Revolt and rebel rivalry
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The Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) ruled before the establishment of the
Ming Dynasty. Alongside institutionalized ethnic discrimination against Han
Chinese that stirred resentment and rebellion, other explanations for the Yuan's
demise included overtaxing areas hard-hit by inflation, and massive flooding of
the Yellow River as a result of the abandonment of irrigation projects.
Consequently, agriculture and the economy were in shambles and rebellion broke
out among the hundreds of thousands of peasants called upon to work on repairing
the dykes of the Yellow River.
Ming Dynasty. Alongside institutionalized ethnic discrimination against Han
Chinese that stirred resentment and rebellion, other explanations for the Yuan's
demise included overtaxing areas hard-hit by inflation, and massive flooding of
the Yellow River as a result of the abandonment of irrigation projects.
Consequently, agriculture and the economy were in shambles and rebellion broke
out among the hundreds of thousands of peasants called upon to work on repairing
the dykes of the Yellow River.
Reign of the Hongwu
Emperor
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Hongwu made an immediate effort to rebuild state infrastructure. He built a 48
km (30 mi) long wall around Nanjing, as well as new palaces and government
halls. The History of Ming states that as early as 1364 Zhu Yuanzhang had begun
drafting a new Confucian law code, the Da Ming Lü, which was completed by 1397
and repeated certain clauses found in the old Tang Code of 653. Hongwu organized
a military system known as the weisuo, which was similar to the fubing system of
the Tang Dynasty (618–907).
km (30 mi) long wall around Nanjing, as well as new palaces and government
halls. The History of Ming states that as early as 1364 Zhu Yuanzhang had begun
drafting a new Confucian law code, the Da Ming Lü, which was completed by 1397
and repeated certain clauses found in the old Tang Code of 653. Hongwu organized
a military system known as the weisuo, which was similar to the fubing system of
the Tang Dynasty (618–907).
South-Western
frontier
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/1/5/19150641/7007618.jpg)
In Qinghai, the Salar Muslims voluntarily came under Ming rule, their clan
leaders capitulating around 1370. Uyghur troops under Uyghur general Hala Bashi
suppressed the Miao Rebellions of the 1370s and settled in Changde, Hunan. Hui
Muslim troops also settled in Changde, Hunan after serving the Ming in campaigns
against other aboriginal tribes. In 1381, the Ming Dynasty annexed the areas of
the southwest that had once been part of the Kingdom of Dali following the
successful effort by Hui Muslim Ming armies to defeat Yuan-loyalist Mongol and
Hui Muslim troops holding out in Yunnan province. The Hui troops under General
Mu Ying, who was appointed Governor of Yunnan, were resettled in the region as
part of a colonization effort.
leaders capitulating around 1370. Uyghur troops under Uyghur general Hala Bashi
suppressed the Miao Rebellions of the 1370s and settled in Changde, Hunan. Hui
Muslim troops also settled in Changde, Hunan after serving the Ming in campaigns
against other aboriginal tribes. In 1381, the Ming Dynasty annexed the areas of
the southwest that had once been part of the Kingdom of Dali following the
successful effort by Hui Muslim Ming armies to defeat Yuan-loyalist Mongol and
Hui Muslim troops holding out in Yunnan province. The Hui troops under General
Mu Ying, who was appointed Governor of Yunnan, were resettled in the region as
part of a colonization effort.
Rise to power
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/1/5/19150641/5673716.jpg)
The Hongwu Emperor specified his grandson Zhu Yunwen as his successor, and he
assumed the throne as the Jianwen Emperor (1398–1402) after Hongwu's death in
1398. The most powerful of Hongwu's sons, Zhu Di, then the militarily mighty
disagreed with this, and soon a political showdown erupted between him and his
nephew Jianwen. After Jianwen arrested many of Zhu Di's associates, Zhu Di
plotted a rebellion, a rebellion that sparked a three-year civil war. Under the
pretext of rescuing the young Jianwen from corrupting officials, Zhu Di
personally led forces in the revolt; the palace in Nanjing was burned to the
ground, along with Jianwen himself, his wife, mother, and courtiers. Zhu Di
assumed the throne as the Yongle Emperor (1402–1424); his reign is universally
viewed by scholars as a "second founding" of the Ming Dynasty since he reversed
many of his father's policies.
assumed the throne as the Jianwen Emperor (1398–1402) after Hongwu's death in
1398. The most powerful of Hongwu's sons, Zhu Di, then the militarily mighty
disagreed with this, and soon a political showdown erupted between him and his
nephew Jianwen. After Jianwen arrested many of Zhu Di's associates, Zhu Di
plotted a rebellion, a rebellion that sparked a three-year civil war. Under the
pretext of rescuing the young Jianwen from corrupting officials, Zhu Di
personally led forces in the revolt; the palace in Nanjing was burned to the
ground, along with Jianwen himself, his wife, mother, and courtiers. Zhu Di
assumed the throne as the Yongle Emperor (1402–1424); his reign is universally
viewed by scholars as a "second founding" of the Ming Dynasty since he reversed
many of his father's policies.
Reign of the Wanli
Emperor
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/1/5/19150641/8288970.jpg)
The financial drain of the Imjin War in Korea against the Japanese was one of
the many problems—fiscal or other—facing Ming China during the reign of the
Wanli Emperor (r. 1572–1620). In the beginning of his reign, Wanli surrounded
himself with able advisors and made a conscientious effort to handle state
affairs. His Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng (1572–82) built up an effective
network of alliances with senior officials. However, there was no one after him
skilled enough to maintain the stability of these alliances; officials soon
banded together in opposing political factions. Over time Wanli grew tired of
court affairs and frequent political quarreling amongst his ministers,
preferring to stay behind the walls of the Forbidden City and out of his
officials' sight. Scholar-officials lost prominence in administration as eunuchs
became intermediaries between the aloof emperor and his officials; any senior
official who wanted to discuss state matters had to persuade powerful eunuchs
with a bribe simply to have his demands or message relayed to the emperor.
the many problems—fiscal or other—facing Ming China during the reign of the
Wanli Emperor (r. 1572–1620). In the beginning of his reign, Wanli surrounded
himself with able advisors and made a conscientious effort to handle state
affairs. His Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng (1572–82) built up an effective
network of alliances with senior officials. However, there was no one after him
skilled enough to maintain the stability of these alliances; officials soon
banded together in opposing political factions. Over time Wanli grew tired of
court affairs and frequent political quarreling amongst his ministers,
preferring to stay behind the walls of the Forbidden City and out of his
officials' sight. Scholar-officials lost prominence in administration as eunuchs
became intermediaries between the aloof emperor and his officials; any senior
official who wanted to discuss state matters had to persuade powerful eunuchs
with a bribe simply to have his demands or message relayed to the emperor.