The second Emperor GongMin (Zhu Yunwen) is replaced in Coup Campaign (1399 AD
- 1403 AD) by 3rd Emperor, his Uncle, the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di (4Th son of Hong Wu).
Establishment of the reign of 3rd Ming Emperor under reign name Yongle, meaning
"forever happy" (ChengZu) (1403 AD-1425 AD), transfer of the Capital to Beiping (JingShi or ShunTianFu), since 1380 AD the
personal fiefdom of Zhu Di, Prince of Yan. Beiping was then renamed Beijing in 1421AD.
Construction of Imperial Palace at Beijing in the years leading up to 1422 AD, creating an Imperial City (the so-called "Forbidden City"), the largest Imperial Palace in the World. As a result of the downfall of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, continuous border wars
and incidents, followed later by the usurping of the Throne by an illegitimate Emperor, relations
with the surrounding Nations of Central Asia, along the Silk Road, were at an absolute lowpoint.
Among things, this forced the Chinese look for other ways to inflate their power and gain Tribute,
Alliance and Respect from new States. Another reaction to the hostilities in the West and North was
the reconstitution of China's Great (defensive) Wall, greatly strenghtening it and extending the Wall
into far western China, it's largest length in history.
After the period 1439 AD - 1457 AD and the return of the Emperor from Captivity, relations with the
Another invasion by a Foreign Tribe, the Ching are a Tungusic people native to Manchuria. The Manchu first unite Manchuria, Mongolia and parts of Shandong Province, then establish a parallel Dynasty.
When a peasant rebellion sweeps through Hebei and the City of Beijing, Ming Emperor ChongZhen commits suicide. After the rebels reign choas on the Capital, the Ching armies sweep in to take Victory.
Capital City: Beijing, after capture of City and pacification of Beijing from Revolt.
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Time-line of all 15 Ching Emperors, Life, Love, achievements.
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Summary of the Ming Dynasty Reign1368 AD - 1644 AD
This page was last updated on: June 16, 2008
Imperial Ming-styled Dragon Logo, symbolising the Emperor, his might, longevity of Reign and prosperity. During the early Ming Dynasty China was the most influential trade nation and most important military power in East and South-East Asia.
This page was last updated on: June 16, 2008
The preceeding Yuan Dynasty 1125 AD to 1234 AD
A Foreign invasion of China by nomadic Mongol Tribes led by the infamous Dhengis Khan. Capturing Beijing and eventually establishing the Yuan Dynasty, a Mongol Ethnic Power-structure accepting Chinese Culture and ways. Confucianism was the accepted State Religion. The governmental institutions of the Mongol period were based on confucian ideas and hierarchy and were marked by a strong centralization. Rivalry among the Mongol imperial heirs, the inflexibility of the ruling system, natural disasters, abuse of the peasant class for large scale public works led to numerous peasant uprisings. Feudal tendencies of the ruling class, aquiring large estates and lands, on which chinese
In 1405 AD Emperor Yongle orders tribute trade expeditions to be dispatched to all Nations
known and simultaniously the discovery of new Nations to Trade with (and receive tribute
from). The Emperor chooses loyal admiral Zheng He, a muslim, to oversee this giant undertaking.
During the Reign of Yongle and his successor HongXi (4Th Ming Emperor (name of Reign
Renzong)) these new plans and this new seaborn strategy culminate in the 7 Grand
Exploration (1368 AD - 1465 AD). During these voyages active trade-routes and communications
are established with more than 30 countries and city-states in Asia, Arabia and (East-) Africa.
During the first half of the 15Th Century chinese maritime explorers under command of Admiral Zheng He (SanBao) reached as far south as Mozambique (1433 AD) in south-east Africa on their Tribute Trading Missions. In their final 6th and 7 th journeys in the 2nd half of the 15Th Century Zheng He's Trade expeditions reached Cape Agulhas (southern most point of Africa) and rounded the Cape of Good Hope (before 1459 AD - Fra Mauro Map) , extending Chinese Exploration into the South-Atlantic Ocean. Only some 30 years later the renowned Portugese explorer Vasco Da Gama, rounding Cape of Good Hope from the Atlantic Ocean (late 1497 AD), was able to make use of the trade-route established by Admiral Zheng He on his 6Th journey, traveling directly from Malindi (Kenyan coast) to Calicut (Now Khozikode) on the West-Indian coast and from there on to Ceylon (Sri Lanka). In this event Vasco Da Gama layed the basis for Portugese domination of the Indian Ocean in the 16Th Century, spreading a colonial and trading Empire as far as the South Seas and Molluccas (or Spice Islands) in the far South-East Asian Islands using chinese navigational knowledge. By then however, all Chinese Maritime
Explorations had been halted by Imperial Decree (1st halted in 1424 AD by HongXi Emperor
(Renzong).
After the short reign of only one year the HongXi Emperor died of natural causes and was
succeeded by Zhu Zanjie, (Xuanzong) Emperor XuanDe. The XuanDe Emperor ordered the
were seen in the Indian Ocean, leaving the path free for the Portugese ships and plans.
Reasons that have been given for this decline and the eventual seizure of maritime
missions were first of all the increasing attention claimed by invading Mongol Tribes in the
North. During the Yongle reign there had already been increasing pressure from attacking
Mongol Tribes in the North, the famed Emperor launching and leading no less than five
military missions to the northern regions. The move of Capital more northernly to Beijing
partially supported the Missions in War with the Tribes the North.
Furthermore, in 1449 AD, the 6Th Ming Emperor , Zheng Tong was attacked and captured by Mongol Cavalry of the Wala Tribe at a day's march from Beijing. Political crisis followed while the Emperor was held hostage and Civil War was at hand in China as the half-brother declared himself JingTai Emperor in the absence of the real ruling Emperor. The 6 year absence of the Emperor and the internal power-struggle further drew attention and focus internally.
Secondly, the giant cost of restoring and repairing the Great Wall of China,
expanding it into the far Western Deserts, the cost of Garrisoning this long
border must have been a drain of Imperial Finances.
At one time the standing army counted in excess
of 1,000,000 troops. It is quite possible that
the cost of maintaining both a giant
sea-going fleet and a great wall of
China would have been too high.
However, there has been
reasonable argument that the
Zheng He Tribute Missions actually
enhanced trade, moving money
into the chinese economy from
overseas regions and thus feeding the
Empire. Loss of the Trade Missions in that sense
would have been an economic loss.
A third reason that has been given for ending the
succesful maritime missions refers to the Chinese worldview
and the mentality of Cultural Superiority. At the Time of the early Ming
Dynasty China's vast Empire was seen by the Chinese as the Center of
the World, and this had been confirmed by the eagerness of Tribute States
to send Missions to the Chinese Capital. Newfound states were quick to do
trade, buy chinese goods and seek the Alliance of this Great seaborn military
power. The Chinese,and now others, knew their lands as the Empire of the Great Ming (Da Ming Guo). There may therefor have been resentment at the Ming Court which was still heavily influenced by confucianist idea's (Confucianism being the State Religion during the preceding Dynasties). Such opposition at court may have been a real contributing factor, as conservative officials found the concept of expansion and commercial ventures alien to Chinese ideas of government and contrary to Confucian ideals of piety and virtue. Zheng's appointment in 1403 to lead a sea-faring task force already had been a triumph of commercial lobbies seeking to stimulate (conventional) trade over the conservative forces of the Confucian Scholar Gentry. The confucianists, who were fast re-establishing their former powers after the reign of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor, may have eventually have turned the tide against the whole endeavour. Whichever way it may be, the stability of the Ming dynasty, which during it's early years was without major disruptions of the population, economy,
arts, society, or politics, promoted a belief among the Chinese that they had achieved the most
satisfactory civilization on earth and that nothing foreign was needed or desirable. As a result an
Imperial Ban on official sea-going trade was enforced, ending the majority of Chinese seaborn
activities. In a peculiar move typical of Chinese Government censorship, all Records of the Zheng He
Missions including the navigational charts were destroyed and shipbuilding was restricted to
small-size vessels. Later, during the 16Th Century, China's coastal areas are plagued by groups of
Waku (wakou), pirates ravaging villages, cities and coastal area's.
The reign of the YingZong Emperor was recovered in 1457 AD, renaming his reign Tianshun.
The Giant Statue of Zhu Di Emperor Yongle, 3rd Emperor of the Ming Dynasty at his Mausoleum, Chang Ling, outside Beijing.
A scale model of Chang Ling, the extensive Mausoleum of Zhu Di Yongle near Beijing.
Ming Achievements: The Worlds largest Economy of its Age. Most Powerful and largest Military Power if it's Time in East-Asia and South-East Asia. Science, economy and military strength early Ming Dynasty culminating in the greatest age of maritime exploration in Chinese History. Kangnido Map 1402 AD depicting the Mediterranean sea and Europe. Discovery of
the (South-) Atlantic Ocean. During his 6th and
7th Voyage Admiral Zheng He explores the East-
African Coast and reaches Africas southern most
point. Invention of the Rudder on ships,
practical use of magnetic compass and other
navigation techniques (stars and celestial
bodies, triangulation). Fast development of very
large wooden sea-going ships, culminating in
the largest in chinese and world history
(around 160 meters).
Spin-offs of the Voyages are the Maturity of
Blue-and-White Porcelain and highpoint of
international trade in porcelain. Zheng He
navigational charts among earliest trans-oceanic
navigational charts in world history.
Da Ming Guo, the Empire of the Great Ming shown at it's greatest size during the Ming Dynasty (red border inside the yellow of current day China). There were several tribute states, which are not included as part of the Empire.
Yuan Dynasty Achievements: Impressive, if not stunning. Conquering largest world Empire in History, spanning the Eurasian continent from Manchuria and Bhurma to Poland and Bulgaria, then part of the Roman Empire in Europe. Long Range maritime expeditions around "the world", including attempts to invade the Japanese main Islands and subdue them to Mongol-Chinese Rule. The invasion fails due to a Tropical Storm (Typhoon) that destroys the Mongol-Chinese Fleet in sight of Japan's shores. It is generally held that the deep discrimination of the Mongols against the native Han-Chinese was the deciding factor in the downfall of The Empire, since the main motives of HongJin Rebellion that eventually overthrew the Yuan were the exclusion from all strata of society and governement. Another of their biggest sorrows was the destitute situation of chinese agriculture , leading to deep poverty among the overwhelmingly peasant population .However over-expansion of Empire, weakness of Dhenghis Khan's succeeding rulers and rampant corruption were other large contributing factors to the downfall of the Yuan. Overinflation of currency due to the new invention of paper currency, which had been printed and circulated in large volume, has also be named as a factor.
peasants (the majority of the population) were worked as slaves also adversely affected the popularity of the mongol ruling class. A final war broke out when hundreds of thousands of civilians were called upon to work on the Yellow River. A number of Han Chinese groups revolted, and eventually the group led by Zhu Yuanzhang (HongJin), assisted by an ancient and secret intellectual fraternity called the Summer Palace people, established dominance. An organised uprising inside the Capital City of Khanbalik (Beijing), followed by an attack of the HongJin (Red Turban) army led to the collapse of the Yuan dynasty.
The greatest ruler of the Dynasty was the founding ruler, Dhenghis Khan.
First european visit by Marco Polo, followed much later during the 16Th Century Ming by Jesuit Missionaries.
An overview of the Imperial Palace at Beijing,
constructed during the 3rd Reign of the Ming Dynasty when the Capital was moved to Beijing. It remains the largest preserved collection of wooden buildings in the world.
The Ming Dynasty is famous for the influence of the eunuchs on political affairs. Basically trusted with tasks of imperial household affairs, many eunuchs were able to climb up the social ladder and to occupy posts at the court that made them able to influence the ruler and his decisions. Their numbers multiplied the longer the Ming Dynasty ruled, the number of eunuchs at the court soon reaching between 15- and 20.000.
The greater part of the eunuchs came from poor families from territories in the north China, while the scholar-officials that traditionally occupied governmental posts, came from gentry clans in southern China. The problem of the intermingling of the eunuchs into state affairs was not new. As early as the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) the eunuchs had become a tradition, leading often to political intrigue. During the whole course of Ming Dynasty, there was always a deep mistrust between the scholarship elite, that occupied the governmental posts in the capital(s) and in the prefectures, and the central government, that was often deeply influenced by some high ranking eunuchs predominantly from Northern area's. There was thus always a split between rivalling power-groups at Court.
The authoritarian and centralized politics of the Ming government lead to a status of immovability and confucian-inspired orthodoxy. Strong Emperors founed the Ming Dynasty and reigned supreme, however the Imperial Powers were vulnerable to manipulations when Emperor's were weak. Such a situation frequently occured during the later reigns of the Ming Dynasty, leading eventually to its downfall. One of the failures of the Ming Dynasty had been the unchecked trickery of the corrupt eunuchs. At one Time during the 16Th Century reign of Zhu Haochao (Emperor Wuzong 1505 AD - 1521 AD), who was the weakest ruler of all Ming, the Chief Eunuch, one Liu Jin, managed to maneuver himself in control of all State Affairs. The period saw a lot of political intrigue and bloodshed, eroding court power and losing the Ming crucial popularity among its many disgruntled citizens. Rebellions occured in the south.
One hundred years later the Chief Eunuch Wei Zhongxian (1568 AD - 1627 AD) would go even further. Becoming the predominant power at Court through manipulation of the Tianqi Emperor (1621 AD - 1627 AD), Eunuch Wei went on a widespread purge of officials, brutalizing the other power-groups at Court into his submission with the Eunuchs newfound power. In the ensuing period the Eunuchs were practically in control of everything, running the Palace and the State for the Emperor. Needless to say the Chief Eunuch further abused power, plundering state finances and even inspiring a personality culture complete erecting shrines in his own honor. This marked a true lowpoint in imperial authority during the Ming Reign. The Chief Eunuch was eventually caught up with by the suspicions of the Emperor. Helped by remaining enemies of the Chief Eunuch, the Emperor had Wei Zhongxian banished from Court, after which Wei's suicide and a spree of revenge killings and punishments put an end to the whole Wei power-clique. The damage to the Empire had however already been done. Reinforced by the effects of natural disasters and droughts, the ensuing chaos and enmity against the Ming led to numerous uprisings throughout the Empire. Peasants were revolting in many area's. Poverty led to banditry, which in turn led to more armies marching against the Throne. In the North the Manchu Prince Nuerhachi had broken away from the Ming Empire (1616 AD) and united the Jurchen people, establishing a parallel Dynasty named Jing (changed to Chin in 1636 AD). The succeeding Emperors would have to be strong to overcome the challenges now facing the Ming, however history would prove the tide could not be turned against their downfall. The eunuchs' manipulations had mortally wounded the Empire.
The succeeding Dynasty, the arriving Manchu, had seen the internal chaos resulting from the plots of the Eunuchs during the Ming Reign. As a result, at the beginning of the new Qing Dynasty their numbers were greatly reduced, many were executed and all demoted to the lowest ranks. The majority of remaining eunuchs were sent home finally breaking their power at court. Even then however, the eunuchs would return !
During the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty the Grand Canal (Da YouHe'), the largest and longest ancient artificial river (or Canal) in world history was constructed in China. Expanding on earlier-built canal systems the Grand Canal connected the City of Beijing in Hebei Province to Huangzhou in current day ZheJiang Province on the lower reaches of the Jiangtse River, reaching an
Zheng He Tribute and Trade Missions - The Ming Age of Maritime Discovery
Ming Dynasty Origins and Short History
(1368 AD to 1644 AD)
Capital City: Nanjing (YingTianFu).
First ruler Zhu YuanZhang (TaiZhu), named as Emperor Hong Wu
(1368 AD - 1398 AD). The Hongwu Emperor dies after a 31 year reign.
Succession by 1st Grandson Zhu Yunwen, named as Emperor
Gongmin (1399 AD - 1403 AD), Name of Reign Period Jianwen.
During the reign of first two Emperors the Capital City of the Ming Dynasty is located
at Nanjing, an important Harbor City, Main Naval port and Trade Center, South of
Jiangtse River, China's Main transport artery of the Time.
After 1457 AD - The Great Wall of China during the Ming Dynasty
The entire Ming period was important especially in the arts.
The Imperial Palace,Beijing's mythical Forbidden City, was constructed in the years leading up to 1422 AD, using resources and skilled manpower and artists from territories around the Empire.Only altered during the Qing Dynasty the Palace still stands as a remarkable Monument to Ming Dynasty architecture and achievement. In the same period, in a giant recreation of the City of Beijing, another famous Chinese landmark and cultural relic the confucian Temple of Heaven Complex (Tiantan) with its
monumental Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, was erected in
the South of the new Capital Beijing. Last but not least, in
1409 AD while Beijing was being recreated into the new
Imperial Capital, work was started on a final masterpiece, the
Ming Dynasty Politics - The Eunuchs and their Intrigues
A Grand Canal - The Longest artificial river in World History
The Arts - The Ming Dynasty Legacy in Arts & Crafts, Architecture and Literature
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Link: Satellite Image with Schematic of the Location and path of the Great Wall of China during the Ming Dynasty. Passes on the Great Wall included.
Ming Dynasty Demise - End of the Ming Dynasty
The inevitable end came in 1644 AD at the hands of a peasant revolt sweeping Hebei Province and setting the Capital of Beijing aflame. With the city citizenry revolting unexpectedly the Ming were taken aback by the situation. The revolt now stood at the Gate of the Palace itself and a horde of angry citizens was about to take revenge for unknown sufferings. Fallen into panic and despair and lamenting his ancestry, the Ming Emperor fled his Palace, hanging himself from a Tree in Jingshan Park. All defenses then seemed to collapse. Finding the Palace virtually undefended and deserted by its prime inhabitant, the peasant revolt leader Lee Zicheng, an ignorant farmer, was then crowned Emperor. He however reigned for only one day.
Helped by a Ming General commanding the Pass at Shanhai, the Manchu Dynasty of the North passed the Great Wall of China and descended on Beijing. Deposing the One-Day-Fly peasant Emperor, the Jin of the North, renamed Ching in 1636 AD, took control of the Empire and founded a new Dynasty. The Empire was saved from fragmentation but the Han Chinese had new Foreign Rulers. The Manchurian Ching would adopt many of the Ming customs, however they would also lead a segregated society and leave their own mark on Chinese History. Although the Míng capital, Beijing, fell in 1644, remnants of the Míng throne and power (now collectively called the Southern Míng) survived until 1662 AD.t
Hidden Secrets and China's love & hate affair with the Forbidden City !
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Need we Say More? Great DVD on the even Greater Wall of China.
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Construction of the Grand Canal, longest manmade river in world history during the Yongle Reign of the Ming dynasty (1411 to 1415 AD). From Yongle reign to ZhengTong reign increasing attacks from Mongol Tribes re-focussing Chinese attention to the North and internally. Initial military campaigns in the far North- and West led by Zhu Di himself result in recapturing of the lands "North and West of the (Gobi) Desert", i.e. the Han Chinese gain control of parts of Turkestan (now XinJiang Autonomous Region, the "new territories"). Reconstruction of- and extension of the Great Wall of China follows with the Wall ultimately reaching to the border of far western China (North Xinjiang Autonomous Region), ending North-West of Dunhuang in Gansu Province as series of Fire Beacon Towers. During the Ming period, Chinese authority extended into Mongolia, Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Ryukyu Islands.
Today know as Shisan Ling, or simply "The Ming Tombs", the mausoleum Valley was selected for it's perfect Feng Shui caracteristics by the Yongle Emperor himself.
As founding father of the Great Imperial Capital with many achievements, Yongle would be the first Ming Emperor to
be enshrined here, resting at Chang Ling Mausoleum. With 12 more Ming Emperors to follow. In time, the entire Valley was transformed into a huge confucian shrine and monument to the Ming Reign. Also known as the "Chinese Valley of the Kings", the Ming Mausolea are another World Heritage Site, and among the most renowned architectural wonders in China today.
Although the Ming did censor Literature, many new books were written, produced, printed and distributed during their Dynastic reign. One great cultural and literary development of the Ming Dynasty was the advent of the novel. These novels developed from the writings of Chinese story tellers. As a result, they were written in a more open language than the language of the nobility traditionally used in Chinese books and much more accessible to a larger
public.
With the use of movable block type printing, many such novels could be printed and their use was widespread. Some of the best known novels in chinese history date from the Ming Dynasty and the most famous examples are still read today.
In addition to the spread of the Novel, many Encyclopedias were written during the Ming Period, containing important information from a variety of fields.
Among the subjects geography, music and medicine. Dictionaries were also written. In the most influential dictionary of the time, written in 1615 A.D. the number of signs for Chinese characters was reduced to 214, as opposed to the 540 plus signs of previous dictionaries.
The Ming Period was also a highpoint for Chinese Ceramics. Artists and Artisans produced exquisite porcelains which were traded to all corners of the chinese-known world. As a result shards of chinese ceramics can be still unearthed at many historical sites on the East-African Coast and in the Central African Republics today. Porcelain production increased and diversified into many new directions. Blue and white porcelain became the normal and most
usual type of Chinese Ceramics traded to overseas areas, but experimentation in two color and even three color porcelain was already undertaken.
Many bronzes and large quantities of the finest lacquerware were also produced and traded during the Ming Dynasty. Some of the finest works have survived time and many are now on display at the Palace Museum, the former Imperial Palace at Beijing. Other items, among which the most precious Ming treasures, were"rescued" by the former KuominTang "National Governement"
upon their defeat on the chinese mainland in 1949 AD and have been taken to
Taiwan. They are on display ay the Palace Museum of Taipei. Many more priceless treasures remain in private collections around the World.
During the final century of the Ming dynasty, increasing numbers of Europeans
reached China starting a period of increasing foreign influence..
During the remainder of the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall of China was expanded to its maximum length, while changing methods of construction.
neighboring peoples were at an all time low, the Chinese confronting many enemies. Massive repairs and construction are once more undertaken on the Great Wall of
China. The Chinese Nation fortified itself against the Northern and Western Tribes and Nations, a proven and tried method from earlier history (Han, Tang Dynasty, etc). The Great Wall, already repaired and restrenghtened under the Reign of Brutal 3rd Emperor Zhu Di
