1644: The Rise and Fall of Chinese Dynasties

Author: Wu Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: The special significance of the Jia Shen Year (1644) to the Chinese, beyond the thrilling and dramatic changes, reflects the characteristics and weaknesses of China that have continued to affect its recent tragic history, even up to today, and perhaps will still impact its future. In March 1644, Li Zicheng's Shun army conquered the Ming capital—Beijing City without bloodshed, and the last Ming emperor, Chongzhen, committed suicide. In April 1644, Dorgon's army outside Shanhai Pass, invited by the Ming general Wu Sangui, entered the pass and defeated Li Zicheng at Shanhai Pass, forcing the newly crowned emperor of the Shun Dynasty, Li Zicheng, out of Beijing City. The six-year-old Shunzhi Emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, Fulin, easily ascended the Golden Hall throne of the Forbidden City, where 14 emperors of the Yuan and Ming dynasties had sat, marking the beginning of the 268-year rule of the Qing Dynasty. In August 1644, Zhang Xianzhong led his troops into Sichuan, captured Chengdu, and declared himself emperor, changing the era to Shun and establishing the Daxi regime. In terms of chronology, 1644 was the 17th year of the Chongzhen era in the Ming Dynasty, the first year of the Shunzhi era in the Qing Dynasty, the first year of the Yongchang era in the Shun regime, and the first year of the Shun era in the Daxi regime. These four eras represent four opposing regimes, continuing the struggle for dominance over the Central Plains, with the mentality of scholars and ordinary people reflected in them being particularly thought-provoking and deeply moving. This is the thrilling 1644, an era of sudden changes and upheaval, where the drama of historical tragedy unfolded in a blink yet rose with fierce intensity. In March 1644, Li Zicheng's Shun army conquered the Ming capital—Beijing City without bloodshed, and the last Ming emperor, Chongzhen, committed suicide. In April 1644, Dorgon's army outside Shanhai Pass, invited by the Ming general Wu Sangui, entered the pass and defeated Li Zicheng at Shanhai Pass, forcing the newly crowned emperor of the Shun Dynasty, Li Zicheng, out of Beijing City. The six-year-old Shunzhi Emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, Fulin, easily ascended the Golden Hall throne of the Forbidden City, where 24 emperors of the Yuan and Ming dynasties had sat, marking the beginning of the 268-year rule of the Qing Dynasty. In August 1644, Zhang Xianzhong led his troops into Sichuan, captured Chengdu, and declared himself emperor, changing the era to Shun and establishing the Daxi regime. In terms of chronology, 1644 was the 17th year of the Chongzhen era in the Ming Dynasty, the first year of the Shunzhi era in the Qing Dynasty, the first year of the Yongchang era in the Shun regime, and the first year of the Shun era in the Daxi regime. These four eras represent four opposing regimes, continuing the struggle for dominance over the Central Plains, with the mentality of scholars and ordinary people reflected in them being particularly thought-provoking and deeply moving. This is the thrilling 1644, an era of sudden changes and upheaval, where the drama of historical tragedy unfolded in a blink yet rose with fierce intensity.