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The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was one of the longest lasting dynasties in the Chinese history. It was very good at keeping its rule because it had many new ways to govern people that allowed for a more stable and less corrupt rule. However, such a long lasting dynasty must have started from somewhere, and here is how:
The Ming Dynasty began at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), when the government began to lose its power, there was a large amount of unrest in the people, and there were droughts, leading to famines.[1] There were many rebellions happening at the time, and a man named Zhu Yuanzhang rose from other rebellious groups and pushed the Mongols (who were leading the Yuan dynasty) back to Mongolia.[2] Zhu declared himself emperor, and called himself Hongwu, which meant “a vast military accomplishment.”[3] He established his capital at Nanjing and was only moved in 1421 to Beijing, under the rule of Yongle, the third emperor, and is still the capital of China today.[4]
The government of the Ming relied a greatly on the purity of the people. In many instances, the Hongwu wrote to keep righteousness. Zhu Yuangzhang wrote texts on officials and the evil-doings of the nobles. He describes the way he punished the unjust: “After I discover the truth, I capture and imprison the corrupt, villainous, and oppressive officials involved. I punish them with the death penalty or forced labor.”[5] Zhu recruited a board of censors to watch the officials and to report any wrongdoings to him, which allowed for a tighter grip against corruption.[6] This also correlates with another writing which discussed the duties carried by the people in a village, and that they should follow their ordinances, called "Prohibition Ordinance".[7] Because of so many decrees instated on evildoing, the Ming Dynasty lasted for a longer time than many other dynasties of China.
[1] “China: Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644),” British Museum, accessed November 14, 2014, http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/c/china_ming_dynasty_ad_1368-1.aspx.
[2] Elisabeth Gaynor Ellis, Anthony Esler, Prentice Hall World History (New York: Pearson, 2009), p. 379
[3] http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/c/china_ming_dynasty_ad_1368-1.aspx.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Zhu Yuanzhang, An Imperial Edict Restraining Officials from Evil, trans. by Lily Hwa (The Columbia University Asia for Educators DBQ)
[6] Ellis, Esler pp. 381
[7] Excerpts from Village Ordinances: “Prohibition Ordinance”, trans. by Clara Yu (The Columbia University Asia for Educators DBQ)