History of China Ming + Qing

The Jiajing Emperor rounds out the back-half of his interminably long reign by hiding away in his personal palace, and only occasionally coming out to tell everyone what a terrible job they're all doing. The Mongols seize on Ming weakness to basically do whatever they want, and the Ming respond by turtling even harder and building more walls. Without an imperial guiding hand, the ministers are left to their own devices... with predictably selfish and myopic results.



Time Period Covered:

1550-1567 CE



Major Historical Figures:

Ming Empire:

The Jiajing Emperor (Zhu Houcong) [r. 1521-1567]

Gen. Qiu Ruan [d. 1552]

Grand Secretary Xia Yan [1482-1548]

Grand Secretary Yan Song [1480-1567]

Grand Secretary Xu Jie [1512-1578]



Mongolia:

Altan Khan [1507-1582]

Prince Toghto



Major Works Cited:

Bacon, Francis. “Of empire” in The essays of Francis Bacon (1908).

Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566,” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.

The History of China

#240 - Ming 27: The Solecism of Power

We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves.
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs.
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads,
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Stand up me hearties, yo ho!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!

Time Period Covered:
ca. 1521-1550 CE



 Sources Cited:
Andrade, Tonio and Xing Hang. “Introduction: The East Asian Maritime Realm in Global History: 1500-1700” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700.

Chin, James K. “Merchants, Smugglers, and Pirates: Multinational Clandestine Trade on the South China Coast, 1520-50” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas.

Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.

Laver, Michael. “Neither Here nor There: Trade, Piracy, and the ‘Space Between’ in Early Modern East Asia” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700.

Petrucci, Maria Grazia. “Pirates, Gunpowder, and Christianity in Late Sixteenth-Century Japan” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas.

Wills, John E. “Maritime China from Wang Chih to Shih Lang: Themes In Peripheral History” in From Ming to Ch’ing: Conquest, Region, and Continuity in Seventeenth-Century China.

#241 - Ming 28: Wokou! Wokou! A Pirate's Life For Me!

Great Ming has a pirate problem on its hands. Unable to effectively suppress it militarily, the officials in charge turn to wheeling and dealing to get the seabooters to give up their outlaw ways. But when the Jiajing Emperor starts sticking his nose in to such affairs from way up in Beijing, suddenly all bets are off...

Time Period Covered:
1549-1567 CE

Major Historical Figures:
Ming:
The Jiajing Emperor (Zhu Houcong) [r. 1521-1567]
Grand Chancellor Yan Song [1480-1567]
Nanjing Minister of War Zhang Jing [d. 1555]
Censor Zhao Wenhua [d. 1557]
Censor Hu Zongxian [1512-1565]
Commander Yu Dayou [1512-1579]
Commander Qi Zhiguang [1528-1588]

Pirates:
Wang Zhi, CEO of the High Seas [d. 1559]
Captain Xu Hai [d. 1556]
Lord Shimazi of Osumi Province

Works Cited:
Andrade, Tonio and Xing Hang. “Introduction: The East Asian Maritime Realm in Global History: 1500-1700” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700.
Chin, James K. “Merchants, Smugglers, and Pirates: Multinational Clandestine Trade on the South China Coast, 1520-50” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas.
Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Laver, Michael. “Neither Here nor There: Trade, Piracy, and the ‘Space Between’ in Early Modern East Asia” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700.
Petrucci, Maria Grazia. “Pirates, Gunpowder, and Christianity in Late Sixteenth-Century Japan” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas.
Wills, John E. “Maritime China from Wang Chih to Shih Lang: Themes In Peripheral History” in From Ming to Ch’ing: Conquest, Region, and Continuity in Seventeenth-Century China.

#243 - Ming 29: Ahh, Curse Your Sudden But Inevitable Betrayal!

At 29, the weak and ineffectual Longqing Emperor take the Dragon Throne in 1567. But it won't be long before the curse of the House of Zhu strikes him down, leaving Great Ming to his 9-year-old son, Wanli. That means - of course - the government is in the hands of the court ministers and its all-powerful Grand Secretary, the ruthlessly conniving Zhang Juzheng.

Time Period Covered:
1567-1582 CE

Major Historical Figures:
The Longqing Emperor (Zhu Zaihou) [r. 1567-1572]
The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yijun) [r. 1567-1620]
Grand Secretary Xu Jie [1503-1583]
Grand Secretary Gao Gong [1513-1578]
Senior Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng [1525-1582]

Sources Cited:
Huang, Ray. 1587, A Year of No Significance: The Ming Dynasty In Decline.
Huang, Ray. “Lung-ch’ing and Wan-li Reigns” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part 1.
Melvin, Shelia. “China’s Reluctant Emperor” in The New York Times (11/07/2011).
Miller, H. State Versus Gentry In Late Ming Dynasty China, 1572-1644.

#244 - Ming 30: A Last Luminous Gloaming

Being the most powerful person in the empire must be nothing but the good life, right? Well... not so much. And especially with the truly dysfunctional Ming system facing the newly-adult Wanli Emperor, it's a system that promises all the perks, but delivers only drudgery, frustration, and disappointment. Not even 5,000 concubines can make up for that...

Time Period Covered:
1582-1600 CE

Major Historical Figures:
The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yizhun) [r. 1572-1620]
Empress Xiaoduan (Wang Xijie) [1564-1620]
Noble Consort Wang [1565-1611]
Prince Zhu Changluo, "First Imperial Son" [1582-1620]
Noble Consort Zheng [1565-1630]
Prince Zhu Changxun, "Third Imperial Son" [1586-1641]
Grand Secretary Zhang Zhuzheng [d. 1582]

Major Sources Cited:
Duhalde, Marcelo. “Life inside the Forbidden City: how women were selected for service” in South China Morning Post (July 12, 2018).
Huang, Ray. 1587, A Year of No Significance: The Ming Dynasty in Decline.
Huang, Ray. “The L’ung-ch’ing and Wan’li Reigns, 1567-1620” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Toshima, Yoriko [Su Chung]. Court Dishes in China.

#245 - Ming 31: Event Horizon

#246 - 2022 Retrospective/Archive: The Mathematician of Heaven

As Ming China enters the 16th century, the Wanli Emperor, his ministers, a new canal, Portuguese & Spanish explorers, the usual gaggle of Chinese neighbors, the Philippines, the Christian Church, The White Lotus, and - of course - the Jesuits all start becoming one another problems...



Time Period Covered:

~1600-1617 CE



Major Historical Figures:

MING:

The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yizhun) [r. 1572-1620]

Li Zhi, persecuted Neo-Confucian philosopher [1527–1602]

Li Rusong, Ming Commander in Chief [d. 1598]

Wang Yangming, Master of the "School of the Mind" [1472–1529]

Wang Zhicai, politician & assaultee [d. 16??]

Zhang Zha, the "Attack With the Club" Intruder [d. 1617]



OTHERS:

Limahong (Lin Feng), Pirate Leader out of Manila [1499-1574]

Wang Wang Gao, Ming Captian/Spanish Liason [15??]

Fr. Martin de Rada [1533-1578]

Nurhaci, Mysterious Aisin Gyoro Leader [1559- 1626]

#247 - Ming 32: State On the Wane

Ming China gets down and dirty with a Miao Rebellion in the Southwest, a Mongol(-ish) uprising in the Northwest, and a newly re-unified Japan gettin just a little too big for their britches in Korea.

Time Period Covered: 1587-1600 CE

#248 - Ming 33: Dragon Head, Snake Tail

In the frigid wilds beyond the Great Wall, a young warrior will begin a grand campaign to establish himself as the sovereign of All Under Heaven, and overthrow an ancient rival.

Time Period Covered:
1559-1619 CE

Major Historical Figures:
Ming:
The Wanli Emperor
General Li Chengliang

Aisin-Gioro/Later Jin/Manchu:
Nurhachi, Heavenly Mandated Khan of Jin [1559-1626]
Giocangga [d. 1582]
Surhaci [d. 1611]
Cuyen [d. 1615]
Hong Taiji
Nikan Wilan
Dragon-Tiger General Meggebulu

#249 - Ming 34: Nurhachi, Part 1

With Manchuria all but tapped out, Nurhachi and his Manchus seek to expand in the only direction that makes any sense - south into Ming territory. It's time for the Airing of Grievances! He's got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're gonna hear about it!!

Time Period Covered:
~1618-1626 CE

#250 - Ming 35: Nurhachi, Part 2

We revisit the pivotal Battle of Sarhu of 1619/20, but this time from the Ming perspective. Then we'll finally send the Wanli Emperor into his tomb and take stock of his reign and legacy, before getting into our final few emperors Great Ming has left in the tank.

Time Period Covered:
1619-1621 CE

Major Historical Figures:
Ming:
The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yujin) [r. 1572-1620]
The Taichang Emperor (Zhu Changluo) [r. 1620-1620]
The Tianqi Emperor (Zhu Youjiao) [r. 1620-1627]
Consort Li
Supreme Commander Yang Hao [d. 1629]
General Du Song, "The Madman" [d. 1619]
General Ma Lin [d. 1619]
General Li Rubo [d. 1621]
General Liu Ting [d. 1619]

Manchu/Later Jin:
Nurhachi [r. 1616-1626]
Amba Beile Daisan [1583-1648]
Hong Taiji [1592-1643]

#251 - Ming 36: The Last Showdown

Great Ming's 15th emperor steps up to bat at the tender age of 15, but he's not terribly interested in tackling the challenges facing the empire. He'd rather sit in his room and... build models. As if that weren't enough, things go from already-bad to even-worse when a certain eunuch with a mountain of a chip on his shoulder manages to wrangle the reins of power from the teenage monarch.

Time Period Covered:
1620-1627 CE

Major Historical Figures:
The Tianqi Emperor (Zhu Youjiao) [r. 1620-1627]
Exalted Duke Wei Zhongxian [1568-1627]
Madame Ke [1605-1627]
Minister of War Cui Chengxiu [1571-1627]
Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao [1559-1627]
Minister Liu Zongzhou [1578-1645]
Vice Censor-in-Chief Yang Lian [1572-1625]
Xu Hengru, White Lotus rebel leader [d. 1623]
The Chongzhen Emperor (Zhu Yujian) [r. 1627-1644]

#252 - Ming 37: The Donglin Debacle

The Chongzhen Emperor takes command of the Ming, but things are not going well... and they're not going to get any better. After purging his government of partisan elements, he find he's now condemned it to hopeless deadlock. Along the southern coasts, pirate fleets and Dutch privateers prowl the water, making trade all but impossible. Economic and currency woes lead, combined with repeated natural catastrophes lead to widespread banditry and rebel factions doing what they must to survive... and through it all, the Manchu threat to the north continue to press its advantage, breaking through the Great Wall, and going so far as to raid around Beijing itself!

Time Period Covered:
1628-1636

Major Historical Figures:
Ming Empire:
The Chongzhen Emperor (Zhu Yujian) [r. 1628-1644]
General Yuan Conghuan [1584-1630]
Zheng Zhilong, Admiral of the South Seas [1604-1661]
Grand Secretary Wen Tiren [1584-1639]

Qing Dynasty:
Hong Taiji (Emperor Taizong of Qing) [r. 1626-1643]
Amin [1585-1640]
Commander Kong Youde [d. 1562]
Geng Zhongming [1604-1649]

Rebels:
Li Zicheng [1606-1649]

#253 - Ming 38; Manchus, and Pirates, and Rebels, Oh My!

As the newly enthroned Khan of the Manchus, Hong Taiji has a lot of plates to keep spinning. Conquest of Joseon Korea to the east, conquest of the Chahar Mongols to the west, and continuing to pound against the ever-weakening Ming Dynasty to the south. But he still has time for aesthetic considerations, such as the fact that names like "Jurchen" and "Jin" are so passé, while names like "Manchu" and "Qing" are the new hotness.

Time Period Covered:
1626-1643 CE

Major Historical Figures:
Qing:
Hong Taiji (Emperor Taizong of Qing) [r. 1626-1643]
Prince Amin [1585-1640]
Prince Haoge [1609-1648]
Prince Dorgon [1612-1650]
Prince Fulin (The Shunzi Emperor) [r. 1643-1661]

Ming:
Gen. Mao Wenlong [1576-1629]
Gen. Yuan Chonghuan [1584-1630]
Gen. Zu Dashou [d. 1656]
Gen. Hong Chenchou [1593-1665]
Gen. Wu Sangui [1612-1678]

Joseon:
King Injo [r. 1623-1649]

Northern Yuan:
Ligdan Khan [r. 1603-1634]

#254 - Qing 1: Build Me An Army Worthy of Manchu

For the once-great Ming, the 1630s... suck. Manchus are battering down the creaky northern defenses, foreign silver has dried up, the treasuries are empty, famine, plague and locust swarms are ripping through the populace, and bandit warlords are causing a ruckus in the west... with an increasing eye on the capital itself.

Time Period Covered:
ca. 1638-1644 CE

Major Historical Figures:
Great Ming:
The Chongzhen Emperor (Zhu Youjian) [r. 1627-1644]
Xiong Wencan, Supreme Commander of Bandit Pacification [d. 1639]
General Yang Sichang [d. 1641]
General Sun Chuanting [d. 1643]
General Wu Sangui [1616-1678]

Great Qing:
Hong Taiji [1592-1643]
Prince Abatai [1589-1646]
Prince Dorgon [1612-1650]

Rebels/Bandits:
Li Zicheng, "The Dashing King" [1606-1645]
Zhang Xiangzhong, "The Yellow Tiger" [1606-1647]

Major Sources Cited:
Atwell, William. "The T'ai-ch'ang, T'ian-ch'i, and Ch'ung-chen reigns" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Brook, Timothy. The Troubled Empire: China in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.

#255 - Ming 39: It's The End of the World As We Know It

Beijing has been brutally captured, with the Ming emperor committing suicide rather than face the bandit army of Li Zicheng. However, before he can get comfortable, the full might of the Qing are on their way to "liberate" the Chinese empire from, well, the Chinese. What follows is as chaotic as it is lightning swift, as the Manchu hordes, chase the fleeing remnants of the fallen Ming court south to what they pray will be a refuge: Nanjing.

Time Period Covered:
Apr. 1644- Nov. 1645

Major Historical Figures:
Qing:
The Shunzhi Emperor (Aisin Gyoro Fulin) [r. 1643-1661]
Dorgon, Prince Ruizhong [1612-1650]
Ajige, Prince Ying [1605-1651]
Dodo, Prince Yu [1614-1649]
Prime Minister Fan Wencheng [1597-1666]

Ming:
The Chongzhen Emperor [r. 1627-1644]
General Wu Sangui [1612-1678]
General Hong Chengchou [1593-1665]
General Zuo Liangyu [1599-1645]
General Shi Kefa [1601-1645]

Bandit:
Li Zicheng [d. 1644]

256 - Qing 2: Greeted As Liberators

Manchu occupation of the lands south of the Yangtze River proceed smoothly... right up until Prince Dorgon is convinced by some of his advisors that everyone needs a haircut.

Within Southern Ming, multiple princes vie for power - such as it it - at pretty much the worst possible time to be having a throne-fight.

Time Period Covered:
1645-1646 CE

Major Historical Actors:
Qing:
Prince Dorgon, Regent of Great Qing [1612-1650]
Dodo, Prince of Yu [1614-1649]
Bolo, Prince Duanzhong [1613-1652]
Hong Chengchou [1593-1665]

Southern Ming:
Zhu Yujian, Prince of Tang/Longwu Emperor [1602-1646]
Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu, Regent of Great Ming [1618-1662]
General Zheng Hongkui [d. 1654]
Zheng Zhilong (Nicholas Iquan Gaspard), Marquis of Tong'an [1604-1661]
Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) [1624-1662]


Major Works Cited:
Dennerline, Jerry. "The Shun-chih Reign" in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 9, Part One: The Ch'ing Empire to 1800

Struve, Lynn A. "The Southern Ming, 1644-1662" in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 7 The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, part I.

Wakeman, Frederic. The Great Enterprise: The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order in Seventeenth-Century China.

#257 - Qing 3: Lose Your Hair, Or Lose Your Head

Prince Regent Dorgon of Great Qing is riding high, at the height of his majesty, power, and untouchability. Why, he's even starting to think of himself as more of the ruler than the 6-year-old emperor who is his charge. Those are mighty fine wings you've got there, Icarus...

Time Period Covered:
1646-1651 CE

Major Historical Actors:
Qing:
The Shunzhi Emperor (Fulin) [r. 1663-1661]
Prince Dorgon, Regent of Great Qing [1612-1650]
Ajige, Prince Ying of the First Rank [1605-1651]
Dodo, Prince of Yu [1614-1649]
Bolo, Prince Duanzhong [1613-1652]
Hong Chengchou [1593-1665]
Jirgalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank [1599-1655]
Haoge, Prince Su [1609-1648]
Mandahai, Prince Xunjian of the First Rank [1622-1652]
Gen. Tantai of the Plain Yellow Banner [1594-1651]
Gen. Wu Sangui, "Prince of Western Pacification" [1612-1678]

Southern Ming:
Zhu Yujian, Prince of Tang/Longwu Emperor [1602-1646]
Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu, Regent of Great Ming [1618-1662]
General Zheng Hongkui [d. 1654]
Zheng Zhilong (Nicholas Iquan Gaspard), Marquis of Tong'an [1604-1661]
Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) [1624-1662]

Other Rebel Forces:
Zhang Xianzhong, "Emperor of Xi" [r.1644-1647]
Jin Shenghuan [d. 1649]
Mi-la-yin [d. 1650]

Major Works Cited:
Dennerline, Jerry. "The Shun-chih Reign" in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 9, Part One: The Ch'ing Empire to 1800.

Struve, Lynn A. "The Southern Ming, 1644-1662" in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 7 The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, part I.

Wakeman, Frederic. The Great Enterprise: The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order in Seventeenth-Century China.

#259 - Qing 4: Dorgon's Domination, Death, & Downfall

Pirates!

Headhunters!

Samurai!

The Dutch!

Every day's high-stakes adventure on the island everyone's totally ignored until the 1600s!

#260 - Qing 5: Taiwan Incognita, Pt.1

Events on the high seas and islands alike reach a fevered pitch as the Dutch, Japan, China, and Portugal all vie for profit and supremacy over Taiwan and its lucrative trade. Meanwhile - call them what you will (because it's hard to keep track - but the "independent merchants" or "pirate lords" ... sometimes even turned government agents keep looking to exploit every opportunity to enrich themselves while avoiding the noose.

Take what you can, give nothin' back!

Timeframe Covered:
ca. 1600-1639

Major Historical Figures:
Dutch East India Company/Batavia/Ft. Zeelandia:
Capt. Elie Ripon
Pieter Nuyts, Governor of Formosa [1598-1655]

Catholic Church:
Georgius Candidus [1597-1647]

Independent Traders/Pirates of Taiwan:
Salvador Diaz of Macau
Yan Siqi [d. ~1625]
Li Dan "Captain China" [d. ~1625]
Li Kuiqi ("Quitsicq")
Zhong Bin
Liu Xiang

Ming China:
Chen Di, Ming imperial official [1541-1617]
Xu Xinsu ("Simpsou"), merchant-contact
"Patrolling Admiral" Zheng Zhilong [1604-1661]

Shogunate Japan:
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, "The Great Unifier" [1537-1598]
Suetsugu Heizo Masanao, merchant-lord [1546-1630]
Suetsugu Heizo Masafusa, the scion

Taiwan Aboriginal Groups:
the Sinkan
the Mattau

Major Sources Cited:
Andrade, Tonio (2005). How Taiwan Became Chinese: Dutch, Spanish, and Han Colonization in the Sevententh Century.
Andrade, Tonio (2004). "The Company's Chinese Pirates: How the Dutch East India Company Tried to Lead a Coalition of Pirates to War against China, 1621-1662" in Journal of World History, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Dec., 2004).
Clements, Jonathan (2004). Coxinga and the Fall of the Ming Dynasty.
Ripon, Elie [Leonard Blussé & Jaap de Moor, trans.] (2016). Captain Ripon’s Maritime Adventures in the East Indies: The Diary of a Mercenary Soldier, 1617-1627.

History of China Ming + Qing

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