Read the entire history of the Ming Dynasty in one breath

Author: Zhang Zicheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-02-01
Features: The Ming Dynasty was the last dynasty established by the Han people. It rose from a peasant uprising and also fell due to one. At its largest, the territory of the Ming Dynasty extended eastward to Korea, westward to Tibet, southward to Annam, and northward to the Great Wall. It spanned 11,750 li from east to west and 10,940 li from north to south. The Thousand Li of Cangsha and the Ten Thousand Li of Shitang were all included within its borders. Its vastness far surpassed that of the Han and Tang dynasties. However, by the 16th century, starting from the Zhengde era, the Ming Dynasty entered a period of decline. During this time, signs of political decay emerged, with corrupt emperors and rampant factionalism. Tax and labor systems were chaotic, and the treasury was depleted. Peasant uprisings erupted one after another, and border and maritime crises became frequent. Although there was a brief period of revival under Zhang Juzheng's reforms, the fall of the Ming Dynasty was inevitable. By the Tianqi and Chongzhen eras, politics had become extremely chaotic, factional struggles intensified, and eunuchs seized power. Manchu nobles advanced southward to vie for dominance, Western colonizers occupied Taiwan, and peasant uprisings broke out in both the north and south. The Ming Dynasty was unable to withstand the pressure, retreating step by step, and was finally overthrown by Li Zicheng's peasant army. This book aims to help readers take a bird's-eye view of the last dynasty established by the Han people, following a concise and effortless path to explore the turbulent history of over 270 years.