Ming Dynasty

Ming Dynasty map (1368-1644 A.D.)

Technology/Economy

During the Ming dynasty there are many inventions but the most important one is woodblock printing, it is when individual sheets were pressed against wooden blocks with the text and illustrations carved into them. This printing technology in China reached its peak during the Ming Dynasty. The largest printing factory in Chinese history was set in by the Ming Court. This is very important because Chinese is the most populated country so people would be looking for books to read and so this made it easier. The economy was not good in the beginning of the dynasty because the whole land being destroyed by the Mongol, by wars and a corrupt government. They need to fix this especially in northern China, natural disasters in the previous years had caused problems to the population in the Yellow River basin, which causes fields, dams and canals had to be reconstructed and repaired. Most of the money are spread out to three government agencies which are general administration, judicial matters, and military. This made the country collect taxes in silver, rather than in grain, cloth, or copper and so this improved government's economic situation a little. This made the Ming government started to rely more on agriculture than on commerce.

Chinese farmers growing crops in the field

Social Changes
One of the greatest economic expansion in history occurred during the Ming dynasty, where agriculture and commerce grew significantly. China is a large country so with the use of land, rice production had increased and became the main food. Then crop rotation was introduce so the field would be in good and ready condition. The peasant would face cash crops which were used for making products such as cotton, indigo, and canes. Commerce in Ming dynasty had increased as merchants began to trade and contact with other countries. Chinese trade silk for many things like silver, weapons, and food products. With all of this China became one of the world's leading manufacturing markets, which Chinese shipped out manufactured goods for raw materials. So at the mid 1500's China was growing into a commercial and industrialized nation.

Zhu Yuanzhang (Hongwu) that wanted to have absolute authority over the government

Government

The structure of the Ming administration was the grand secretariat (assisting the emperor), other than this was the Six Ministries. The ministries stayed under direct control of the emperor till the end of the Ming dynasty in order to have strong government. There were several conflicts over the government, Hongwu wanted to have absolute authority over the government to set the rule and prevent resistance from the citizen. He finally took control over the administration of China by eliminating the Prime minister's office and secretariat. Several scholars that did not agree were killed because of insulting the emperor.

Religion/Philosophy
Neo-Confucianism, is a form of Confucianism that was developed during the Song dynasty. The most important aspect of Wang Yang Ming's philosophy was his doctrine of the unity of knowledge and action. It means that all knowledge, in order to be true knowledge, must have practical consequences, and also all action, in order to be action, must be based on knowledge. Then later on Wang's philosophy was separated into two, that no knowledge is valid without practical results.
Buddhism was promoted and expanded throughout China because most of the Ming emperor were Buddhist. However Hong Wu had given great interest in Taoism, which lately made him wrote about it to guide the followers.

Yongle, the third emperor of the Ming dynasty

Leaders/Contemporaries
Hongwu was the founder and leader of the Ming dynasty (1368-1398), he came from a poor peasant family, his name means Vast Military. From the beginning, he took good care of small farmers by creating laws that improved the peasant life, like keeping land tax low and giving land to small family. He did well as a leader, Hongwu kept a powerful army organized in a military system (Wei-so system), which was similar to the Fu-ping system of the Tang Dynasty. The purpose of Wei-so system was to maintain a strong army. This made historians consider Hongwu to be one of the greatest Emperors of China.
Yongle was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1402-1424), his name means Perpetually jubilant. He led five campaigns against the Mongols in the north and own territory from them. To oversee his new territory, he moved the capital north from Nanjing to Beijing, where he built the palace known as the Forbidden City.


Others

The concept of the Great Wall was build during the Ming dynasty, after the defeat by the Mongols in the Battle of Tumu in 1449. The Mongol tribes had long depended on China for grain, metal, and other goods, and China’s refusal to continue their trade led to further conflict between them. The Ming had a new strategy to keep the Mongols out, by constructing walls along the northern border of China. After knowing the Mongol base control was in the Ordos Desert, the wall followed to the desert's southern edge, which is at the north of China. It is very hard to find quality material for constructing the wall, so builders made use of the resources, like stones from the mountain. This powerful wall because the Ming construction was stronger due to the use of stone and by professional builders that were paid in silver. As Mongol attack continued over the years, they needed to repair and strengthen the walls. The sections near the Ming capital of Beijing were especially strengthened. Towards the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall helped defend the empire against the Manchu invasions that began around 1600. But later on in 1644, the Machu was able to enter Beijing and caused the death of the last emperor.

Timeline

1368 AD - Zhu Yuanzhang Rebels Against Mongols

1405 AD - Zheng He explores for China

1421 AD - Ming Emperors Build Forbidden City in Beijing

1449 AD - Ming army's defeat by the Mongols in the Battle of Tumu

1592 AD - Japan invades Korea

1616 AD - Nurhaci Organizes the Tribes of Manchuria

1644 AD - Li Zicheng Overthrows Ming Emperor


Summarize 7 main points

Technology/Economy
There are technology like printing that helped and improved Chinese lives due to the country's population.

Social Changes
Agriculture and commerce helped bring money into the country and become one of the world's leading manufacturing markets.

Government
Government was not that strong, which causes some conflict among the citizen and the government.

Religion/Philosophy
Neo-Confucianism was the main philosophy during the Ming dynasty and Bhuddhism was promoted and expanded throughout China.

Leaders/Contemporaries
Hongwu the first emperor of the Ming dynasty followed by Yongle, these two were the important leader of that time.

Others
The great wall was build to keep out the Mongols and protect the empire.


Work Cited

"Great Wall of China." 4 Feb. 2007. 5 Feb. 2007 .

Hooker, Richard. "Ming Philosophy." 6 June 1999. 4 Feb. 2007 .

"Ming Dynasty." 8 Feb. 2007. 4 Feb. 2007 .

"Ming Dynasty Map." 2 Feb. 2007. 2 Feb. 2007 .

Theobald, Ulrich. "Chinese History - Ming Dynasty." 15 Mar. 2000. 3 Feb. 2007 .