Ming Dynasty

[zjl56]

I have been studying this dynasty recently, and there are several peculiarities that led to its downfall.

The Ming dynasty in the late 1300s had been able to beat back the Mongols, completely reunite China, and build the most efficient bearacracy. The wealth and power of the dynasty was apparent as it quickly subjugated inner Mongolia, Tibet, Korea, and even Vietnam. The wealth and prestige can also be seen at the massive developments in technology, and the famous explorations of Zheng He.

I know that China usually goes through periods of strong growth, followed by collapse and rebuilding, But, the Ming Dynasty hardly expressed its full potential. By 1470s-1480s, less then a century after Hongwu, the empire was already starting to collapse under court intrigue and descend into isolation. Why did the Ming so rapidly fall, at least compared to the Song or Han dynasties, and what allowed the Manchus to overcome the dynasty?

 

[Dachs]

It collapsed because Yuan Chonghuan was executed by the Chongzhen Emperor.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

The early and late phases of Ming China were very different creatures.

Early Ming was very formidable. The years of fighting against the Mongol Yuan dynasty had produced a group of very tough-minded and ruthless, militarily-inclined Chinese leadership. The early empire was also in the ascendant, economically, as peace returned to the land, and prosperity rebuilt itself. The Grand Canal was repaired and returned to working order. The fubing military system actually worked, and provided a self-supported, highly effective military for the empire (from years of fighting against the Mongols and each other). Overseas trade and exports grew. Etc.

But then, the fubing system became crippled with time, forcing the court to allocate ever more revenues to fund an increasingly expensive army. The emperor became a cloistered creature, aloof from the world and its grim realities, as layers of bureaucracy descended upon the court. The Mongols rose again, and the Chinese retreated fr the steppes. Etc.

And at the end, the empire was in chaos - Li Zicheng and his rebels had taken the capital and the last 'official' emperor had hung himself. Loyalist Ming forces were in disarray. Wu Sangui, one of the commanders of those Ming forces, allowed the Manchu banners to enter China, thru the Shanhaiguan fortress in the Great Wall - supposedly to help fight the rebels. Other Ming military commanders joined them. There're a few Ming princes who proclaimed themselves as successors to the Ming throne, but none had the ability and skill to unite the Chinese loyalists and finished off Li Zicheng and his group, or the Manchus and allied ex-Ming forces. So the empire fell...

 

[Infantry#14]

blame the later evil eunuchs