Knowra Ming dynasty Ming dynasty The Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 1368 to 1644, succeeding the Yuan dynasty and preceding the Qing dynasty. It combined centralized imperial rule with major developments in maritime trade, ceramics, literature, and urban life.
Ming emperors : The rulers who occupied the Ming throne from 1368 to 1644. Their authority shaped court politics, policy, and the dynasty’s changing fortunes.
Yuan dynasty : The Mongol-led dynasty that ruled China before the Ming, from 1271 to 1368. Ming founders rose against Yuan rule and framed their victory as restoration of Chinese governance.
Ming treasure voyages : Seven state-sponsored maritime expeditions led by Zheng He between 1405 and 1433. The voyages projected Ming power across the Indian Ocean and displayed its naval capacity.
Mandate of Heaven : The Chinese political doctrine that legitimate rulers govern with Heaven’s approval, which can be withdrawn. Ming founders used this tradition to explain the Yuan’s fall and their own legitimacy.
Journey to the West : A Chinese novel attributed to Wu Cheng'en, first published in the sixteenth century. Its publication reflects the Ming-era expansion of popular fiction and print culture.
Grand Secretariat : A senior Ming institution that coordinated documents and assisted the emperor in governing. It helped manage administration while formal authority remained with the emperor.
Red Turban Rebellion : A series of rebellions against Yuan rule in the mid-fourteenth century, associated with millenarian movements. The uprising created the political opening from which Zhu Yuanzhang built power.
Zheng He : A Ming admiral and diplomat who commanded large maritime expeditions from 1405 to 1433. His fleet carried imperial envoys, gifts, and authority to ports across the Indian Ocean.
Confucianism : A tradition of ethical and political thought associated with Confucius and later interpreters. Confucian texts and norms shaped education, official conduct, and family ideals under Ming rule.
Water Margin : A Chinese novel about outlaws traditionally attributed to Shi Nai'an and developed in its Ming-era printed form. Its circulation shows how commercial publishing brought long narrative fiction to wider audiences.
Show all 30