Emperors of the Ming Dynasty

1368-1644

By
Kallie Szczepanski
History Expert
  • Ph.D., History, Boston University
  • J.D., University of Washington School of Law
  • B.A., History, Western Washington University
Dr. Kallie Szczepanski is a history teacher specializing in Asian history and culture. She has taught at the high school and university levels in the U.S. and South Korea.
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Kallie Szczepanski
Updated March 06, 2017

The Ming Dynasty is famous world-wide for its graceful blue-and-white glazed porcelains, and for the voyages of Zheng He and the Treasure Fleet. The Ming were also the only ethnically Han Chinese family to rule the empire between 1270 and the end of the imperial system in 1911.

This list includes the Ming emperors' given names and their reign-names, as well as their years in power.

 

  • Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor, 1368-1398
  • Zhu Yunwen, the Jianwen Emperor, 1398-1402
  • Zhu Di, the Yongle Emperor, 1402-1424
  • Zhu Gaochi, the Hongxi Emperor, 1424-1425
  • Zhu Zhangji, the Xuande Emperor, 1425-1435
  • Zhu Qizhen, the Zhengtong Emperor, 1435-1449 and 1457-1464
  • Zhu Qiyu, the Jingtai Emperor, 1449-1457
  • Zhu Jianshen, the Chenghua Emperor, 1464-1487
  • Zhu Youtang, the Hongzhi Emperor, 1487-1505
  • Zhu Houzhao, the Zhengde Emperor, 1505-1521
  • Zhu Houcong, the Jiajing Emperor, 1521-1566
  • Zhu Zaihou, the Longqing Emperor, 1566-1572
  • Zhu Yijun, Wanli Emperor, 1572-1620
  • Zhu Changluo, the Taichang Emperor, 1620
  • Zhu Youjiao, the Tianqi Emperor, 1620-1627
  • Zhu Youjian, the Chongzhen Emperor, 1627-1644

 

For more information, see the List of Chinese Dynasties.

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Szczepanski, Kallie. "Emperors of the Ming Dynasty." ThoughtCo, Jan. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/emperors-of-the-ming-dynasty-195255. Szczepanski, Kallie. (2020, January 28). Emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/emperors-of-the-ming-dynasty-195255 Szczepanski, Kallie. "Emperors of the Ming Dynasty." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/emperors-of-the-ming-dynasty-195255 (accessed January 23, 2021).