List of Emperors of the Ming Dynasty
Encyclopedia
The Ming Dynasty
ruled China from 1368 to 1644, succeeding the Mongol Yuan Dynasty
and falling amidst much peasant turmoil to the Manchu
Qing Dynasty
. Sixteen emperors ruled over the whole of China spanning 276 years. A series of claimants to the Ming throne continued to claim the throne of what was known as the Southern Ming until the last was executed in 1662.
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
ruled China from 1368 to 1644, succeeding the Mongol Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
and falling amidst much peasant turmoil to the Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. Sixteen emperors ruled over the whole of China spanning 276 years. A series of claimants to the Ming throne continued to claim the throne of what was known as the Southern Ming until the last was executed in 1662.
Emperors of the Ming Dynasty
| Personal Name | Posthumous name Posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life... 1 (short form) | Temple name Temple name Temple names are commonly used when naming most Chinese, Korean , and Vietnamese royalty. They should not be confused with era names. Compared to posthumous names, the use of temple names is more exclusive... 1 | Era name | Reign years | Name by which most commonly known |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhū Yuánzhāng 朱元璋 | Gāodì 高帝 | Tàizǔ 太祖 | Hóngwǔ 洪武 | 1368–1398 | Hongwu Emperor Hongwu Emperor The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China... |
| Zhū Yǔnwén 朱允炆 | Huìdì 惠帝 | None given² | Jiànwén 建文 | 1398–1402 | Jianwen Emperor Jianwen Emperor The Jianwen Emperor , with the personal name Zhu Yunwen , reigned as the second Emperor of the Ming dynasty... |
| Zhū Dì 朱棣 | Wéndì 文帝 | Chéngzǔ, 成祖 or Tàizōng, 太宗 | Yǒnglè 永樂 | 1402–1424 | Yongle Emperor Yongle Emperor The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping... |
| Zhū Gāochì 朱高熾 | Zhāodì 昭帝 | Rénzōng 仁宗 | Hóngxī 洪熙 | 1424–1425 | Hongxi Emperor Hongxi Emperor The Hongxi Emperor was the fourth emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China. He succeeded his father, the Yongle Emperor, in 1424. His era name means "Vastly bright".-Biography:... |
| Zhū Zhānjī 朱瞻基 | Zhāngdì 章帝 | Xuānzōng 宣宗 | Xuāndé 宣德 | 1425–1435 | Xuande Emperor Xuande Emperor The Xuande Emperor was Emperor of China from 1425 to 1435. His era name means "Proclamation of Virtue".-Biography:... |
| Zhū Qízhèn 朱祁鎮 | Ruìdì 睿帝 | Yīngzōng 英宗 | Zhèngtǒng, 正統 1436–1449; Tiānshùn, 天順 1457–1464 | 1435–1449; 1457–1464³ | Zhengtong Emperor Zhengtong Emperor Zhu Qizhen was an emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor from 1435 to 1449, and as the Tianshun Emperor from 1457 to 1464.... |
| Zhū Qíyù 朱祁鈺 | Jǐngdì 景帝 | Dàizōng 代宗 | Jǐngtài 景泰 | 1449–1457 | Jingtai Emperor Jingtai Emperor The Jingtai Emperor was Emperor of China from 1449 to 1457. The second son of the Xuande Emperor, he was selected in 1449 to succeed his older brother, the Zhengtong Emperor, when the latter was captured by Mongols following the Tumu Crisis... |
| Zhū Jiànshēn 朱見深 | Chúndì 純帝 | Xiànzōng 憲宗 | Chénghuà 成化 | 1464–1487 | Chenghua Emperor Chenghua Emperor The Chenghua Emperor was Emperor of the Ming dynasty in China, between 1464 and 1487. His era name means "Accomplished change".-Childhood:Born Zhu Jianshen, he was the Zhengtong Emperor's son. He was only 2 years old when his father, the Zhengtong emperor, was captured by the Oirat Mongols and... |
| Zhū Yòutáng 朱祐樘 | Jìngdì 敬帝 | Xiàozōng 孝宗 | Hóngzhì 弘治 | 1487–1505 | Hongzhi Emperor Hongzhi Emperor The Hongzhi Emperor was emperor of the Ming dynasty in China between 1487 and 1505. Born Zhu Youcheng , he was the son of the Chenghua Emperor and his reign as emperor of China is called the Hongzhi... |
| Zhū Hòuzhào 朱厚照 | Yìdì 毅帝 | Wǔzōng 武宗 | Zhèngdé 正德 | 1505–1521 | Zhengde Emperor Zhengde Emperor The Zhengde Emperor was emperor of China between 1505-1521. Born Zhu Houzhao, he was the Hongzhi Emperor's eldest son... |
| Zhū Hòucōng 朱厚熜 | Sùdì 肅帝 | Shìzōng 世宗 | Jiājìng 嘉靖 | 1521–1567 | Jiajing Emperor Jiajing Emperor The Jiajing Emperor was the 11th Ming Dynasty Emperor of China who ruled from 1521 to 1567. Born Zhu Houcong, he was the former Zhengde Emperor's cousin... |
| Zhū Zǎihòu 朱載垕 | Zhuāngdì 莊帝 | Mùzōng 穆宗 | Lóngqìng 隆慶 | 1567–1572 | Longqing Emperor Longqing Emperor The Longqing Emperor was the 12th emperor of the Ming dynasty in China between 1567-1572. His era name means "Great celebration". His name at birth was Zhu Zaihou and he was born during the reign of his father Emperor Jiajing, at the Forbidden City at the Ming Dynasty capital Beijing.... |
| Zhū Yìjūn 朱翊鈞 | Xiǎndì 顯帝 | Shénzōng 神宗 | Wànlì 萬曆 | 1572–1620 | Wanli Emperor Wanli Emperor The Wanli Emperor was emperor of China between 1572 and 1620. His era name means "Ten thousand calendars". Born Zhu Yijun, he was the Longqing Emperor's third son... |
| Zhū Chángluò 朱常洛 | Zhēndì 貞帝 | Guāngzōng 光宗 | Tàichāng 泰昌 | 1620 | Taichang Emperor Taichang Emperor The Taichang Emperor was the fourteenth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was born Zhu Changluo , the eldest son of the Wanli Emperor and succeeded his father as emperor in 1620. However his reign came to an abrupt end less than one month after his coronation when he was found dead one morning in... |
| Zhū Yóujiào 朱由校 | Zhédì 悊帝 | Xīzōng 熹宗 | Tiānqǐ 天啟 | 1620–1627 | Tianqi Emperor Tianqi Emperor The Tianqi Emperor was the 15th emperor of the Ming dynasty from 1620 to 1627. Born Zhu Youxiao, he was the Taichang Emperor's eldest son. His era name means "Heavenly opening".-Biography:... |
| Zhū Yóujiǎn 朱由檢 | Zhuānglièmǐn 莊烈愍 | Sīzōng 思宗 | Chóngzhēn 崇禎 | 1627–1644 | Chongzhen Emperor Chongzhen Emperor The Chongzhen Emperor was the 16th and last emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China. He reigned from 1627 to 1644, under an era name that means "honorable and auspicious".- Early years :... |
| 1 As posthumous and temple names were often shared by emperors of different dynasties, they are usually preceded by the dynastic name, in this case, Ming, to avoid confusion. For example, the Hongwu emperor is frequently referred to as Ming Taizu. | |||||
| 2 The Yongle emperor assumed the throne of his nephew the Jianwen emperor, who died in a palace fire. The Yongle emperor wiped out the record of his nephew's reign and no temple name was given him. | |||||
| 3 After listening to the poor advice of his eunuch advisers, the Zhengtong emperor personally led a campaign in 1449 against the Mongols and was captured. His brother, the Jingtai emperor, assumed the throne and, a hostage no longer of any value, the Mongols released the Zhengtong emperor who returned to live in seclusion. However, the Zhengtong emperor was able to reclaim his position upon the death of his brother, choosing the reign name Tianshun. | |||||
Emperors of the Southern Ming Dynasty
| Personal Name | Temple name Temple name Temple names are commonly used when naming most Chinese, Korean , and Vietnamese royalty. They should not be confused with era names. Compared to posthumous names, the use of temple names is more exclusive... | Era name | Reign years | Name by which most commonly known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhū Yóusōng 朱由崧 | Ānzōng 安宗 | Hóngguāng 弘光 | 1644–1645 | Prince of Fu 福王 Fú Wáng |
| Zhū Yùjiàn 朱聿鍵 | Shàozōng 紹宗 | Lóngwǔ 隆武 | 1645–1646 | Prince of Tang 唐王 Táng Wáng |
| Zhū Chángfāng 朱常淓 | None given | None given, but sometimes referred to as the Regency of the Prince of Lu (Luh) 潞王臨國 Lù Wáng Lín Guó | 1645–1646 | Prince of Lu (Luh*) 潞王 Lù Wáng |
| Zhū Yǐhǎi 朱以海 | Yizong 义宗 | Genyin 庚寅 | 1645–1655 | Prince of Lu Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu The Genyin Emperor was Emperor of Southern Ming Dynasty, reigning from 1645 to 1655. His temple name was Ming Yizong .-Biography:... (Lou*) 魯王 Lǔ Wáng |
| Zhū Yùyuè 朱聿𨮁 | Wenzong 文宗 | Shàowǔ 紹武 | 1646–1647 | Prince of Tang Prince of Tang (Shaowu) This article is based on a translation from the Chinese Wikipedia.The Prince of Tang reigned as the Shaowu Emperor of the Southern Ming dynasty from 1646-1647. His era name means "Martial thread". His personal name was Zhu Yuyuè . He was a descendant of the first Ming emperor Zhu Yuanzhang... 唐王 Táng Wáng |
| Zhū Changqing 朱常清 | 敬宗 | Dongwu 東武 | 1648–1649 | Prince of Huai Zhu Changqing, Prince of Huai Zhu Changqing , Prince of Huai, is claimed to be emperor of Southern Ming Dynasty, his regime name was Dongwu . Dongwu Emperor reign for one year from 1648 to 1649.-Biography:... Huai Wáng |
| Zhū Yóuláng 朱由榔 | Zhaozong 昭宗 | Yǒnglì 永曆 | 1646–1662 | Prince of Gui 桂王 Guì Wáng |
- The two characters are homonyms, both pronounced Lu; to distinguish them, one is usually kept as Lu and the other spelled differently. Luh is from Cambridge History of China; Lou is from A.C. Moule's Rulers of China (1957). When one irregular spelling is used, the other is kept as regular (Lu). The two systems are distinct and not used simultaneously.
See also
- Dynasties in Chinese historical history
- List of Chinese monarchs