Ming Dynasty family tree
Encyclopedia
This is a family tree of Chinese emperors from 1279 to 1912, the third of three periods of 700 years, from the conquest of China by the Mongols to the end of the Qing dynasty in 1912.
Chinese emperors family tree (ancient) → Chinese emperors family tree (early) → Chinese emperors family tree (middle) → Chinese emperors family tree (late)
Genghis Khan
founded the Mongol Empire
in 1206. The empire became split beginning with the succession war of his grandsons Kublai Khan
and Ariq Boke
. Kublai Khan, after defeating his younger brother Ariq Boke
, founded the Yuan Dynasty
in China
in 1271. The dynasty was overthrown by the Ming Dynasty
during the reign of Toghun Temür in 1368, but it survived in Mongolia
, known as the Northern Yuan Dynasty; years of reign over the Northern Yuan Dynasty (up to 1388) are given in brackets.
, which ruled China
between 1368 and 1644.
Those who became emperor are listed in bold, with their years of reign. In China, Ming emperors are best known by their temple name
s, which are given second below, after the personal name. (Jianwen
was not awarded a temple name: his posthumous name, Huidi (惠帝), is used instead.) The names given in bold are era names
, the form by which Ming emperors are most commonly known in English, but which technically refer to the timespan of an emperor's reign rather than to the emperor himself. (Xingzong and Ruizong are temple names: they never actually ruled, but Xingzong was posthumously granted an emperor's title and Ruizong was raised posthumously to the status of emperor by his son Jiajing
in the Great Rites Controversy
.) The imperial family's original family name was Zhu (朱), but the Emperor Hongwu opted for the dynastic name Ming (明), meaning "brilliant". After the fall of the dynasty in 1644 and Chongzhen
's suicide, a series of Ming princes based in the south of China claimed the imperial title, their court being known as the Southern Ming Dynasty. These claimants are given with their era names, and the timespans of their purported reigns in brackets. Their purported periods of rule are given in brackets. In 1662, Koxinga
regained control of Taiwan
from the Dutch colonial regime, and established a state for those who wished restore the Ming Dynasty to power. This state lasted until 1683, when it submitted to the Qing Dynasty.
, which ruled China between 1644 and the declaration of the Republic of China
on January 1, 1912.
Those who became emperor of China are listed in bold, with their years of reign. Nurhaci
and Huang Taiji were emperors of the dynasty, which at the time dominated the Manchuria
region, but were not emperors of China as a whole; their years of reign over the dynasty are therefore given in brackets. The names given for emperors are era names
, the form by which Qing emperors were most commonly known (with the exception of Puyi
, who ruled as the Emperor Xuantong, but was generally known by his given name after his deposition). Puyi abdicated as head of state on February 12, 1912, but was permitted to retain his imperial titles until 1924. The imperial family's original Manchu clan name was Aisin Gioro
("the golden clan"). The dynasty was originally titled the Later Jin Dynasty (後金), in reference to its Jurchen origins, by Nurhaci in 1616, but in 1636 Huang Taiji opted to replace this title with the Chinese dynastic title Qing (清), meaning "pure".
Chinese emperors family tree (ancient) → Chinese emperors family tree (early) → Chinese emperors family tree (middle) → Chinese emperors family tree (late)
Yuan Dynasty and Northern Yuan Dynasty
The following is the Yuan dynasty family tree.Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
founded the Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
in 1206. The empire became split beginning with the succession war of his grandsons Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan , born Kublai and also known by the temple name Shizu , was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China...
and Ariq Boke
Ariq Boke
Ariq Böke , the components of his name also spelled Arigh, Arik, Bukha, Buka , was the youngest son of Tolui , a son of Genghis Khan. After the death of his brother the Great Khan Mongke, Ariq Boke briefly took power while his brothers Kublai and Hulagu were absent...
. Kublai Khan, after defeating his younger brother Ariq Boke
Ariq Boke
Ariq Böke , the components of his name also spelled Arigh, Arik, Bukha, Buka , was the youngest son of Tolui , a son of Genghis Khan. After the death of his brother the Great Khan Mongke, Ariq Boke briefly took power while his brothers Kublai and Hulagu were absent...
, founded the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
in 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...
in 1271. The dynasty was overthrown by 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...
during the reign of Toghun Temür in 1368, but it survived in Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, known as the Northern Yuan Dynasty; years of reign over the Northern Yuan Dynasty (up to 1388) are given in brackets.
Ming Dynasty
The following is a simplified family tree for the Ming DynastyMing 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...
, which ruled 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...
between 1368 and 1644.
Those who became emperor are listed in bold, with their years of reign. In China, Ming emperors are best known by their temple name
Temple name
Temple names are commonly used when naming most Chinese, Korean , and Vietnamese royalty. They should not be confused with era names. Compared to posthumous names, the use of temple names is more exclusive...
s, which are given second below, after the personal name. (Jianwen
Jianwen Emperor
The Jianwen Emperor , with the personal name Zhu Yunwen , reigned as the second Emperor of the Ming dynasty...
was not awarded a temple name: his posthumous name, Huidi (惠帝), is used instead.) The names given in bold are era names
Chinese era name
A Chinese era name is the regnal year, reign period, or regnal title used when traditionally numbering years in an emperor's reign and naming certain Chinese rulers . Some emperors have several era names, one after another, where each beginning of a new era resets the numbering of the year back...
, the form by which Ming emperors are most commonly known in English, but which technically refer to the timespan of an emperor's reign rather than to the emperor himself. (Xingzong and Ruizong are temple names: they never actually ruled, but Xingzong was posthumously granted an emperor's title and Ruizong was raised posthumously to the status of emperor by his son Jiajing
Jiajing Emperor
The Jiajing Emperor was the 11th Ming Dynasty Emperor of China who ruled from 1521 to 1567. Born Zhu Houcong, he was the former Zhengde Emperor's cousin...
in the Great Rites Controversy
Great rites controversy
The Great rites controversy took place in 1524 in China.The young and newly empowered Emperor Shizong tried to posthumously give his father the title of emperor in order to legitimize his claim to the throne...
.) The imperial family's original family name was Zhu (朱), but the Emperor Hongwu opted for the dynastic name Ming (明), meaning "brilliant". After the fall of the dynasty in 1644 and Chongzhen
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 :...
's suicide, a series of Ming princes based in the south of China claimed the imperial title, their court being known as the Southern Ming Dynasty. These claimants are given with their era names, and the timespans of their purported reigns in brackets. Their purported periods of rule are given in brackets. In 1662, Koxinga
Koxinga
Koxinga is the customary Western spelling of the popular appellation of Zheng Chenggong , a military leader who was born in 1624 in Hirado, Japan to Zheng Zhilong, a Chinese merchant/pirate, and his Japanese wife and died in 1662 on the island of Formosa .A Ming loyalist and the arch commander of...
regained control of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
from the Dutch colonial regime, and established a state for those who wished restore the Ming Dynasty to power. This state lasted until 1683, when it submitted to the Qing Dynasty.
Qing Dynasty
The following is a simplified family tree for the Qing DynastyQing 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....
, which ruled China between 1644 and the declaration of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
on January 1, 1912.
Those who became emperor of China are listed in bold, with their years of reign. Nurhaci
Nurhaci
Nurhaci was an important Jurchen chieftain who rose to prominence in the late sixteenth century in what is today Northeastern China...
and Huang Taiji were emperors of the dynasty, which at the time dominated the Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
region, but were not emperors of China as a whole; their years of reign over the dynasty are therefore given in brackets. The names given for emperors are era names
Chinese era name
A Chinese era name is the regnal year, reign period, or regnal title used when traditionally numbering years in an emperor's reign and naming certain Chinese rulers . Some emperors have several era names, one after another, where each beginning of a new era resets the numbering of the year back...
, the form by which Qing emperors were most commonly known (with the exception of Puyi
Puyi
Puyi , of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was the last Emperor of China, and the twelfth and final ruler of the Qing Dynasty. He ruled as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 until his abdication on 12 February 1912. From 1 to 12 July 1917 he was briefly restored to the throne as a nominal emperor by the...
, who ruled as the Emperor Xuantong, but was generally known by his given name after his deposition). Puyi abdicated as head of state on February 12, 1912, but was permitted to retain his imperial titles until 1924. The imperial family's original Manchu clan name was Aisin Gioro
Aisin Gioro
Aisin Gioro was the family name of the Manchu emperors of the Qing Dynasty. The House of Aisin Gioro ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which established a republican government in its place. The word aisin means gold in the Manchu language, and "gioro" is the name of the place in...
("the golden clan"). The dynasty was originally titled the Later Jin Dynasty (後金), in reference to its Jurchen origins, by Nurhaci in 1616, but in 1636 Huang Taiji opted to replace this title with the Chinese dynastic title Qing (清), meaning "pure".