Li Zicheng
Encyclopedia
Li Zicheng born Li Hongji (李鴻基), was a Chinese
rebel leader who overthrew the Ming Dynasty
and ruled over China
briefly as emperor
of the short-lived Shun Dynasty
.
, during the late Ming Dynasty
period. Initially a shepherd, Li started to learn horseriding and archery
at the age of 20, and had also worked in a wine shop and as an ironworker's apprentice.
According to folklore, in 1630, Li was put on public display in an iron collar and shackles for his failure to repay loans to a usurious magistrate, Ai. Ai struck a guard who offered shade and water to Li, whence a group of peasants tore apart Li's shackles, spirited him to a nearby hill, and proclaimed him their leader. Although they were only armed with wooden sticks, Li and his band managed to ambush a group of government soldiers sent to arrest them, and obtained their first real weapons.
region was hit by a famine
, and the common people resented the Ming government. Li joined Gao YingXiang's (the "Dashing King" (闖王)) rebel army. After Gao's death, Li inherited the title "Dashing King" and became the commander of Gao's army.
Within three years, Li succeeded in rallying more than 20,000 men to form a rebel army. They attacked and killed prominent government officials, such as Sun Chuanting
, in Henan
, Shanxi and Shaanxi
provinces.
Some battles Li fought in this period
The 1642 Kaifeng flood
(during the 3rd Battle of Taifeng), caused by breaches of the Yellow River
dykes by both sides, ended the siege of Kaifeng
and killed over 300,000 of its 378,000 residents. After the battles of Luoyang and Kaifeng, the Ming government was unable to stop Li's rebellion, as most of its military force was involved in the battle against the Manchu
rians in the north. Li declared himself King of Shun Dynasty
in Xi'an
, Shaanxi
.
, and the Chongzhen Emperor
committed suicide. Li proclaimed himself as the Emperor of Shun Dynasty.
After Li's army was defeated on May 27, 1644 at the Battle of Shanhai Pass
by the combined forces of Ming turncoat general Wu Sangui
and the Manchurians, Li fled from Beijing towards his base in Shaanxi.
rian conquest of China was attributed to the weakening of the Ming Dynasty
(exacerbated by Li Zicheng's rebellion), ironically, official historiography during the Qing Dynasty
period regarded Li as an illegitimate usurper and outlaw. This view sought to discourage and demonize notions of rebellion against the Qing government, by propagating that the Manchus put an end to Li's illegitimate rule and restore peace to the empire, thus receiving the Mandate of Heaven
to rule China. In 20th century China, the anti-Confucian
and radical inclinations of the Communist Party of China
viewed Li favourably, portraying him as an early revolutionary against feudalism
.
Wuxia
writer Jin Yong. Li's rebellion against the Ming Dynasty
is featured in Sword Stained with Royal Blood
and his personality is analyzed from the point of view of Yuan Chengzhi, the protagonist. In The Deer and the Cauldron
, set in the Qing Dynasty
during the early reign of the Kangxi Emperor
, Li is revealed to have survived and fathered a daughter, A'ke, with Chen Yuanyuan
. Li is also briefly mentioned by name in Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain
and Other Tales of the Flying Fox
.
Li is the main character of the historical epic novel Li Zicheng authored by Yao Xueyin.
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
rebel leader who overthrew the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
and ruled over China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
briefly as emperor
Emperor of China
The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning between the founding of Qin Dynasty of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BCE, and the fall of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven , a title that predates the Qin unification, the...
of the short-lived Shun Dynasty
Shun Dynasty
The Shun Dynasty was an imperial dynasty created in the brief lapse from Ming to Qing rule in China. The dynasty was founded in Xi'an on 8 February 1644, the first day of the lunar year, by Li Zicheng, the leader of a large peasant rebellion. Li, however, only went by the title of King, not Emperor...
.
Early Years
Li was born in Mizhi District (米脂縣), Yan'anYan'an
Yan'an , is a prefecture-level city in the Shanbei region of Shaanxi province in China, administering several counties, including Zhidan County , which served as the Chinese communist capital before the city of Yan'an proper took that role....
, during the late Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
period. Initially a shepherd, Li started to learn horseriding and archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
at the age of 20, and had also worked in a wine shop and as an ironworker's apprentice.
According to folklore, in 1630, Li was put on public display in an iron collar and shackles for his failure to repay loans to a usurious magistrate, Ai. Ai struck a guard who offered shade and water to Li, whence a group of peasants tore apart Li's shackles, spirited him to a nearby hill, and proclaimed him their leader. Although they were only armed with wooden sticks, Li and his band managed to ambush a group of government soldiers sent to arrest them, and obtained their first real weapons.
As a general of Gao YingXiang
At the same time, the ShanxiShanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
region was hit by a famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
, and the common people resented the Ming government. Li joined Gao YingXiang's (the "Dashing King" (闖王)) rebel army. After Gao's death, Li inherited the title "Dashing King" and became the commander of Gao's army.
Within three years, Li succeeded in rallying more than 20,000 men to form a rebel army. They attacked and killed prominent government officials, such as Sun Chuanting
Sun Chuanting
Sun Chuanting, styled name Boya, was born in Shanxi, late Ming Dynasty's Defence minister , field Marshal , led 500,000 Ming troops against Li Zicheng's 700,000 troops. He was defeated and killed by Li in the Battle of Tongguan ....
, in Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
, Shanxi and Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
provinces.
Some battles Li fought in this period
- Battle of Chexiang Pass
- Battle of Fengyang
Battles of Luoyang, Nanyang, Taifeng
Li advocated the slogan of "dividing land equally and abolishing the grain taxes payment system" which won great support of peasants. The song of "killing cattle and sheep, preparing tasty wine and opening the city gate to welcome the Dashing King" was widely spread at that time.The 1642 Kaifeng flood
1642 Kaifeng Flood
The 1642 Yellow River flood or Kaifeng flood was a man-made disaster principally located in Kaifeng, now a prefecture-level city in the People's Republic of China's Henan province and a former capital of China. The city is located on the south bank of the Yellow River, which has been prone to...
(during the 3rd Battle of Taifeng), caused by breaches of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
dykes by both sides, ended the siege of Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
and killed over 300,000 of its 378,000 residents. After the battles of Luoyang and Kaifeng, the Ming government was unable to stop Li's rebellion, as most of its military force was involved in the battle against the Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
rians in the north. Li declared himself King of Shun Dynasty
Shun Dynasty
The Shun Dynasty was an imperial dynasty created in the brief lapse from Ming to Qing rule in China. The dynasty was founded in Xi'an on 8 February 1644, the first day of the lunar year, by Li Zicheng, the leader of a large peasant rebellion. Li, however, only went by the title of King, not Emperor...
in Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
.
Battle of Beijing and Battle of Shanhai Pass
In April 1644, Li's rebels sacked the Ming capital of BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, and the Chongzhen Emperor
Chongzhen Emperor
The Chongzhen Emperor was the 16th and last emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China. He reigned from 1627 to 1644, under an era name that means "honorable and auspicious".- Early years :...
committed suicide. Li proclaimed himself as the Emperor of Shun Dynasty.
After Li's army was defeated on May 27, 1644 at the Battle of Shanhai Pass
Battle of Shanhai Pass
The Battle of Shanhai Pass, fought on 27 May 1644 at Shanhaiguan at the eastern end of the Great Wall of China, was a decisive battle leading to the formation of the Qing dynasty in China...
by the combined forces of Ming turncoat general Wu Sangui
Wu Sangui
Wu Sangui was a Ming Chinese general who was instrumental in the succession of rule to the Qing Dynasty in 1644...
and the Manchurians, Li fled from Beijing towards his base in Shaanxi.
The Decline and Death of Li
After a number of defeats, Li mysteriously disappeared and there were different theories about his death, at the age of 40. Some suggested that he committed suicide by hanging himself on a lotus tree, while others thought that he was killed by pro-Ming militia during his escape in 1645. Some folk tales hold that Li survived after his defeats and became a monk for the rest of his life.Historiography
Although the success of the ManchuManchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
rian conquest of China was attributed to the weakening of the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
(exacerbated by Li Zicheng's rebellion), ironically, official historiography during the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
period regarded Li as an illegitimate usurper and outlaw. This view sought to discourage and demonize notions of rebellion against the Qing government, by propagating that the Manchus put an end to Li's illegitimate rule and restore peace to the empire, thus receiving the Mandate of Heaven
Mandate of Heaven
The Mandate of Heaven is a traditional Chinese philosophical concept concerning the legitimacy of rulers. It is similar to the European concept of the divine right of kings, in that both sought to legitimaze rule from divine approval; however, unlike the divine right of kings, the Mandate of...
to rule China. In 20th century China, the anti-Confucian
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
and radical inclinations of the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
viewed Li favourably, portraying him as an early revolutionary against feudalism
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
.
In popular culture
Li is featured as a character in some of the works of Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
Wuxia
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
writer Jin Yong. Li's rebellion against the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
is featured in Sword Stained with Royal Blood
Sword Stained with Royal Blood
Sword Stained with Royal Blood is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong. It was first serialized in the Hong Kong Commercial Daily between January 1, 1956 and December 31, 1956...
and his personality is analyzed from the point of view of Yuan Chengzhi, the protagonist. In The Deer and the Cauldron
The Deer and the Cauldron
The Deer and the Cauldron, also known as The Duke of Mount Deer, is a novel by Jin Yong, and was the last of Jin Yong's works. The novel was initially published as a serial, and ran between October 24, 1969 to September 23, 1972 in Ming Pao.Although the book is often termed as a wuxia novel, it is...
, set in the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
during the early reign of the Kangxi Emperor
Kangxi Emperor
The Kangxi Emperor ; Manchu: elhe taifin hūwangdi ; Mongolian: Энх-Амгалан хаан, 4 May 1654 –20 December 1722) was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the first to be born on Chinese soil south of the Pass and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.Kangxi's...
, Li is revealed to have survived and fathered a daughter, A'ke, with Chen Yuanyuan
Chen Yuanyuan
Chen Yuanyuan , born Xing Yuan , lived near the end of the Ming Dynasty, and was a concubine of Wu Sangui. Her courtesy name was Wanfen . Her actual historical significance is disputed, although it is largely believed that Chen was pivotal in Wu Sangui's campaigns after the fall of the Ming. She...
. Li is also briefly mentioned by name in Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain
Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain
Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain, also known as Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain, is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong. It was first serialized between February 9, 1959 and June 18, 1959 in Ming Pao....
and Other Tales of the Flying Fox
Other Tales of the Flying Fox
Other Tales of the Flying Fox is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong. Its title is also translated as Young Flying Fox in English. The novel was first serialized between 1960-1 in the magazine Wuxia and History...
.
Li is the main character of the historical epic novel Li Zicheng authored by Yao Xueyin.