Week 7: Autocracy at Work

The Great Ming 大明 (1368–1644)

1. Structure of the Ming Dynasty
   1. Disintegration of Mongol rule—factionalism . . . decline of military power . . . militarization of local society
   2. The Rise of Zhu Yuanzhang (a.k.a. The Hongwu emperor [Qing portrait]; Taizu)—family background . . . rise to power
   3. The Hongwu reign (1368–1398)—style of rule
2. Ming Emperorship
   1. The Ambitious: The Yongle emperor (r. 1403–24) . . . Zheng He 鄭和 (1371–1433) and his voyages (1405–33)
   2. The Incompetent: The Zhengtong (r. 1436–49) and Zhengde (r. 1506–21) emperors . . . Tumu crisis (1449)
   3. The Bored: The Wanli emperor (r. 1573–1620)

Reconstructing Social Order

1. Central Administration
   1. 2 capitals—Nanjing and Beijing
   2. 6 ministries—personnel, revenues, rites, war, public works, punishments
   3. Imperial clan
2. Military Administration
   1. Guards (wei) and Battalions (suo)
   2. Frontier administration—institution of chieftaincy
3. Provincial Administration
   1. 13 provinces
   2. Administration commission
   3. Surveillance commission
   4. Military commission
4. Local Administration
   1. Administrative units—prefecture … subprefecture … county … canton … township … ward … courier stations
   2. Local control—li jia
   3. Censuses (1371 and others)

Discussion

1. What were Taizu's main concerns in his Ancestral Instructions?
2. What was Taizu's vision for local societies? What did he believe was the proper role for the state?
3. What are the similarities and differences between Taizu's various instructions and proclamations and modern-day national constitutions?

Maps

Ming China

Physical Map

Source: National Museum of Chinese History, ed., A Journey into China's Antiquity, vol. 1 (Beijing: Morning Glory Publishers, 1997), pp. 8–9.

 

Physical Map by Satellite

Administrative Map

Source: SACU

 

Images