List of Emperors of the Ming Dynasty
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The Ming Dynasty ruled China from 1368 to 1644, succeeding the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and falling amidst much peasant turmoil to the Manchu Qing dynasty. A series of claimants to the Ming throne continued to claim the throne of what was known as the Southern Ming until the last was executed in 1662.
Emperors of the Ming Dynasty
| Personal Name | Posthumous name1 (short form) |
Temple name1 | Reign name | Reign years | Name by which most commonly known |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhū Yuánzhāng 朱元璋 |
Gāodì 高帝 |
Tàizǔ 太祖 |
Hóngwǔ 洪武 |
1368-1398 | Hongwu Emperor |
| Zhū Yǔnwén 朱允炆 |
Huìdì 惠帝 |
None given2 | Jiànwén 建文 |
1398-1402 | Jianwen Emperor |
| Zhū Dì 朱棣 |
Wēndì 文帝 |
Chéngzǔ, 成祖 or Tàizōng, 太宗 |
Yǒnglè 永樂 |
1402-1424 | Yongle Emperor |
| Zhū Gāochì 朱高熾 |
Zhāodì 昭帝 |
Rénzōng 仁宗 |
Hóngxī 洪熙 |
1424-1425 | Hongxi Emperor |
| Zhū Zhānjī 朱瞻基 |
Zhāngdì 章帝 |
Xuānzōng 宣宗 |
Xuāndé 宣德 |
1425-1435 | Xuande Emperor |
| Zhū Qízhèn 朱祁鎮 |
Ruìdì 睿帝 |
Yīngzōng 英宗 |
Zhèngtǒng, 正統 1436-1449; Tiānshùn, 天順 1457-1464 |
1435-1449; 1457-14643 |
Zhengtong Emperor |
| Zhū Qíyù 朱祁鈺 |
Jǐngdì 景帝 |
Dàizōng 代宗 |
Jǐngtài 景泰 |
1449-1457 | Jingtai Emperor |
| Zhū Jiànshēn 朱見深 |
Chúndì 純帝 |
Xiànzōng 憲宗 |
Chénghuà 成化 |
1464-1487 | Chenghua Emperor |
| Zhū Yòutáng 朱祐樘 |
Jìngdì 敬帝 |
Xiàozōng 孝宗 |
Hóngzhì 弘治 |
1487-1505 | Hongzhi Emperor |
| Zhū Hòuzhào 朱厚照 |
Yìdì 毅帝 |
Wǔzōng 武宗 |
Zhèngdé 正德 |
1505-1521 | Zhengde Emperor |
| Zhū Hòucōng 朱厚熜 |
Sùdì 肅帝 |
Shìzōng 世宗 |
Jiājìng 嘉靖 |
1521-1566 | Jiajing Emperor |
| Zhū Zǎihòu 朱載垕 |
Zhuāngdì 莊帝 |
Mùzōng 穆宗 |
Lóngqìng 隆慶 |
1566-1572 | Longqing Emperor |
| Zhū Yìjūn 朱翊鈞 |
Xiǎndì 顯帝 |
Shénzōng 神宗 |
Wànlì 萬曆 |
1572-1620 | Wanli Emperor |
| Zhū Chángluò 朱常洛 |
Zhēndì 貞帝 |
Guāngzōng 光宗 |
Tàichāng 泰昌 |
1620 | Taichang Emperor |
| Zhū Yóujiào 朱由校 |
Zhédì 悊帝 |
Xīzōng 熹宗 |
Tiānqǐ 天啟 |
1620-1627 | Tianqi Emperor |
| Zhū Yóujiǎn 朱由檢 |
Zhuānglièmǐn 莊烈愍 |
Sīzōng 思宗 |
Chóngzhēn 崇禎 |
1627-1644 | Chongzhen Emperor |
| 1 As posthumous and temple names were often shared by emperors of different dynasties, they are usually preceded by the dynastic name, in this case, Ming, to avoid confusion. For example, the Hongwu emperor is frequently referred to as Ming Taizu. | |||||
| 2 The Yongle emperor usurped the throne of his nephew the Jianwen emperor, who was officially said to have died in a palace fire but who was suspected of escaping to live as a recluse. The Yongle emperor wiped out the record of his nephew's reign and no temple name was given him. | |||||
| 3 After listening to the poor advice of his eunuch advisers, the Zhengtong emperor personally led a campaign in 1449 against the Mongols and was captured. His brother, the Jingtai emperor, assumed the throne and, a hostage no longer of any value, the Mongols released the Zhengtong emperor who returned to live in seclusion. However, the Zhengtong emperor was able to reclaim his position upon the death of his brother, choosing the reign name Tianshun. | |||||
Emperors of the Southern Ming Dynasty
| Personal Name | Temple name | Reign name | Reign years | Name by which most commonly known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhū Yóusōng 朱由崧 |
Ānzōng 安宗 |
Hóngguāng 弘光 |
1644-1645 | Prince of Fu 福王 Fú Wáng |
| Zhū Yùjiàn 朱聿鍵 |
Shàozōng 紹宗 |
Lóngwǔ 隆武 |
1645-1646 | Prince of Tang 唐王 Táng Wáng |
| Zhū Chángfāng 朱常淓 |
None given | None given, but sometimes referred to as the Regency of the Prince of Lu (Luh) 潞王臨國 Lù Wáng Lín Guó |
1645 | Prince of Lu (Luh*) 潞王 Lù Wáng |
| Zhū Yǐhǎi 朱以海 |
None given | None given, but sometimes referred to as the Regency of the Prince of Lu (Lou) 魯王臨國 Lǔ Wáng Lín Guó |
1645-1653 | Prince of Lu (Lou*) 魯王 Lǔ Wáng |
| Zhū Yùyuè 朱聿[金粵] |
None given | Shàowǔ 紹武 |
1646 | Prince of Tang 唐王 Táng Wáng |
| Zhū Yóuláng 朱由榔 |
None given | Yǒnglì 永曆 |
1646-1662 | Prince of Gui 桂王 Guì Wáng |
- The two characters are homonyms, both pronounced Lu; to distinguish them, one is usually kept as Lu and the other spelled differently. Luh is from Cambridge History of China; Lou is from A.C. Moule's Rulers of China (1957). When one irregular spelling is used, the other is kept as regular (Lu). The two systems are distinct and not used simultaneously.
See also
- Dynasties in Chinese history
- Table of Chinese monarchs (Warning: VERY long)de:Kaiser der Ming-Dynastie