Emperors timeline

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

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

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

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

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

End of Ming Dynasty

The collapse of the Ming Dynasty was a protracted affair, its roots beginning as early as 1600 with the emergence of the Manchu under Nurhaci.... Read more