In the 1300s, the Mongol grip on China weakened. A revolt drove out the last Yuan emperor. In 1368, a Buddhist monk calling himself Ming Hong Wu became China's new ruler. The Ming dynasty ruled China for 300 years. Under Ming Hong Wu, Chinese self-confidence and national pride returned. Being an able and efficient ruler, he established peace and prosperity. He reformed Chinese society by slavery, confiscating large estates and redistributing them among poor and demanding higher taxes from the rich. China began to reassert its power over neighbors and its strong army was able to fight with foreign attacks.
After the dynasty's founder, the Hung Wu emperor, the Ming dynasty's most famous ruler was the emperor Cheng Zu (Yung-lo) known as "The Consolidator," who ruled from 1403 to 1424. He undertook to incorporate South and Southeast Asia into China's tribute system. This tribute system was based on the overlord-vassal relationship between the ruler of China and the rulers of other countries expressed by the traditional cultural view that saw China as the largest and oldest state in the world.
Chinese soldiers defended their empire against foreigners such as Japanese warlords, who tried to invade Korea in 1590s, but later withdrew. They used Crossbow. An arrow fired from a powerful Chinese artillery Crossbow could travel up to 200m and pierce a wooden shield. They also developed a number of indigenous weapons including gun powder rockets and bombs. At sea, Chinese ships (largest in the world during that period) made a series of voyages during 1400s as far as Africa and Arabia. The fleets were commanded by admiral Zheng He. Zheng He is described in Chinese historical records as tall and heavy, with clear-cut features and long ear lobes; a stride like a tiger's and voice clear and vibrant. He was well liked and admired for his quick wit in argument. He was famous as a brave soldier
Ming period was one of the great creativity. Ming emperors supported arts and built many fine palaces. From 1421 they lived within the forbidden city of Beijing, a huge complex of palaces, temples and parks. Foreigners and most Chinese were not allowed inside the city. Only the emperor's family, the officials and servants of the royal household were permitted. The third emperor Yung Lo made Beijing his capital in 1421. The emperor lived their secluded from both foreigners and his own people.
China's first contacts with European traders began in the 1500s, when Portugeese ships arrived. By 1557, the Portugeese had set up a trading settlement in Macao. Western traders were eager to buy porcelain, silk and tea. Tea was a new drink for Europeans. It first reached Europe in 1610. The Chinese had seldom looked far beyond their borders and after the mid fifteenth century, the government banned voyages overseas. Ming rulers regarded China as center of the world. Their rule weakened in the early sixteenth century and ended in 1644.
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After the dynasty's founder, the Hung Wu emperor, the Ming dynasty's most famous ruler was the emperor Cheng Zu (Yung-lo) known as "The Consolidator," who ruled from 1403 to 1424. He undertook to incorporate South and Southeast Asia into China's tribute system. This tribute system was based on the overlord-vassal relationship between the ruler of China and the rulers of other countries expressed by the traditional cultural view that saw China as the largest and oldest state in the world.
Chinese soldiers defended their empire against foreigners such as Japanese warlords, who tried to invade Korea in 1590s, but later withdrew. They used Crossbow. An arrow fired from a powerful Chinese artillery Crossbow could travel up to 200m and pierce a wooden shield. They also developed a number of indigenous weapons including gun powder rockets and bombs. At sea, Chinese ships (largest in the world during that period) made a series of voyages during 1400s as far as Africa and Arabia. The fleets were commanded by admiral Zheng He. Zheng He is described in Chinese historical records as tall and heavy, with clear-cut features and long ear lobes; a stride like a tiger's and voice clear and vibrant. He was well liked and admired for his quick wit in argument. He was famous as a brave soldier
Ming period was one of the great creativity. Ming emperors supported arts and built many fine palaces. From 1421 they lived within the forbidden city of Beijing, a huge complex of palaces, temples and parks. Foreigners and most Chinese were not allowed inside the city. Only the emperor's family, the officials and servants of the royal household were permitted. The third emperor Yung Lo made Beijing his capital in 1421. The emperor lived their secluded from both foreigners and his own people.
China's first contacts with European traders began in the 1500s, when Portugeese ships arrived. By 1557, the Portugeese had set up a trading settlement in Macao. Western traders were eager to buy porcelain, silk and tea. Tea was a new drink for Europeans. It first reached Europe in 1610. The Chinese had seldom looked far beyond their borders and after the mid fifteenth century, the government banned voyages overseas. Ming rulers regarded China as center of the world. Their rule weakened in the early sixteenth century and ended in 1644.
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