Chinese Ming Dynasty timeline

Red Turban Rebellion

The Red Turban Rebellion was an uprising much influenced by the White Lotus Society members that targeted the ruling Yuan Dynasty. Since the... Read more

Chinese Unification under Ming Dynasty

The Hongwu Emperor (Chinese: 洪武帝; Wade-Giles: Hung-wu Ti; October 21, 1328 – June 24, 1398), known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang... Read more

Reign of Hongwu Emperor: The First Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Hongwu Emperor (Chinese: 洪武帝; Wade-Giles: Hung-wu Ti; October 21, 1328 – June 24, 1398), known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang... Read more

City Walls of Pingyao Constructed

Pingyao (Chinese: 平遥; pinyin: Píngyáo) is a Chinese city and county in central Shanxi province, China. It lies about 715 km from Beijing and 80 km... Read more

Reign of Jianwen Emperor: The Second Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Jianwen Emperor (Traditional Chinese: 建文; Simplified Chinese: 建文; pinyin: Jiànwén; Wade-Giles: Chien-wen) (5 December 1377–13 July 1402), with... Read more

Reign of Yongle Emperor: The Third Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Yongle Emperor (Traditional Chinese: 永樂; Simplified Chinese: 永乐; pinyin: Yǒnglè; Wade-Giles: Yung-lo; IPA: [jʊ̀ŋlɤ̂]) (May 2, 1360 – August 12,... Read more

Yongle Emperor Sponsorship of Chinese Worldwide Exploration

As part of his desire to expand Chinese influence, the Yongle Emperor sponsored at least seven epic sea-going expeditions between 1405 and 1433,... Read more

The Yongle Encyclopedia is Completed

The Yongle Encyclopedia (traditional Chinese: 永樂大典; simplified Chinese: 永乐大典; pinyin: Yǒnglè Dàdiǎn; literally “The Great Canon or Vast Documents... Read more

Forbidden City Completed

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing,... Read more

Reign of Hongxi Emperor: The Fourth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Hongxi Emperor (洪熙 [xʊ̌ŋɕí]; August 16, 1378–May 29, 1425) was an fourth emperor of the Ming dynasty in China. He succeeded his father, Yongle,... Read more

Reign of Xuande Emperor: The Fifth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Xuande Emperor (宣德 [ɕɥántɤ̌]; February 25, 1398 – January 31, 1435) was Emperor of China (Ming dynasty) between 1425–1435. His era name means... Read more

First Reign of Zhengtong Emperor: The Sixth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Qizhen ( 29 November 1427 – 23 February 1464) was an emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor (正統 IPA: [tʂɤ̂ŋtʰʊ̀ŋ]) from... Read more

Tumu Crisis

The Tumu Crisis (simplified Chinese: 土木之变; traditional Chinese: 土木之變; pinyin: Tŭmù zhī Bìan); also called the Crisis of Tumubao (simplified... Read more

Reign of Jingtai Emperor: The Seventh Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Qiyu ( 21 September 1428 – 14 March 1457) was, as the Jingtai Emperor (景泰 IPA: [tɕìŋtʰâɪ]), a Ming Dynasty Emperor of China from 1449 to 1457.... Read more

Second Reign of Zhengtong (Tianshun) Emperor: The Sixth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Qizhen ( 29 November 1427 – 23 February 1464) was an emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor (正統 IPA: [tʂɤ̂ŋtʰʊ̀ŋ]) from... Read more

Reign of Chenghua Emperor: The Eighth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Chenghua Emperor (pronounced [tʂʰɤ̌ŋxwâ]; December 9, 1447 – September 9, 1487) was Emperor of the Ming dynasty in China, between 1464 and... Read more

Reign of Hongzhi Emperor: The Ninth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Hongzhi Emperor (弘治 IPA: [xʊ̌ŋtʂɨ̂]) (July 30, 1470 – June 8, 1505) was emperor of the Ming dynasty in China between 1487 and 1505. Born Zhu... Read more

Reign of Zhengde Emperor: The Tenth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Zhengde Emperor (正德 [tʂə̂ŋtɤ̌]) (October 26, 1491 – April 20, 1521) was emperor of China (Ming dynasty) between 1505-1521. Born Zhu Houzhao, he... Read more

Reign of Jiajing Emperor: The 11th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Jiajing (or Chia-ching) Emperor (嘉靖 IPA: [tɕjɑ́tɕîŋ]; 16 September 1507–23 January 1567) was Emperor of China from 1521 to 1567, the 11th... Read more

Reign of Longqing Emperor: The 12th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Longqing Emperor (隆慶 [lʊ̌ŋtɕʰîŋ]; March 4, 1537- July 5, 1572) was the 12th emperor of the Ming dynasty in China between 1567-1572. His era... Read more

Reign of Wanli Emperor: The 13th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Wanli Emperor (4 September 1563 – 18 August 1620) was emperor of China (Ming dynasty) between 1572 and 1620. His era name means "Ten thousand... Read more

Siege of Ulsan

The Siege of Ulsan (Hangul: 울산성 전투, Hanja: 蔚山城戰鬪) was an unsuccessful Korean and Chinese attempt to capture Ulsan Castle from the Japanese late in... Read more

Reign of Taichang Emperor: The 14th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Taichang Emperor (Zh: 泰昌, Pinyin: Táichàng; 28 August 1582 – 26 September 1620) was the fourteenth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was born Zhu... Read more

The Tianqi Emperor: The 15th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Tianqi Emperor (23 December 1605 – 30 September 1627) was the 15th emperor of the Ming dynasty from 1620 to 1627. Born Zhu Youjiao, he was the... Read more

Reign of Chongzhen Emperor: The 16th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Chongzhen Emperor (traditional Chinese: 崇禎; pinyin: Chóngzhēn; Wade-Giles: Ch'ung-chen/old spelling: Ch'ung-cheng) (February 6, 1611 - April... Read more