Tradition and Change in East Asia

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The Quest for Political Stability

Ming Government

Ming dynasty (1368-1644)

founder: Hongwu

tightly centralized

mandarins: gov. officials that traveled empire & made sure imperial policies were being enforced

very trusting of eunuchs b/c they couldn't make families/bases of power

Yongle: emperor that launched naval expeditions through Indian Ocean

Yongle captured Nanjing to monitor Mongols

early emperors had powerful military to monitor Mongols until 15th century where Mongols destroyed many Chinese armies & captured emperor

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The Great Wall

Ming emperors constructed stone and brick wall on northern border to protect empire

w/ watch towers, signal towers, places to stay for troops

Ming wanted to eradicate foreign influences (ex. Mongol)

no Mongol names & dress

gov. promoted study of Chinese cultural traditions (ex. Confucianism)

restored system of civil service examinations (Confucianism-based exams)

pirates & smugglers along east coast & navy/coastal defense not equipped to handle situation

Forbidden City: great imperial city area in Bejing

emperors lived extravagant lives

eunuchs provided emperors w/ concubines to gain power and live grand lives

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Ming Collapse

gov couldn't provide for people during famines

peasants revolt across empire

Manchu invaded from north hoping to expand territory

Manchu forces allied w/ Ming to stop rebels from invading capital but then replaced Ming rule

The Manchus

Manchus came from the north into China

established Qing dynasty

mostly pastoral nomads but many became agriculturalists

Nurhaci unified tribes intro centralized state, created laws, and organized powerful military

army captured Korea & Mongolia & capital in Beijing from China

fought for 40 years against rebels and Ming loyalists until 1680 where they gained firm control

many Chinese generals supported Qing b/c of corruption & inefficiency of Ming

scholar-bureaucrats worked against Ming b/c they hated eunuchs

Manchu elites educated in Chinese language & Confucianism

outlawed intermarriage b/t Manchus & Chinese, forbade Chinese from travelling to Manchuria, & Chinese couldn't learn Manchurian language (to preserve Manchu culture)

men had to shave heads and grow hair specifically to show submission to gov.

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