- China's Later Dynasties. Ny, Ny: Ember, 2008. Print.
- Eunechs Dynasty: The Ming. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
- "The
Ming Dynasty Map." www.chinahighlights.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12
Feb. 2013.
<https://www.google.com/
search?hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_rn=2&gs_ri=hp&tok=rWCRT-8TAUo5_WVz7cW87Q&cp=6&gs_id
=g3&xhr=t&q=ming+dynasty&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42261806,d.dmQ&b
iw=1760&bih=804&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=vJkaUZuaA7So0AGpl
IHACg#um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=ming+dynasty+map&oq=ming+dynasty+map&gs_l=
img.3..0.4877.5298.0.5570.4.4.0.0.0.0.44.169.4.4.0...0.0...1c.1.2.img.PV29aXY-uDo
&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42261806,d.dmQ&fp=95eb5fbe11f0495&biw=17
60&bih=804&imgrc=5FxV8j5a8zJ9xM%3A%3Bu0w_i8v5rMDi_M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.chin
ahighlights.com%252Fimage%252Fchinamap%252Fancient%252Fming-dynasty-map1.gif%3Bht
tp%253A%252F%252Fwww.chinahighlights.com%252Fmap%252Fancient-china-map%252Fming-d
ynasty-map.htm%3B470%3B332>. - "Ming
Dynasty (1368–1644)." www.metmuseum.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 12
Feb. 2013.
<https://www.google.com/
search?q=ming+porcelain&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firef
ox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=bZkaUeamJZDw0QGX_YDQCg
&biw=1760&bih=804&sei=cJkaUdGOI6GZ0QHS3YDABA#imgrc=FbEqrsw0DPX-3M%3A%3BFYxgvjpeqN
vmtM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.metmuseum.org%252Ftoah%252Fimages%252Fh2%252Fh2_37.
191.1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.metmuseum.org%252Ftoah%252Fhd%252Fming%252Fhd_
ming.htm%3B500%3B443>. - 5. "ZHENG HE (1371-1435): ADMIRAL OF THE TREASURE SHIPS." www.alrahalah.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013. <http://www.google.com/ imgres?imgurl=http://www.alrahalah.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/ voyages-of-zheng-he-map-06-04.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.alrahalah.com/2010/09/ zheng-he/ &h=347&w=663&sz=74&tbnid=id40E-jQTs0a0M:&tbnh=64&tbnw=123&zoom=1&usg=__y7YHkt4PyB uPOh9RXqh8YpcTeC8=&docid=u-RwnOHxgnCp-M&sa=X&ei=5JgaUfnKA8TI0QG36IDQDg&ved=0CDsQ9 QEwAg&dur=431>.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Bibliography
Monday, February 11, 2013
Trade during the Ming Dynasty
In July of 1405, Emperor Yongle assigned Zheng He and 27,000 other employees to go on a "sea exploration" all over the western hemisphere. This caused trading during the Ming Dynasty to flourish. Zheng He would go around to different countries and ask for them to pay tribute to the Ming and in return they would trade with China. This was a sort of win-win situation for both countries and China, but mostly for China because they got more tributes and trades. Zheng He got 36 nations to pay tribute. The ambassadors were able to trade markets and China was allowed to get some valuables that they needed. New merchandise like Ming Porcelain was created and that was a valuable trading item for them to sell. In 1434 when Zheng He died, the government needed money to protect them from the Mongols, so scholar officials stopped the expensive voyages. The Ming rulers wanted their people to be protected from foreign influences so they blocked travel to China. The government had trouble conforming to these conditions and sooner or later, the Ming Dynasty ended in 1644.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Religion of Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty believed in respecting your elders and doing correct behavior naturally. The Ming Dynasty believed in Confucianism. This belief was a sort of trust between people and that's what the government and people of China both needed. Emperor Hongwu brought back Confucianism to China by bringing back civil service exams and placing scholars from the Hanlin Academy in government posts. The scholars wrote letters, treaties, and historical documents. This made China look more intelligent and advanced in literature. Only educated people could accomplish the civil service exams and the ones that didn't, didn't work in the government. Hongwu also reestablished Confucian schools in Nanjing and smaller schools in different parts of the empire. This teaches the new generation about respect and doing good. A bad alternative for China would be Legalism. Legalism is a strictly ruled government that gives harsh punishments. Legalism wouldn't be a good religion for China because legalism wouldn't do anything for China. People are trying to advance in technology or agriculture, but if China changed into legalism, China would not advance anywhere. People would not be like they are now if they didn't learn about Confucianism.
Interview with Emperor Yongle
Reporter: Good morning Emperor Yongle. How are you?
Yongle: Im fine. How are you?
Reporter: Swell. I'de like to start off this interview asking you about your interests. What are your interests? What do you do to China to share what you know and want other people to learn about?
Yongle: Ah yes. I enjoy writing calligraphy. I believe China should continue on the path of Confucianism so I've sponsored some literary projects. I developed a new encyclopedia called the Yongle Encyclopedia and in it, it had confucian classics and literature for scholars. Over 2,000 scholars produced over 11,000 volumes. We had planned for it to be a book but due to it's enormous size of over 50 million words it was nearly impossible. Instead we wrote the encyclopedia on 3 scrolls and 2 of them stayed in Beijing and the 3rd scroll went to Nanjing. Scholars also produced the Great Compendia which are learnings of civil service exams. Part of the book also included confucian works and the other part was Confucian writings. The Great Compendia were sold to different schools throughout the empire to educate them on days to come. As an emperor, I want my people to be well educated and respectful people and I believe I can get them there through them reading my books.
Reporter: Well I hope people get to the level you want them to be. I heard that you had a major fleet in 1405. Tell me about it.
Yongle: This fleet was extraordinarily huge. My eunuch Zheng He and 27,000 of my workers set sail in July to foreign areas. Zheng He went to foreign areas and requested them to pledge loyalty and support the Ming and in return, they would be able to trade with China. There were 62 "treasure ships" and they were filled with the finest silk, porcelain, lacquerware, and pieces of carved jade. I ordered 26,800 soldiers to guard our boats to protect us during the fleet. Our ships sailed more than 400 miles from Taiping all the way to the Indian ocean to Calicat to India. They traded books, gold, silver, pearls, rhinocaros horns, incense, medicinal herbs, and spices. We even got a giraffe. The reason for these trips were also for diplomacy. Thanks to Zheng He, we got 36 nations to agree to tributary with China.
Reporter: Wow. You must be proud of Zheng He. I heard your ancestors also had a eunuch called Zheng He. Is there something special about this name or person? Why Zheng He?
Yongle: The name Zheng He has been with my family as early as 1273. Zheng He served as Governor of Yunnan when Kublai Khan was ruling. He was a big help for my ancestors and I. For example, he built Confucian temples and Muslim mosques', he also constructed a road across the mountains to Arabia. He has helped me improve china so much by all his work. His original name was Ma Sanbao, but was changed because he was made head of the palace eunuchs.
Reporter: I see. Before your sea exploration in 1405, the Mongols threatened to invade china. What did you do about that?
Yongle: Well my first order in business was moving the capital from Nanjing to Dadu which is a very safe place. I named the new city Beijing. The mongols kept repositioning themselvesand that was a major problem. In 1408, they ruined our Ming Expedition and due to that, that sent them beyond the Great Wall of China. Well, that didn't stop me from seeking revenge. The next year I led half a million of my soldiers into Mongolia. We defeated the Mongoles and were forced to sign a treaty and then peace was risen.
Reporter: Well Id'e like to thank you for coming and letting me interview you.
Yongle: No problem.
Yongle: Im fine. How are you?
Reporter: Swell. I'de like to start off this interview asking you about your interests. What are your interests? What do you do to China to share what you know and want other people to learn about?
Yongle: Ah yes. I enjoy writing calligraphy. I believe China should continue on the path of Confucianism so I've sponsored some literary projects. I developed a new encyclopedia called the Yongle Encyclopedia and in it, it had confucian classics and literature for scholars. Over 2,000 scholars produced over 11,000 volumes. We had planned for it to be a book but due to it's enormous size of over 50 million words it was nearly impossible. Instead we wrote the encyclopedia on 3 scrolls and 2 of them stayed in Beijing and the 3rd scroll went to Nanjing. Scholars also produced the Great Compendia which are learnings of civil service exams. Part of the book also included confucian works and the other part was Confucian writings. The Great Compendia were sold to different schools throughout the empire to educate them on days to come. As an emperor, I want my people to be well educated and respectful people and I believe I can get them there through them reading my books.
Reporter: Well I hope people get to the level you want them to be. I heard that you had a major fleet in 1405. Tell me about it.
Yongle: This fleet was extraordinarily huge. My eunuch Zheng He and 27,000 of my workers set sail in July to foreign areas. Zheng He went to foreign areas and requested them to pledge loyalty and support the Ming and in return, they would be able to trade with China. There were 62 "treasure ships" and they were filled with the finest silk, porcelain, lacquerware, and pieces of carved jade. I ordered 26,800 soldiers to guard our boats to protect us during the fleet. Our ships sailed more than 400 miles from Taiping all the way to the Indian ocean to Calicat to India. They traded books, gold, silver, pearls, rhinocaros horns, incense, medicinal herbs, and spices. We even got a giraffe. The reason for these trips were also for diplomacy. Thanks to Zheng He, we got 36 nations to agree to tributary with China.
Reporter: Wow. You must be proud of Zheng He. I heard your ancestors also had a eunuch called Zheng He. Is there something special about this name or person? Why Zheng He?
Yongle: The name Zheng He has been with my family as early as 1273. Zheng He served as Governor of Yunnan when Kublai Khan was ruling. He was a big help for my ancestors and I. For example, he built Confucian temples and Muslim mosques', he also constructed a road across the mountains to Arabia. He has helped me improve china so much by all his work. His original name was Ma Sanbao, but was changed because he was made head of the palace eunuchs.
Reporter: I see. Before your sea exploration in 1405, the Mongols threatened to invade china. What did you do about that?
Yongle: Well my first order in business was moving the capital from Nanjing to Dadu which is a very safe place. I named the new city Beijing. The mongols kept repositioning themselvesand that was a major problem. In 1408, they ruined our Ming Expedition and due to that, that sent them beyond the Great Wall of China. Well, that didn't stop me from seeking revenge. The next year I led half a million of my soldiers into Mongolia. We defeated the Mongoles and were forced to sign a treaty and then peace was risen.
Reporter: Well Id'e like to thank you for coming and letting me interview you.
Yongle: No problem.
Ming Porcelain
Ming Porcelain was invented in China during the Ming Dynasty. This was an important invention of the time period because not only was it part of Chinese culture, but also was used all the time while cooking or eating. The south of China had a surplus amount of kaolin (most important ingredient for making porcelain) and as a result of this, Emperor Yongle made a kiln center in Jingdezhen. This was a great place to set up a kiln factory not only for the kaolin but also because the porcelain can be shipped right away to major cities after making due to the river near by.
Ming Porcelain was made of kaolin and so was every other type of porcelain. What makes Ming Porcelain so special is that potters were able to put figures into the bowl. By just looking at the porcelain, you wouldn't be able to see it, but if you held the porcelain up into the light, you would be able to see the figure. This method was called anhua ("secret decoration"). The porcelain was extremely thin that people thought that it was just the glaze and made of nothing else. Potters made bowls, cups, bottle bases and vases.
Ming Porcelain had really changed people's lives. Before this porcelain, people couldn't eat or drink out of nice, clean and soft bowls and cups, but now since they had porcelain they were able to go do these things. Also Ming Porcelain affects us today, when 2 people get engaged and are moving into their new home, the couple usually buys porcelain plates, bowls or cups. Ming Porcelain has a major influence on our lives today.
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