Fall+-+Essay+-+Ming



 The Fall of the Ming Dynasty in China**
 * Julia Blackwell

The Ming Dynasty was one of the most successful Chinese dynasties of all time. When it was prosperous, it was very prosperous. But, towards the end of the dynasty, it fell apart almost as quickly as it began. It seems hard to believe that what was, at one time, such an affluent empire, could fall apart so easily. A combination of corruption, laziness, rebellion, and intolerance, among other things, led to the fall of the dynasty. **If there’s one thing our world today has learned from the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty, it is that leadership can make or break a society.** Towards the end of the Ming Dynasty, the competence of the emperors gradually declined(1). The government in ancient China was set up in such a way that the emperor held almost all of the power. This was successful at certain times, for example, during the time when the Yongle emporer (1402 - 1424) ruled. The Yongle emperor was one of the most influential rulers in Chinese history, and his economic, military, educational and cultural refinement made the Ming Dynasty extremely successful for a period of time(2). But after emperor Zhengde thoroughly neglected his duties(3), this seemed to set off a chain reaction. Every emperor following his death neglected their duties to some extent. When, later in the dynasty, these rulers paid less and less attention to their role as emperor, the empire began to deteriorate, allowing other influences to ultimately bring down the Ming Dynasty. As the emperors’ selfishness and lethargic ways of ruling prevailed, the government was informally put into the hands of eunuchs (castrated men who served the emperors). The first Ming emperor, Hongwu did not trust the eunuchs, and made it certain that they held no power(4). But as time went on, this changed. During the time of the Emperor Wanhi, there were over 70,000 eunuchs in official positions throughout the country(5). Easily influenced by money and authority, the eunuchs gained more power. As these eunuchs gained more control, their corruption grew and the state of the dynasty became worse and worse. With no secure power, since the emporers’ neglected their duties, and the eunuchs and officials caused more and more problems, the Chinese population became more and more angry with the state of the country. It was not long before rebellion broke out. By the 1640s, the Chinese peasants were hungry, poor, and no longer feared the Chinese army. The government, trying to support the military’s fight against the threats of the Manchus and Mongols, raised many taxes. The angry citizens formed large bands of rebels(6). As the Chinese military struggled to ward off their enemies, as well as stop these riots, it fell apart. A peasant soldier named Li Zicheng led a large rebellion and attacked Beijing. Rather than face capture or execution, the last Ming emperor, Chongzhen, committed suicide(7). This example of cowardice and incompetence is just another example of how the leadership in China as this time was at its worst. It shows how important it is for leaders to be accountable to the citizen, because, in this case, the leader abandoned his people, allowing the Manchus to seize control of the country. In a modern democracy, citizens have more control over who leads them. Though a leader still has centralized power, the people can vote a leader out of office. If the Chinese people could have had more say over who was their leader, then they may have been able to save the Ming Dynasty from its final defeat by the Manchus. Alarmed by the suicide of the Chongzhen emperor, the Ming Commander enlisted the help of the Manchus to stifle the Chinese rebels. The Manchus, long time enemies of the Ming, obliged(8). After putting down the rebellion, they broke their alliance and seized control of the throne. Though the Manchus had long been planning to rise to power, they never expected it to be so easy. But because of the weak leadership of the Ming government, corruption, and desperation, they finally achieved authority. The Manchus destroyed the rest of the Ming contenders and generals(9). The Ming Dynasty was over. The Ming dynasty saw one of the most dramatic shifts from supremacy to weakness. In our modern day, it seems unlikely that something similar could happen to a thriving country. The Ming dynasty was very prosperous for centuries, but floundering leaders and desperation quickly led to the collapse of the empire. In what seems to be a democratic, stable Western world, the idea of a successful country falling so easily is far fetched. But in our current economic climate, as well as with poverty and terrorism as constant threats, a prosperous country’s collapse may not be so far off. We can learn from the mistakes made during the Ming Dynasty, to ensure that this does not happen today. We can make sure our leaders are suited to hold power, and we can be sure not to trust those who have been against us for years. Though the Ming dynasty was thoroughly defeated, it did leave an amazing legacy for future generation in China and the world. When we appreciate the magnificent art and literature of the Ming Dynasty we should also remember the lessons the empire left behind; lessons of corruption and defeat.

1)[|"Ming China: The Decline of the Ming Empire." Washington State University - Pullman, Washington. 25 Apr. 2009] 2) Roberts, J.A. G. A History of China. 2nd ed. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. 3) [|Jianying, Huo. "Design Template." Imperial Tombs. China Today. 05 May 2009] [|4) "Ming Dynasty - New World Encyclopedia." Info:Main Page - New World Encyclopedia. 02 Apr. 2009. 03 May 2009.] 5) [|Hays, Jeffrey. "MING DYNASTY (1368-1644) - China |." Facts and Details. 2008. 03 May 2009 .] 6) Roberts, J.A. G. A History of China. 2nd ed. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. 7) "[|Emperor Chongzhen Committed Suicide." History & Literature. 2007. 01 May 2009]  8) Gascoigne, Bamber. The Dynasties of China : A History. New York: Carroll & Graf, 2003. 9) Michael, Franz. China Through The ages. Colorado: Westview P, 1986.

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