VI.

Falling of ancient China:

from Ming to Qing
1
1. Ming dynasty (1368-1644) "one of the greatest eras of orderly
government and social stability in
human history,"
1.1 Ming Taizu and Ming Chengzu

Zhu Yuanzhang Zhu Di

(Ming Taizu) (Ming Chengzu)
1368-1398 1402-1424
1.2 Zheng He’s Voyages to the “Western Oceans”

Zheng He
• Zheng He’s Treasure Ships
The Treasure Ships were built by
Chinese shipbuilders in the Ming
Dynasty by drawing on the
shipbuilding experience of previous
dynasties. They are the largest
wooden sailboats in China’s
navigation history as well as in the
world’s navigation history.

It included more than 100 ships

in each trip. 40-60 large scaled
treasure ships were in addition to
grain carriers, water carriers, horse
carriers and warships. Gold, siver,
jewelry, silk, porcelain and other
Chinese specialty products were
carried.
Zheng He sailed to the “Western Oceans” for seven
times.
• At that time, the “Western
Ocean” referred to
Southeast Asia and the
Indian Ocean west of
Brunei.
• Zheng He’s fleet went to
more than 30 countries and
regions.
• reached as far as the eastern
coast of Africa, the Red Sea,
Mecca, and possibly
Australia
Zheng He’s voyage to the Pacific
Ocean was 87 years earlier than
Columbus’s discovery of the
Americas, 93 years earlier than
Vasco da Gama’s opening of the
New Oriental route, and 116 years
earlier than Magellan’s arrival in the
Philippines.
2. Qing dynasty (1644-1912)
2.1 Qing Gaozong and the Prosperity of the Kangxi and
Qianlong Periods
the Prosperous Age of Kang-Yong-Qian

Kangxi Yongzheng Qianlong

 Kangxi (1662-1722)

• Emperor for 61 years, the

longest serving emperor in
Chinese history.

• quelled the Three Vassals’

Rebellion, defeated Junggar
(the Mongolians), recovered
Taiwan, and reunited China.
• protected China’s territorial
integrity and twice expelled
the Tsarist Russian army
from Albazin.
• The Three Vassals’ Rebellion
The Three Vassals refer to three Han
vassal kings, Wu Sangui of Yunnan, Shang
Kexi of Guangdong and Geng Jingzhong of
Fujian. Because Emperor Kangxi withdrew,
these three vassal kings launched a
rebellion in 1673. The pacification of the
three vassals took eight years and marked
the establishment of a stable rule of the
Qing Dynasty.
• The Three Vassals’ Rebellion
The Three Vassals refer to three
Han vassal kings, Wu Sangui of
Yunnan, Shang Kexi of Guangdong
and Geng Jingzhong of Fujian.
Because Emperor Kangxi withdrew,
these three vassal kings launched a
rebellion in 1673. The pacification
of the three vassals took eight years
and marked the establishment of a
stable rule of the Qing Dynasty.
 Yongzheng(1722-1735)

• reform measures played a key

role in the continuity of the
prosperous period of Kangxi and
Qianlong.

• during his 13 years as Emperor,

he had handled more than
192,000 memorials

• rectify government officials and

state finance
 Qianlong
(1736-1795)

• Politically, maintained national unity and

expanded the territory of the Qing Dynasty.

• carried out political and religious reforms in

Tibet, and strengthened the rule of Tibet.

• In terms of economy, agriculture, handicraft

industry and commerce developed greatly

• In terms of culture, The Complete Library in

the Four Branches of Literature, which was
compiled under the auspices of Emperor
Qianlong in a period of 13 years, basically
includes all ancient Chinese books.
 HOMEWORK

• What do you think would be the

fundemental cause for the
collapse of the ancient Chinese
empire?

Email: liyang@shisu.edu.cn, by
April 22nd.

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