User:Min968/List of emperors of the Ming dynasty

the Great MingEmperor
Template:Langn
帝國君主
Imperial seal of the emperor
First to reign Hongwu Emperor 23 January 1368 – 24 June 1398
详情
开国君主	Hongwu Emperor (Ming dynasty) Hongguang Emperor (Southern Ming)
末代君主	Chongzhen Emperor (Ming dynasty) Yongli Emperor (Southern Ming)
建立	1368 (Ming dynasty) 1644 (Southern Ming)
终结	1644 (Ming dynasty) 1662 (Southern Ming)
居所	Ming Palace, Nanjing Forbidden City, Beijing Varies according to the Southern Ming regimes
产生方式	Hereditary

The emperors of the Ming dynasty, who were all members of the House of Zhu, ruled China from 1368 to 1644. The Ming dynasty succeeded the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. Its founder, Zhu Yuanzhang (later known as the Hongwu Emperor), was one of the leaders of the Red Turban peasant rebellion. Despite humble beginnings, he successfully built his own state, defeated other rebel leaders, and drove the Mongols out of China. On Chinese New Year in 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang declared the establishment of a new dynasty and declared himself its first emperor.

A total of sixteen emperors ruled over China proper for 276 years. During their reign, China experienced a long period of economic growth and political stability.

In the late 1620s, a peasant uprising erupted in northern China. The weakened Ming government was unable to suppress it, and in 1644, the rebels even captured Beijing, leading to the Chongzhen Emperor's suicide. To defeat the rebels, the government troops in the north invited the Manchu-led Eight Banner armies of the Qing dynasty to come to the Central Plains. The Manchus then occupied northern China in the same year.

Despite losing control of the north, members of the Ming imperial family continued to rule over the south of the country. However, they were gradually pushed out by the Manchus until the last Ming emperor, Zhu Youlang, was executed in 1662 in Burma. Later historians referred to the emperors of the Ming regimes in southern China as the rulers of the Southern Ming dynasty.

The Ming emperors resided in the Forbidden City, a 72-hectare complex of palaces and buildings in Beijing. Prior to 1420, the emperors' residence was located in a similar complex in Nanjing.

Succession

Portrait of the Jiajing Emperor (r. 1521–1567) wearing a robe adorned with twelve dragons. The sun and moon drawn on the shoulders form the character ming ("bright"), the name of the dynasty. National Palace Museum, Taipei.

Dragon, detail of a robe worn by the Wanli Emperor found in his tomb at the Ding Mausoleum. The dragon motif (with five claws), symbolizing imperial power, was exclusively reserved for the emperor and his family.

The emperors inherited the throne according to the principle of primogeniture; according to the Hongwu Emperor's decision, the successor to the throne was always the eldest son of the emperor and empress, or his heir if he had none, followed by younger sons of the empress. However, sons of concubines were excluded from the line of succession. This is why the Yongle Emperor declared himself the son of Empress Ma after usurping the throne. It was a strict rule that conservative officials strongly insisted on following. Even the Wanli Emperor, who for two decades tried to appoint his third son, Zhu Changxun, as crown prince, was eventually forced to step down and appoint his eldest son, the future Taichang Emperor. The only successful violator of the succession rules was the Yongle Emperor, the third emperor of the dynasty. He gained power in a three-year civil war against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor.

Powers

In theory, the emperor held ultimate authority over all officials and generals, and the entire country was expected to obey his decrees. However, this power came at a cost, as the Hongwu Emperor tightly controlled his power through numerous purges. As the dynasty progressed, the subsequent emperors lacked the decisiveness of their founder and were subject to traditional limitations. The emperor was not expected to make independent decisions regarding the direction of the country. Instead, memoranda and demands were presented to them with proposed solutions. The emperor's role was to either confirm the submitted proposals or negotiate an alternative solution with the submitters. Similarly, the emperors appointed officials and generals based on recommendations from the Ministry of Personnel or the Ministry of War. In the case of high dignitaries, the ruler was given a choice between two to three candidates. Major issues were typically discussed at official audiences or informal meetings, and it was necessary to reach a broad consensus among court dignitaries before making any significant decisions.

Titles and names

The emperor's personal name was tabooed after his ascension to the throne. The emperor was referred to and addressed with titles of varying degrees of formality—Your Majesty (Template:Zhi; Bixia), His Majesty the Emperor (Template:Zhi huangshang, or simply Template:Zhi shang). After death, the emperor received an honorary posthumous name, usually consisting of nineteen characters for Ming emperors, but for example, the founder of the dynasty, the Hongwu Emperor, was honored with a name of twenty-three characters. Another name given posthumously was the temple name, used for ceremonies in the ancestral temple of the dynasty.

Due to the repetition of the same temple and posthumous names for emperors of different dynasties, the dynasty name is used as a differentiator when necessary. For example, the Hongwu Emperor is frequently referred to as "Ming Taizu".

The emperor's era name or reign name was chosen at the beginning of his reign to reflect the political, economic, and/or social landscapes at the time. All Ming emperors, except for Emperor Yingzong, only declared one during their reign. As a result, they are commonly referred to by the name of their era.

Household and court

Painting from the Ming era depicting the Forbidden City. The current buildings of the palace complex are the result of restorations during the Qing dynasty, which did not significantly alter the appearance of the Ming constructions.

The emperor's palace, known as the "Forbidden City", was situated in the heart of the imperial city. It covered a rectangular area of approximately 1 kilometer from North to South and 760 meters from East to West, and was protected by wide walls and moats filled with water. The main entrance, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, was located to the south and opened onto a vast inner courtyard. The North side was flanked by the Meridian Gate. Behind this gate was the actual imperial residence, which was dominated by the Hall of Supreme Harmony where important receptions and ceremonies took place. Other smaller halls were used as reception areas and for conducting rituals. A final inner enclosure separated the emperor's private residence, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, from the rest of the palace. This area also housed the residences of the imperial wives, concubines, and eunuchs, and was surrounded by gardens.

The emperor, known as the "Son of Heaven", spent the majority of his life within the walls of the Forbidden City. He was viewed as the intermediary between humans and the heavens, and was responsible for conducting numerous rituals to honor the supreme deities who safeguarded the empire, including the heavens, the earth, and the imperial ancestors. Additionally, he participated in various ceremonies to commemorate significant events in both his own life and that of the empire, such as the promotion of an heir, a concubine, the granting of fiefs, the reception of ambassadors, and metropolitan exams. During his daily audiences, his subjects were expected to demonstrate their submission by prostrating themselves before him. However, in reality, the majority of decisions were made by the Grand Secretariat and the ministries. When he traveled, he was accompanied by an impressive entourage and protected by his imperial guard.

The Forbidden City was home to a large population, including the reigning empress (as there could only be one), who resided in a vast hall and participated in several major rituals. Alongside her, the emperor had numerous concubines who held lower ranks. The heir to the throne was typically the son of the principal wife, and if she did not have a son, then the son of a concubine would inherit. The heir was trained for his future role from a young age, while his brothers were given important titles and often sent to distant fiefs to prevent them from posing a threat to the emperor's power. In exchange, they were supported by the state treasury. However, by the end of the dynasty, the imperial family had grown so large that it became a significant expense for the government. The daily service of the emperor and his wives and concubines was carried out by eunuchs, who could develop close relationships with the imperial family and wield considerable political power. Under weaker emperors, eunuchs were able to accumulate wealth and influence, causing scandal. Some, such as Wei Zhongxian and Liu Jin, even became de facto rulers of the empire.

Burial traditions

The Chang Mausoleum of the Yongle Emperor in the Thirteen Ming Tombs near Beijing. The Yongle Emperor, who seized the throne from his nephew, commissioned the construction of the Changling Mausoleum as a means of legitimizing his rule and solidifying Beijing as the capital of the Ming dynasty.

The death of an emperor was a significant event in both the political and ritual life of the empire. The Ming emperors followed the tradition of constructing grand funerary complexes for themselves and their families. The Hongwu Emperor was buried at the Xiao Mausoleum near Nanjing, while the Jianwen Emperor did not receive an official burial. After the capital was relocated under the Yongle Emperor, the remaining emperors were buried at the mountainous site of Thirteen Ming Tombs, located northwest of Beijing (except for the Jingtai Emperor, who was considered a usurper and buried elsewhere). The layout of the site, which was carefully planned from the beginning, mirrored that of ancient imperial funerary complexes. The main entrance was situated between two large hills and marked by the Great Red Gate. Further in, the Stele Pavilion of Divine Merits, which was adorned with a stele, served as the entrance to the "Spirit Way". This road was lined by statues of guardian animals and officials and was closed by the Gate of Dragon and Phoenix. Beyond this point, the funerary park proper began, containing the tombs of the thirteen emperors who were buried there. The Chang Mausoleum of the Yongle Emperor occupy a central position. The tomb was located under a large tumulus, with a sacred complex consisting of three successive courtyards arranged to the south. The tomb of the Wanli Emperor, Ding Mausoleum, was excavated and contained five large funerary chambers. The most significant of these chambers, located to the north, held the burials of the emperor and his two empresses. Approximately 3,000 objects were unearthed during the excavation, which were originally arranged in about twenty lacquer chests of exceptional craftsmanship. One of the most magnificent items discovered was an empress crown adorned with over 5,000 pearls.

List of emperors

Below is a complete list of the emperors of the Ming dynasty, including their personal, temple, posthumous, and era names. The longest-reigning emperor of the dynasty was the Wanli Emperor, who ruled for 48 years (r. 1572–1620); the shortest was his successor, the Taichang Emperor, who ruled for only 29 days in 1620. The youngest ruler at the time of his ascension was Emperor Yingzong, who was only 9 years old, while the oldest ruler at the time of his death was the Hongwu Emperor, who died at the age of 71.

Ming dynasty

Personal name	Portrait	Lifespan	Reign	Era name	Posthumous name	Temple name
Zhu Yuanzhang Template:Zhi		21 October 1328 – 24 June 1398	23 January 1368 – 24 June 1398	Hongwu Template:Zhi 23 January 1368 – 5 February 1399 (22 January 1403)	Emperor Gao Template:Zhi	Taizu Template:Zhi
Zhu Yunwen Template:Zhi		5 December 1377 – 13 July 1402	30 June 1398 – 13 July 1402	Jianwen Template:Zhi 6 February 1399 – 13 July 1402	Emperor Hui Template:Zhi	–
Zhu Di Template:Zhi		2 May 1360 – 12 August 1424	17 July 1402 – 12 August 1424	Yongle Template:Zhi 23 January 1403 – 19 January 1425	Emperor Wen Template:Zhi	Taizong, Template:Zhi, since 1538 Chengzu, Template:Zhi
Zhu Gaochi Template:Zhi		16 August 1378 – 29 May 1425	12 August 1424 – 29 May 1425	Hongxi Template:Zhi 20 January 1425 – 7 February 1426	Emperor Zhao Template:Zhi	Renzong Template:Zhi
Zhu Zhanji Template:Zhi		16 March 1399 – 31 January 1435	29 May 1425 – 31 January 1435	Xuande Template:Zhi 8 February 1426 – 17 January 1436	Emperor Zhang Template:Zhi	Xuanzong Template:Zhi
Zhu Qizhen Template:Zhi		29 November 1427 – 23 February 1464	31 January 1435 – 22 September 1449	Zhengtong Template:Zhi 18 January 1436 – 13 January 1450	Emperor Rui Template:Zhi	Yingzong Template:Zhi
			11 February 1457 – 23 February 1464	Tianshun Template:Zhi 11 February 1457 – 26 January 1465
Zhu Qiyu Template:Zhi		21 September 1428 – 14 March 1457	22 September 1449 – 11 February 1457	Jingtai Template:Zhi 14 January 1450 – 11 February 1457	Emperor Jing Template:Zhi	Daizong Template:Zhi
Zhu Jianshen Template:Zhi		9 December 1447 – 9 September 1487	23 February 1464 – 9 September 1487	Chenghua Template:Zhi 27 January 1465 – 13 January 1488	Emperor Chun Template:Zhi	Xianzong Template:Zhi
Zhu Youcheng Template:Zhi		30 July 1470 – 8 June 1505	9 September 1487 – 8 June 1505	Hongzhi Template:Zhi 14 January 1488 – 23 January 1506	Emperor Jing Template:Zhi	Xiaozong Template:Zhi
Zhu Houzhao Template:Zhi		26 October 1491 – 20 April 1521	8 June 1505 – 20 April 1521	Zhengde Template:Zhi 27 January 1522 – 27 January 1522	Emperor Yi Template:Zhi	Wuzong Template:Zhi
Zhu Houcong Template:Zhi		16 September 1507 – 23 January 1567	27 May 1521 – 23 January 1567	Jiajing Template:Zhi 28 January 1522 – 8 February 1567	Emperor Su Template:Zhi	Shizong Template:Zhi
Zhu Zaiji Template:Zhi		4 March 1537 – 5 July 1572	23 January 1567 – 5 July 1572	Longqing Template:Zhi 9 February 1567 – 1 February 1573	Emperor Zhuang Template:Zhi	Muzong Template:Zhi
Zhu Yijun Template:Zhi		4 September 1563 – 18 August 1620	5 July 1572 – 18 August 1620	Wanli Template:Zhi 2 February 1573 – 27 August 1620	Emperor Xian Template:Zhi	Shenzong Template:Zhi
Zhu Changluo Template:Zhi		28 August 1582 – 26 September 1620	28 August – 26 September 1620	Taichang Template:Zhi 28 August 1620 – 21 January 1621	Emperor Zhen Template:Zhi	Guangzong Template:Zhi
Zhu Youjiao Template:Zhi		23 December 1605 – 30 September 1627	26 September 1620 – 30 September 1627	Tianqi Template:Zhi 22 January 1621 – 4 February 1628	Emperor Zhe Template:Zhi	Xizong Template:Zhi
Zhu Youjian Template:Zhi		6 February 1611 – 25 April 1644	2 October 1627 – 25 April 1644	Chongzhen Template:Zhi 5 February 1628 – 25 April 1644	Emperor Zhuanglie Min Template:Zhi	Sizong Template:Zhi

Southern Ming

Title before accession to the throne	Personal name	Lifespan	Era name	Title Reign	Temple name
Prince of Fu Template:Zhi	Zhu Yousong Template:Zhi	5 September 1607 – 23 May 1646	Hongguang Template:Zhi 28 January 1645 – 17 August 1645	Emperor 19 June 1644 – 15 June 1645	Anzong Template:Zhi

Timeline

Legend:

• Orange denotes Ming emperors
• Cyan denotes Southern Ming emperors

See also

• List of vassal prince peerages of the Ming dynasty
• Dynasties of China
• List of Chinese monarchs
• Southern Ming topics

References

Works cited

• Brook, Timothy. Čtvero ročních období dynastie Ming: Čína v období 1368–1644 [The Confusions of Pleasure]. 由Liščák, Vladimír翻译 1st. Praha: Vyšehrad. 2003. ISBN 80-7021-583-6 （Czech）.  引文格式1维护：未识别语文类型 (link)
• Langlois, John D. The Hung-wu reign, 1368-1398. Mote, Frederick W.; Twitchett, Denis C (编). The Cambridge History of China Volume 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368–1644, Part 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1988. ISBN 0521243327. 
• Huang, Ray. China: a macro history. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe. 1997. ISBN 1-56324-730-5. 
• Ch’ien, Mu. Traditional government in imperial China: a critical analysis. 由Hsüeh, Chün-tu; Totten, George O.翻译. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press. 1982. ISBN 962-201-254-X. 
• Hucker, Charles O. The censorial system of Ming China. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 1966. ISBN 0-8047-0289-6. 
• Wilkinson, Endymion Porter. Chinese history: a manual. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Asia Center. 2000. ISBN 0-674-00247-4. 
• Brook, Timothy. The troubled empire: China in the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 2010. ISBN 978-0-674-04602-3. 
• Cheng, Linsun. Berkshire Encyclopedia of China (5-volume set, 2,800 pages). Berkshire Publishing Group. 2009. ISBN 9780977015948. 
• Baud-Berthier, Gilles; et al. La vie des Chinois au temps des Ming (L'Histoire au quotidien). Paris: Larousse. 2003. ISBN 978-2035053763 （French）.  引文格式1维护：未识别语文类型 (link)
• Elisseeff, Danielle. Histoire de l'art: la Chine : des Song (960) à la fin de l'Empire (1912). Paris: RMN. 2010. ISBN 978-2-7118-5520-9 （French）.  引文格式1维护：未识别语文类型 (link)
• Goodrich, L. Carington; Fang, Chaoying. Dictionary of Ming Biography, 1368-1644. New York: Columbia University Press. 1976. ISBN 0-231-03801-1. 
• Tsai, Shih-Shan Henry. Perpetual Happiness: The Ming Emperor Yongle. Seattle, Wash.; Chesham: University of Washington Press; Combined Academic. 2002. ISBN 0295981245. 
• Twitchett, Denis C; Mote, Frederick W. (编). The Cambridge History of China. Volume 8, The Ming Dynasty 1368-1644, Part II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1998. ISBN 0521243335. 
• Moule, Arthur Christopher. The rulers of China, 221 B.C.- A.D. 1949; chronological tables. New York: F. A. Praeger. 1957. 
• Atwell, William. The T'ai-ch'ang, T'ien-ch'i, and Ch'ung-chen reigns, 1620–1644. Twitchett, Denis C; Mote, Frederick W. (编). The Cambridge History of China Volume 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368–1644, Part 1 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1988: 585–640. ISBN 0521243327. 
• Twitchett, Denis C; Mote, Frederick W. (编). The Cambridge History of China. Volume 7, The Ming Dynasty 1368-1644, Part 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1988. ISBN 0521243327. 

External links

. . Ming Category:Lists of leaders of China Category:Lists of Chinese people