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**Ming Dynasty *Finding Our Future in The Past* **.............. Drawing from past dynasties' traditions and successes, the Ming dynasty was able to create a stable government, a flourishing culture, and become widely known as  "One of the Best-Governed Countries in the Entire World" Emperor Hung-Wu and Emperor Yung-Lo The Ming Dynasty began in 1368 under the rule of Hung-wu. He created an efficient Chinese government, which was further strengthened by his son, Yung-Lo. These two emperors restored the old examination system and the traditional law as well as encouraging education. These first two reigns involved interactions with the wider world through sea voyages to foreign countries. After these seven voyages, the Ming emperors became much more inwardly focused, sticking to tradition and successful past practices, rather of focusing on innovation and exploration, becoming isolated from the outside world.

** Ming Culture **

The Ming's thriving culture was dominated by the government's focus on tradition and education . It became a model for the rest of East Asia. European visitors were in awe of their respect for law, stately ceremonies, paved roads, and intricate examination system. Collections of multivolume books were written, including famous medical and scientific works and 1500 local histories. Their literature also included playwrights, in which music became prominent. Architecture flourished with the creation of the Forbidden City, and artists created immense amounts of high-quality works, which included many porcelain pieces.

** The Ming government created a flourishing culture that was unrivaled by the entire rest of Asia! **

=Zeng He and his diplomatic explorations were at one time an exemplary act of China that gave us allies, general relationships, trade, and respect from others, but the outside world is not needed to achieve and maintain greatness! =
 * Zeng He and Diplomatic Exploration **
 * Zeng He was captured by the Ming Dynasty when they attempted to cleanse the remnants of the past.
 * ======After years of working under the Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, Zeng He was trusted and skilled enough to be named the Grand Eunuch.======
 * ======Later, Zhu Di gave him the role of being the commander of all voyages westward.======
 * ======Zeng He led seven expeditions. The might and glory of China were seen through the thousands of ships he commanded, and great trade networks and relationships were established . By the end of the seventh expedition, fourteen external groups were paying tribute to China and the Chinese Emperor Yung-Lo[[image:http://www.chengho.org/pics/zhenghe-pic.gif width="189" height="239" align="right"]]======
 * ======Once Yung-Lo was no longer the emperor, China was isolated, and all outside connections were ended, including the expeditions of Zeng He======
 * Our Chinese officials now look to focus on restoring China by focusing only on ourselves and our past, so documents and items that were connected to Zeng He's explorations were destroyed


 * The Role of Confucianism and its Affect on Ethnocentrism **

Confucianism and increased ethnocentrism are intertwined in Ming society. They both led, in part, to Ming China essentially closing its borders and looking inwards for success. Confucianism taught self-reliance and the essential understanding of a person’s role in society.To Confucians, every person has a role that they must play for the overall success of everyone. By that same belief, if everyone in society is playing their role and accomplishing what needs to be accomplished, a society can be completely self sufficient with no need for outside help. Confucius even went so far as to state that trade for the purpose of profit was morally wrong.This is evident in The Ming's strategic choice to be completely self sufficient.

Another contributing factor in Ming China’s careful choice to not focus on the future was a sense of ethnocentrism. At the height of Ming power, they were the most opulent and best governed society in the world, and Europeans would come to Beijing and marvel at Chinese society. The Ming saw that they were more advanced than the Europeans. This, coupled with the tradition of emperors not needing to do much to maintain the nation meant that rulers didn't see the need to work on developing technology. There was no need for improvement! Why change something that's in no need of changing !

** Because the Ming had achieved such a successful state and because of the fact that their belief system discouraged trade and commerce, they were capable of being self sufficient without the help of the outside world **


 * The Forbidden City **
 * [[image:Forbidden_City_Beijing2.jpg width="183" height="263" align="right"]]Located in the center of Beijing
 * Commissioned by the great Emperor Yongle in 1406
 * Finished in 1420
 * 200,000 hard-working men were needed to build it
 * Extremely ornate, elaborate, and beautiful
 * It is the largest palace complex in the world
 * Takes up 183 acres
 * Made up of 9,999 stunning buildings
 * For the use of the imperial family only

This amazing, extravagant palace shows the wealth and power of the Ming dynasty!

The Ming Dynasty lasted three prosperous and rich centuries, restoring peace and order to China, a perfect choice for any dynasty buyer!

** Bibliography ** CONFUCIUS. (2005). In Encyclopedia of World Trade From Ancient Times to the Present. Retrieved from []

Ming. (2008). In The Columbia Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://welproxy.minlib.net/form?qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.credoreference.com/entry/columency/ming

Ming dynasty. (2001). In Andromeda Encyclopedic Dictionary of World History. Retrieved from []

Gunde, Richard. "Zheng He's Voyages of Discovery." UCLA International Institue. UCLA, 20 Apr. 2004. Web. 14 Jan. 2011. []

Poirot. "Zheng He and Ming China: The Lone Mariner and His Times." All Empires. Online History Community, n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2011. []

Palmira, Brummett, et al. Civilization: Past and Present. Ed. Priscilla McGeehon. 9th ed. United States of America: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2000. Print.

"Forbidden City." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 14 Jan. 2011.

"Beijing." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 14 Jan. 2011.