Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasties
• Introduction about the Manchu and China
• The Manchu in North China and Fall of the Ming
• Rise of the Manchu and Rebellion
• Establishment of the Qing Dynasty and Manchu
Strategy
• Kangxi (K’ang Hsi) Emperor and Qianlong Emperor
• Foreign affairs
• Conclusion
Expansion of the Qing Dynasty 1644-1911
The Manchu and China
• Manchu as an ally of the Ming dynasty in face
of threats from Japanese pirates and Mongols
• Manchu used their knowledge of China to
help establish new dynasty
• Created the Qing dynasty 1644 and controlled
all of China by 1659
Manchu in North China
• Descendants of the Jurchens in north China in
Jin dynasty (1127-1234)
• Hunters, fishermen and farmers
• United in early modern period under Nurhaci
(1559-1626)
• Incorporated bilingual individuals in his
government
Nurhaci (1559-1626), leader of the
Jurchen Dynasty (Jin)
East Asia c. 1100-1235
Fall of the Ming Dynasty
• Peasant rebellions
• Deflation
• Flooding in 1642
• Smallpox epidemic in 1643
• Rebel forces emerged throughout northern
China in the 1630s, such as those led by
Li Zicheng
Peasant Rebel Leader, Li Zicheng (16061645)
Rebellion
• By 1635 rebel leaders controlled much of
north central China
• April 1644 Li’s armies in Beijing when last
Ming emperor hanged himself
• Response to rebels led by General Wu Sangui
• Opened gates of Great Wall to let the Manchu
into China
Shanhai Pass in the Great Wall of China
Establishment of the Qing Dynasty
• Wu and the Manchu occupied Beijing by June
1644 at the expense of the rebels
• Installation of new emperor in 1644
• Pursuit of Ming loyalists
• Controlled all of China by 1659
Manchu Strategy
• Qing system of government
• Manchu as ethnically separate group
• Use of the banner system
• Creation of system to work with the Chinese,
but to maintain Manchu identity, in
government, society and military
Manchu Banners
Kangxi Emperor (1661-1722)
• Prosperous and vibrant reign
• Diligent and intelligent leader
• Gained control of government by 1669
• Economic and cultural achievements
Qing Emperor Kangxi (r. 1661-1722) at a
young age
Primary source: “The Sacred Edicts”
– What values do these teachings reflect?
– What is considered valuable and why?
– Do these edicts reinforce the power of the
Emperor?
Transmission of imperial goals and use of traditional
Chinese language and concepts to solidify his
position and his dynasty
Qing Emperor Kangxi (r. 1661-1722)
Foreign Affairs
• Concern about the northern borders
• Conflict with the Russians on the Amur river in
the 1680s
• The Treaty of Nerchinsk (1689):
– Fixed the border between Russia and China
– Regulated trade across it until 1850
Qing control of Inner Mongolia by 1691
Expansion into Tibet, Taiwan and central Asia
Emperor Kangxi on tour throughout his empire
Qianlong Emperor (1736-95)
Emperor of the Middle Kingdom
- Accomplishments
- Strategies of Rule within China
- Interaction with other groups
- Economic development
- Last great Qing Emperor
Qianlong Emperor (1736-1795)
Lord Macartney (1737-1806)
Lord Macartney’s Trade Mission
• In September 1793 Lord Macartney met with
the Qianlong Emperor in an effort to open up
trading system in China for the benefit of
Britain
• He wanted special trading privileges for Britain
• The Qianlong Emperor refused to change the
established system since it did not benefit
China
Meeting between Qianlong Emperor and Lord
Macartney in 1793
International Trade:
Cohong system in Canton (Guangzhou):
- Limited interaction between Chinese merchants
and foreigners
- Importance of tea, silk, porcelain
- Foreigners subject to Chinese law
- Competition for British with Spanish and
Portuguese
- Massive trade deficit for British merchants
View of Canton, ca, 1750-1800 (artist unknown)
Trade problems and issues
• Opium:
1810s = 26 million taels of silver going
into China
1830s = 34 million taels of silver going
out of China
• Effects of opium addiction in China and role of
British in opium trade
Silver Currency in China
5 tael silver saddle coin
10 tael silver drum coin
Conclusion
• The Ming dynasty fell by 1644 as a result of
internal and external problems
• The Manchu took advantage of Ming
weakness and their knowledge of China to
create the Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
• The Qing dynasty experienced tremendous
growth and great achievements, especially
during the reign of two early emperors, but
threats from the west increased instability and
weakened China in the nineteenth century