Ming dynasty
People's Republic of China, 1368–1644. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Ming dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Yongle Emperor established Yan as a secondary capital and renamed it Beijing, constructed the Forbidden City, and restored the Grand Canal. One eunuch, Zheng He, led seven enormous voyages of exploration into the Indian Ocean as far as Arabia and the eastern coasts of Africa. The dynasty collapsed in 1644 as Li Zicheng's rebel forces entered Beijing.
Seat of power: Beijing
Rulers
Hongwu Emperor
Emperor of China, 1368–1398
The Hongwu Emperor, personal name Zhu Yuanzhang, was the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1368 to 1398. He also took great care breaking the power of the court eunuchs and unrelated magnates, enfeoffing his many sons throughout China and attempting to guide these princes through the Huang-Ming Zuxun, a set of published dynastic instructions. The empire's standing army exceeded one million troops and the navy's dockyards in Nanjing were the largest in the world.
Portrait of Hongwu Emperor: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Jianwen Emperor
Emperor of China, 1398–1402
The Jianwen Emperor was the second emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1398 to 1402. Upon his accession, the Jianwen Emperor immediately began revising the Hongwu Emperor's reforms, with the most significant change being the attempt to limit or eliminate the power of princes who were sons of the Hongwu Emperor. In 1402, Zhu Di captured the capital of Nanjing, and the imperial palace was burned to the ground.
Yongle Emperor
Emperor of China, 1402–1424
The Yongle Emperor was the third emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1402 to 1424. After ascending the throne, the Yongle Emperor elevated Beiping to the status of a second capital, diminishing the importance of Nanjing. The Emperor strongly supported both Confucianism and Buddhism and sponsored the compilation of the vast Yongle Encyclopedia, employing around two thousand scholars.
Portrait of Yongle Emperor: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Xuande Emperor
Emperor of China, 1425–1435
The Xuande Emperor was the fifth emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1425 to 1435. His rule was marked by a period of relative peace, with no major internal or foreign conflicts. Upon ascending the throne, he made the decision to reverse his father's plan to relocate the capital from Beijing to Nanjing.
Portrait of Xuande Emperor: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Zhengtong Emperor
Emperor of China, 1435–1449
He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor from 1435 to 1449, and as the Tianshun Emperor from 1457 to 1464. As the first child emperor of the Ming dynasty, his rule was heavily influenced by high dignitaries at court. In 1449, at Wang Zhen's suggestion, Emperor Yingzong personally led the army against the Mongol army of Esen Taishi, but at the Battle of Tumu Fortress, Esen's army defeated the Ming army and captured the Emperor.
Portrait of Zhengtong Emperor: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
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Jingtai Emperor
Emperor of China, 1449–1457
The Jingtai Emperor was the seventh emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1449 to 1457. During his reign, the Jingtai Emperor, with the support of prominent minister Yu Qian, worked to restore the country's infrastructure. This included repairing the Grand Canal and the Yellow River's dam system, resulting in economic prosperity and a bolstering of the country's strength.
Zhengtong Emperor
Emperor of China, 1457–1464
In 1457 Emperor Yingzong overthrew the ailing Jingtai Emperor in a coup and reascended the throne. He ruled as the Tianshun Emperor from 1457 to 1464.
Portrait of Zhengtong Emperor: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Chenghua Emperor
Emperor of China, 1464–1487
The Chenghua Emperor was the ninth emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1464 to 1487. During the initial years of his reign, he implemented a new policy that included tax cuts and a focus on strengthening the state's power, but as time passed, the positive impact of these changes diminished.
Portrait of Chenghua Emperor: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Hongzhi Emperor
Emperor of China, 1487–1505
The Hongzhi Emperor was the tenth emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1487 to 1505. After the Hongzhi Emperor ascended the throne in 1487, he was known for his diligence and hard work, and Confucian ideology guided his administration. He closely oversaw all state affairs, implementing measures such as reducing taxes and government spending, and appointing capable officials to ministerial positions.
Portrait of Hongzhi Emperor: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Zhengde Emperor
Emperor of China, 1505–1521
The Zhengde Emperor was the 11th emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1505 to 1521. Upon taking power, it became evident that he had a strong aversion to the Confucian-oriented bureaucracy and rejected the rituals and duties associated with it. From 1506 to 1510, the eunuch Liu Jin effectively controlled the government, appointing his allies and supporters to important positions.
Portrait of Zhengde Emperor: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Jiajing Emperor of Ming
Emperor of China, 1521–1567
The Jiajing Emperor was the 12th emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1521 to 1567. After his enthronement, the Jiajing Emperor came into conflict with his officials regarding the method of legalizing his accession. This conflict, known as the Great Rites Controversy, was a significant political issue at the beginning of his reign.
Portrait of Jiajing Emperor of Ming: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Longqing Emperor
Emperor of China, 1567–1572
The Longqing Emperor was the 13th emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1567 to 1572. He reinstated talented officials who had been previously exiled and dismissed corrupt officials and Taoist priests who had surrounded the Jiajing Emperor. Additionally, he lifted the ban on foreign trade, boosting the empire's economy, and reorganized the border troops to strengthen security on the inland and coastal borders.
Portrait of Longqing Emperor: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Wanli
Emperor of China, 1572–1620
The Wanli Emperor was the 14th emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1572 to 1620. The Wanli Emperor ascended the throne at the age of nine. During the first ten years of his reign, Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng effectively led the government, while the Emperor's mother, Lady Li, and the eunuch Feng Bao also played significant roles.
Portrait of Wanli: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Tianqi Emperor
Emperor of China, 1620–1627
The Tianqi Emperor was the 16th and penultimate emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1620 to 1627. Instead of taking an active role in state affairs and pursuing his father's political objectives, the Tianqi Emperor showed little interest and neglected his duties. As a result, the head of the imperial eunuchs, Wei Zhongxian, took advantage of the situation and seized executive power, along with the emperor's former wet nurse, Madam Ke.
Portrait of Tianqi Emperor: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Chongzhen Emperor
Emperor of China, 1627–1644
The Chongzhen Emperor was the 17th and last emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1627 to 1644. As emperor, he battled peasant rebellions and was not able to defend the northern frontier against the Manchu. When rebels under Li Zicheng reached the capital Beijing in 1644, he committed suicide, ending the Ming dynasty.
Culture
- By the 16th century, the expansion of European trade spread the Columbian exchange of crops, plants, and animals into China, introducing chili peppers to Sichuan cuisine and highly productive maize and potatoes, which diminished famines and spurred population growth.
- The growth of Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch trade created new demand for Chinese products and produced a massive influx of South American silver.
- Estimates for the late-Ming population vary from 160 to 200 million.
Picture
The Forbidden City in Beijing was built from 1406 to 1420 and was the residence of twenty-four Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors.
Image: Pixelflake, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.