Ming+Dynasty

**The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)** **The Mighty Ming Dynasty will __NEVER__ Let __YOU__ Down***

** *The Europeans liked us!* **

By restoring the past, the Ming Dynasty was able to find and rebuild China's glorious roots and aply it to the future.

Hung-Wu:First Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

Restoration for the Nation! Do the Right Thing, Choose the Ming! = = =The Wonderful Restoration of Chinese Monuments =



The Ming Dynasty restored The Forbidden City, the Grand Canal, and the Great Wall of China to it's former greatness. In addition, the Ming Dynasty moved the capital from Nanjing to the wealthier city of Beiping. After the move, the city of Beiping was renamed Beijing. To make the city a candidate for the capital in future dynasties, the Ming shifted the city walls 2.5 kilometers to the south, organized the inner and outer communities of Beijing. The Ming also renovated the Forbidden City, formally know as the Imperial Palace. The Chinese arranged it with thousands of halls and gates in a symmetric pattern around a north-south axis. The Grand Canal increased in size in order to increase trade and commerce in China. Holes and run down areas were replaced and modernized. The Chinese knew that if their monuments looked the best, they were the best. [|Kid Friendly Forbidden City Page]

=Advanced Trade and Seafaring =



//Junks// were used for trade.

Trade increased China's wealth tenfold due to the creation of efficient ship navigation systems. Tools such as compasses, maps, and detailed sailing instructions provided sailors with an exact path across unknown waters. These inventions helped the Chinese sail across the Indian Ocean to trade with Africa and Benegal. Often, China traded silk, porcelain, and lacquer-ware for spices, ivory, medicines, rare wood, and pearls from the Middle East. However, commerce in China did more than import lavish goods, it spread some of the Ming Dynasties ideas. From example, the famous //Mandate of Heaven// was spread this way.

For additional Information see:[|NOVA:Chinese Explorers]

=Unique Customs and Culture = = =

= = = = = = =Scholarly Literature = We have vast collections of multi-volume collections! -During Yung-lo's reign, attempts were made to create libraries of ancient Chinese literature and an encyclopedia
 * 1500 local histories
 * A famous medical work, //The Outline of Herb Medicine.// Which took 30 years to complete and is still used in China today, talk about a contribution!


 * We are hiring all the scholars to help us rebuild our literary collections so it will be the best in the world.

Famous Neo-Confucianism in the Ming Dynasty = = ==== Wang Yangming the leading scholar of Neo-Confucianism in Ming China.====

=== Neo-Confucianism is an ethical and Metaphysical philosophy which was influenced by Confucianism. Neo-Confucianism was adopted as the main philosophy of Ming China. Neo-Confucianism taught that Peasants who have a good grasp on the "real World" are more wise then officials who have a poor grasp of the world around them. This led to people of a lower class being able to be a government official of some sort. ===

=Heightened Ethnocentrism Beliefs = = =

=**The Celebrated Zeng He and Diplomatic Explorations** =

=== Born in 1371, Zeng He was born into a Muslim family. Both his father and his grandfather completed the Hajj, and were the roots of his curiousity in foreign lands. In 1378, his province was conquered by the Ming Dynasty. Zeng He was taken to the imperial court, and made a eunuch. He distinguished himself by assisting Zhu Yuanzhang in defeating the Yuan Dynasty. He later assisted Zhu Di, Zhu Yuanzhangs fourth son, in overthrowing his father. Having done this, he was given command of the navy, and wielded a considerable amount of power. In 1402, he was sent to lead a fleet of ships through southwest Asia. This tour successfully reached southeast Asian countries, African countries, and even some Arabian countries. Over the course of his tenure, Zeng He led 7 such voyages, leading over 27,000 people, promoting mutually beneficial trade relationships, and exchanging technological and cultural information with other trading parties. Upon his return books were written about witnessed cultures, and decorative African animals appeared in Chinese courts. Zeng He died at the age of 65, in 1435 A.D. After his last voyage, no others were launched. === = = =Bibliography =
 * //China.org.cn//- China News, Weather, Business, Travel & Language Courses. "Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang." Accessed Jan. 22 2012. @http://www.china.org.cn/english/kuaixun/74855.htm.
 * //Home | University of Calgary//. " European Voyages of Exploration." Last modified 1997. Accessed Jan. 22 2012. @http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/ming.html.
 * //Home | University of Calgary//. " European Voyages of Exploration." Last modified 1997. Accessed Jan. 22 2012. @http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/ming.html.


 * //UW Faculty Web Server.// "Neo-Confucianism." Accessed Jan. 25 2012. [].


 * China Culture. "Zheng He." Last modified 2003. Accessed Jan.25 2012. []