Book critical of Ming emperor recalled after drawing online comparisons with Xi

A reprint of a book attributing the end of the Ming dynasty 400 years ago to the ineptitude of a Chinese emperor was pulled off the shelves last week, in an apparent purge of a title that had drawn now censored online comparisons with President Xi Jinping. The book "Chongzhen: The Diligent Emperor of a Fallen Dynasty" was recalled on Oct. 16, according to an online notice by its publisher Dook Media Group due to "printing problems". Chongzhen, whose reign ended with his suicide in 1644, was noted by historians for his diligence as much as his paranoia, including the constant questioning of his subjects' loyalty.