MingTP1

Ming Dynasty ** capital **: //beijing//
 * ruled by**: //Li Zicheng (1643-1645)//

**artistic achievements**: //The last of the outstanding dynasties,// //the Ming was vibrant during its first half but racked with internal discord during its second. Scores of workers constructed the renowned Forbidden City, an imperial palace of staggering proportions and opulence. Ming leaders revived a sense of cultural identity and respect for traditional artifacts and craftsmanship. For example, bronze incense burners resembling those of the Shang and Chou dynasties were cast, and bright green and gold ceramic funerary objects recalled the T'ang. Three distinct schools of painting emerged: the Che echoed the formal approach of the Sung; the Wu consisted of, and appealed to, the intelligentsia; and the Eccentric fostered spontaneity and freedom of expression.//

** 5 important historical events: ** // ~(1,368 1,399 A.D.) Zhu Yuan Zhang made Jin Ling his capital. Attacked Yuan Dynasty in and forced the Mongols to flee to Kai Ping (1,368 A.D.) and later to He Lin (1,369 A.D.) Set up a puppet government in Korea (1,398 A.D.) ~(1,506 1,522 A.D) Liu Jin established his power in the government, and imprisoned more than 300 officials (1,508 A.D.) ~(1,522 1,567 A.D.) Attacked Vietnam (1,539 A.D.) // //Jesuit missionary attempted to enter China (1,549 A.D.) Japan invaded ZheJiang (1,554 A.D.)// // ~ (1,573 1,620 A.D.) Missionaries Matteo Ricci and Lazaro Cantteo came to China in 1581. Japan invaded Korea (1,592 A.D.). China helped Korea to expel the Japanese (1,599 A.D.). Missionaries Nicolas Trigault (1,609) and Alvarus de Semedo (1,613) came to China. Manchurian leader, Qing Tai Zu crowned himself king (1,616 A.D.). Nanjing Missionary Case (1616 A.D.)- Clash between Chinese practice of ancestor worship and Catholic doctrine lead to deportation of foreign missionaries. Missionary John Aaden Scall von Bell came to China. ~(1,621 1,628 A.D.) //// The Manchurians occupied Shen Yang, and made Liao Yang their capital. Rebellion of Li Zicheng (1,621 A.D.). JiaDing Christian Conference- discussion of Christian terminology and practices. // //Manchurians established the Qing Dynasty (1,636 A.D.). Li Zi Cheng occupied Kai Feng in 1,642 A.D., and seized Beijing in 1,643 A.D. Si Zu hung himself and the Ming Dynasty ended in 1,644 A.D//
 * the end of the Dynasty: **

The last half century of the Ming Dynasty is a good example for the competition of scholar-officials and eunuchs at the court. While some righteous officials like Pan Jixun 潘季訓 and Zhang Juzheng 張居正 could stabilize the state expenditures during the Longqing and Wanli eras, the influence of eunuch courtiers like Wei Zhongxian 魏忠賢 on the young and politically weak emperors lead to lavish and uncontrolled expenses. An objective explanation for this fact could be that there did not exist an effective financial control or a kind of independent controlling in the state treasury. The war in Korea with the Japanese ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi 豊臣秀吉 in the 1590es and the miliary actions of the Jürched ruler Nurhaci in the 1620es had a deep impact on the state treasury. Another important item in state expenditures were the personal revenues for the imperial princes, descendants of the first Ming emperor. But the most dangerous event for the Ming Dynasty were the peasant uprising in wide areas of China, lead by Li Zicheng 李自成 in the north and Zhang Xianzhong 張獻忠 in the south. When Li Zicheng occupied the capital Beijing, the Chongzhen Emperor hanged himself. Ming generals like Wu Sangui 吳三桂 collaborated with the nomad people of the Jürched (Chinese: Ruzhen, not Nüzhen! 女真) in Manchuria (Manchus; the name of the area is derived from the people's name, Chinese: Manzhou 滿州) to liberate the capital from the rebels. The Manchus occupied Beijing and founded the Qing Dynasty.
 * Podcast Explaination: **