II. Ming to Qing

Those were the days, my friend…. Zheng He Yongle

The Manchurians are coming!

Fall of Ming and Rise of Qing Sizong vs. Manchu warrior Oh, for a big, sturdy tree…

Reasons for Ming’s Decline Climate change Colder climate frustrated peasants & led to rebellions Nomadic Invasions Mongols from the west Japanese attacked Korea (tribute state) Pirates Both Chinese & Japanese Decline of Silk Road More trade now conducted by Europeans by sea Inept Rulers Hidden away in the Forbidden City

Famine Early half of the 17th century, famines became common in northern China - unusual dry and cold weather that shortened the growing season- Little Ice Age

Revolts against the empire Li Zicheng one of the major figures in the rebellion that brought down the Ming Dynasty China proclaimed himself "The Roaming King". Zhang Xianzhong ex-soldier and rival to Li nicknamed Yellow Tiger conquered Sichuan Province in the middle of the 17th century.

Matteo Ricci Jesuit missionary who made a positive impression on Ming China Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi in the Chinese edition of Euclid's Elements published in 1607.

Map of the Far East by Matteo Ricci in 1602. Painting of Matteo Ricci - wearing "Chinese scholar" robe

Manchu/Qing Dynasty Video one Manchu are descendants of the Jurchens. Kangxi, ruler of the Qing Dynasty (1662-1722) Spoke Chinese, Manchu, & Mongolian Ordered end to contact with Christians KangXi dictionary is basis for modern Chinese. Verbiest helped write a new guide to astronomy

Qing Rule Ruled by Mandate of Heaven Forbade marriage between Manchu & Chinese Outlawed Chinese from learning Manchu Required Chinese men to shave heads & wear queues Established “Canton” system

Emperor Qianlong Ruled 1736-1796 Video Empire was so prosperous he cancelled taxes on several occasions Ming had been very corrupt Manchus were accepted by the Chinese people as legitimate rulers. Literary Inquisition 2,000 anti-Manchu titles destroyed and many scholars punished

Arrival of the West: Canton system - Europeans should only trade in Canton China was considered despotic Became increasingly isolated as Russia turned west towards Europe Video

Dream of the Red Chamber Written by Cao Xueqin, an aristocrat From his own bitter, personal experiences, Cao created a tragic love story It is a detailed description of aristocratic life in Qing China Dream of the Red Chamber is seen as the zenith of Chinese classical fiction, although the novel as it survived was incomplete and later completed by another author.

Art – the Four Wangs! Imitation of Ming style was encouraged. Large-scale landscapes, flower-and-bird compositions, and figural narratives were particularly favored as images that would glorify the new dynasty

Decline of the Qing “High Equilibrium Trap”- new resources & technologies but too may people Population explosion (no epidemics, internal peace and food from America) Empire too large to control- Grand Canal silts up, deforestation Corrupt Merit System for Confucian scholars Video

“cheating underwear” helped destroy the Confucian based merit system!

What could have happened! China could have become a great colonial power and could have led the world economically BUT Europe had advantages New World resources Excess population → Americas Joint stock companies State backing of trading companies Competition between nations drove economic success