Liu Jin

Liu Jin (1451–1510), a native of Xingping in Shaanxi, was the most powerful eunuch of the Zhengde Emperor's Ming court. Originally surnamed Tan, he castrated himself, entering palace service as a boy and becoming the crown prince's favourite attendant. At the emperor's accession in 1505, Liu led the eunuch Eight Tigers, headed the Directorate of Ceremonial, purged opposing officials and from 1508 ran a secret-police bureau.

His revenue reforms strengthened eunuchs over scholar-officials and provoked unrest. In 1510, after the Prince of Anhua rebelled against him, fellow Tiger Zhang Yong denounced him for treason, and he was seized and executed by slicing.