Ming Dynasty

Ming

"ming"

AD 1368-1644

Much legend surrounds the overthrow of the Mongols (read the History of the Moon Cake. The Mongols were finally defeated at the hands of a Chinese backed by secret Buddhist sects.

While their first capital was in Nanjing, the Ming soon moved their captial back to Beijing and built the Forbidden City to house the rulers and their entourage. Chinese emperors would rule from the Forbidden City until the abdication of Puyi, the last emperor in 1911. Ming emperors also fortified and strengthened the Great Wall.

The Mings power disintegrated as palace eunuchs exerted control and finally the dynasty crumbled as the Manchus from the north invaded and wrested control. The last Ming emperor hung himself at Jingshan Hill behind the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Xia Dynasty ca 2000-1500BC
Shang Dynasty 1700-1027BC
Zhou Dynasty 1027-221BC
Qin Dynasty 221-207BC
Han Dynasty 206BC - AD 220
Three Kingdoms 220-280
Western Jin Dynasty 265-420
Southern and Northern Dynasties 420-588
Sui Dynasty 581-617
Tang Dynasty 618-907
Five Dynasties & Ten Kingdoms 907-979
Liao Dynasty 916-1125
Song Dynasty 960-1279
Yuan Dynasty 1279-1368
Ming Dynasty 1368-1644
Qing Dynasty 1644-1911
Republic of China 1911-1949
People’s Republic of China 1949-present