ming china

• the ming dynasty lasted from 1368-1644
• the ming is a reaction to the mongols
• the mongols had:

  • made a tax and postal system
  • built infrastructure
  • removed the exam system
  • not assimilated
  • supported merchants
  • lasted for about 100 years
  • declined due to plague and rebellion (decreased revenue --> angry taxes)
• the mings have porcelain/"china" with traditional characteristics (blue/white)21
• the forbidden city was the chinese imperial palace from the ming to qing; its architecture is confucian and protective
• the building of the great wall of china continued throughout the ming dynasty
• ming leadership legitimized their power

  • restored/improved infrastructure (great wall)
  • abolished paper money, established silver standard
  • resurgence of confucianism (exam system)
  • focus on government service (basic needs, agriculture)
  • continuity: trade flourishes
  • population increase
  • early: emphasis on maritime trade
• zheng he lived from 1371-1433
• zheng he was an admiral under emperor yongle. he was a muslim boy taken as a war prize, a eunuch (castrated male), and the admiral of the sea
• emperor yongle usurped his power, so he moved from nanjing to beijing for safety
• from 1405-1433, zheng he went on 7 voyages
• zheng he's exploration was to show the superiority of china, not to explore
• zheng he traveled with crazy big ships for cargo surrounded by small ships
• zheng he returned from voyages with gifts and exotic animals. he expected tribute in return for gifts, so foreigners returned to china with him (cowtow)
• zheng he died in 1433; yongle died in 1424
• after zheng he's death, many officials saw voyages as a waste of resources which resulted in isolation and the downfall of china. proposals to launch expeditions were rejected to prioritize defense and restrictions were placed on the size of ships so they could not sail on the ocean
• wang yiming: we are innately the same, class doesn’t matter
• Kaozheng: scientific approach to knowledge, but more history than science (unlike EU)
• Buddhists emphasize moral and religious individualism like Martin Luther in Europe