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Un po' di storia... la dinastia Ming
Kung Fu artists often hear talking of the Ming Dynasty, and most know what " Fan Qing fu Ming" means.
Our Masters or the action movies produced in Hong Kong, have very often handed us of a mixture between legendary
tales and true history. This articles aim is the description of two particular historical periods of the chinese history:
• The beginning of the Ming Dynasty. • The end of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-98) was born during the Yuan dinasty, under the Mongolian's control. He decided to become a buddhist monk for seven years, after becoming an orfan. In 1352 Zhu entered the Red Turbants sect (joined with Whites Lotus) and soon married one of the his head's (Guo Zixing) daughter. At his death, Zhu became head chief in command of the Anhui and allied with Han Liner, the new emperor of the Sond Dynasty. On the other side, Chen Youliang, previously part of the Red Turbants too, became emperor of Han and Zhang Shicheng created the Wu Realm. Zhu Yuanzhang defead his rivals, and in 1367 Han Liner died too. In other words, there was only one chinese chief able to send the Yuan away. He started attacking them in the same year and in 1368 he became the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, changing his name to Hong Wu. At that point, the Mongols came definetely away from China and retired in Mongolia. 
According to the tradition, the emperor receives his charge from heaven (Tianming). He is considered as the mediator
between men, earth and sky. He therefore must govern by keeping the right balance amongst all these elements. If the
emperor doesn't govern as expected, heaven's disaproval would show with disgracing and negative events.This ishis
mandates end.
The last emperors of the Ming Dynasty were Jiajing (1522 -66), Longqing (1567-72), Wanli (1573-1620), Tianqi (1621-27). For most of their mandate, they left others govern China. As for example,paradoxally Tianqiprefered carpentry rather than his political governing role. A bad government, together with food shortage and drought (1627), broughtto the population's various revolutions. We obviously remember amongst the most important ones, the Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, destroying the Ming ancestors tombs at Fengyang in 1635. Li Zicheng after having founded the Dashun Empire, in 1664,he governed Peking. Not being able to escape, the emperor commited suicide. This is often forgotten: the last Ming emperor was defeated and forced to commit suicide by the Chinese, not the Manchese. The manchese emperor was Dorgon, and he only took profit out of situation. There already were Chinese allied to the Manchese, during the Li Zicheng revolt, who conquered Northern China, and were later elected as Princes. We particularly remember Shang Kexi and Geng Zhongming. They both defeated the Ming warriors in Southern China, and created their feuds: Guandong and Fujian. We'll find Shang and Geng, indeed in the Three Feudatories Revolt. The Chinese general Wu Sangui was in charge of the Shanhaiguan defense (a strategical point, to reach Peking from Manchuria). In 1644 Wu allied with Dorgon: Li Zicheng was so defeated and the Manchese then conquered Peking. The Qing Dynasty finally took the Ming's dinasties place. Zhang Xianzhong started regned over Guandong, Guanxi, Sichuan e Jianxi, after naming himself King of Great East Daxiguo Wang. Zhangcalled the "yellow tiger", distinguished himself for his personal rage against the rich and noble officers. In fact he freed the servants and abolished all their depts. The rich families, not agreeing with his political choices, helped the Mancheseto defeathim. In 1647 Zhang Xianzhong was justiced by his enemies. After escaping from Peking, governed by Li Zicheng, Zhu Yousong, Wanli's nephew and prince of Fu, went to Nanking in 1644. The Manchese conquered Nanking after having conquered first Yangzhou and having defeatedthe Ming general Shi Kefa. Prince of Tang, Zhu Yujian named himself emperor, but was soon defeated in 1646 by the Manchese. In the same period Prince of Lu, Zhu Yihai, was 
defeated andforced to exiliate in Taiwan.
In 1646 Zhu Youlang Prince of Gui, became emperor, starting the Reign of Yongle. Soon Canton was conquered by the Chinese traitor Shang Kexi. In 1662 while hiding in Birmany Zhu Youlang was caught and given to Wu Sangui, who assasined him. Zheng Chenggong was the last warrior against the Qing Dynasty. He fought them from 1646 in Fujian. After having sent away the Dutch from Taiwan (1659), made it its military base. With his navy forces, he was able to fight the Manchese. His son, Zheng Jing, took his place. The Manchese isolated him, by pushing back the population from the coast for 16 kms. The alliance with three feuds helped the resistance until 1683. In 1684 Taiwan was annexed and the restrictions taken off. In this period, the "Earth's and sky's society" was founded. It was a secret sectagainst the Manchese. Under the guide of Lin Shuangwen, theystarted an incredible revolt in the island(from 1786 to 1788). 
After
having defeated the Ming resistance, the Manchese had finally a partial
control of China. Southern China was controlled by the chinese generals
that helped the Manchese. Wu Sangui controlled the Yunnan and the Guizhou; Shang Kexi and
his son Shang Zhixin governed the Guandong, Geng Jingzhong controlled the Fujian. If all of
these generals together could have defeated the Manchese, but they were never able to find an agreement. When
Shunzhi died (1661) Kangxi became emperor, but until 1669 Oboi governed in
his place.
In 1673 Shang Kex, an allie of Manchese, wanted to retire from governing Guandong and pass the command to his son Shang Zhixin. The emperor Kangxi unfortunately opposed to this decision. Kangxi wanted the complete control of China and this was the cause for the three feudatories revolt. Wu Sangui proclamed the Zhou Dynasty and invaded the Hunan. In 1674 Southern and Western Cina was in a total revolt, but Shang Kexi retired from it and submitted again to the Manchese. WuSangui died in 1678, Geng Jingzhong allied to Zheng Jing(Zheng Chenggong's son and defender of Ming). This revolt stopped in 1683. Emperor Kangxi could now reign without any important internal revolts. He made a treaty with the Russians, fought against the Zungarians and invaded Tibet. He governed until 1722. Yongzheng took his place and reigned until 1735. Here's a small summary: • Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong were rebelswho fought against the Ming Dynasty. • Shang Kexi,Geng Jingzhong and Wu Sangui allied with the Manchese, even if afterwards they were the origin of theThree Feudatories Revolt. • Zheng Jing, Zheng Chenggong's son (the last Ming defensor), allied with Geng Jingzhong,wanting to send the Qing away.
Emanuela Berti translated text from italian. Photos in this article are kept from: Popoli Costumi Società Asia IV - Armando Curcio Editore. ----------------------- |
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