Centralization and Fission: The Story of China from 1386 to 1644

Author: Hu Min Ma Xueqiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The general paper argues that the social structure after the Ming Dynasty remained similar to that of the Song Dynasty. Politically, there was no distinct class division. Socially, all citizens across the nation were protected by the same laws of the government. Economically, it remained under a balanced and restrictive system that prevented the sharp polarization of extreme poverty and wealth. The Ming Taizu rose from humble origins but was able to overthrow the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, subdue rival warlords, and demonstrated remarkable talent. Although he emerged from humble beginnings, he possessed a deep understanding of politics. The institutions he established, such as schools, the imperial examination system, and tax and labor systems, were all adopted by the Qing Dynasty and remained in effect for six hundred years. The system of military garrisons (Weishu) later had its flaws, but tracing its origins, it was indeed a very comprehensive system that could create numerous and strong armies without overburdening the people. Thus, the scale of the Ming Dynasty's founding cannot be considered insignificant. Unfortunately, he was too self-centered. By abolishing the prime minister and eliminating key officials in the court, he paved the way for the later rise of eunuch power. His excessive favoritism toward the descendants of feudal nobles (Gongs, Hous, and Bos) set the stage for the military government's decline. His harsh punishments and the establishment of the Embroidered Guard (Jinyiwei) to oversee intelligence and surveillance led to the subsequent rise of the Eastern, Western, and Inner Guards. All of this must be attributed to his poor leadership. His decision to enfeoff his sons in various regions directly triggered the Jingnan Rebellion. With the collapse of the Mongol Empire and the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, China gained a respite from minority rule. A poor farmer later became a rebel general and founded the Ming Dynasty. He not only controlled all Han Chinese territories but also expanded his influence into the southwestern regions. The early Ming emperors worked tirelessly, often using terroristic methods to ensure officials adhered to regulations and to establish personal control over the vast and complex empire. Despite the rulers' extreme autocracy, the competition to join the bureaucracy quickly reached and surpassed the level of the Song Dynasty. In the lower Yangtze region, literati culture was highly vibrant, with a high degree of urbanization and rapidly developing publishing industries. One reason for this region's prosperity was trade development, including overseas trade along the coast. Although Ming rulers showed little interest in commerce and attempted to integrate foreign trade into the tributary system, the Ming government could not keep China isolated from the rapidly expanding international trade system. This was because there was strong global demand for Chinese silk and porcelain. As a result, silver flowed into China, accelerating the monetization of the economy and causing widespread social and cultural impacts, some of which help explain the social order of the 17th century.