The Ming dynasty emperors reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004
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Ming dynasty emperors

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Below is a table giving the names and dates of Ming dynasty emperors.

The Ming dynasty ruled China from 1368-1644, succeeding the Mongol Yuan dynasty and falling amidst much peasant turmoil to the Manchu Qing dynasty. A series of Ming pretenders continued to claim the throne of what was known as the Southern Ming until the last such was executed in 1662.

Personal Name Posthumous name1
(short form)		 Temple name1 Reign name Reign years Name by which
most commonly known
Zhu Yuanzhang
朱元璋		 Gaodi
高帝		 Taizu
太祖		 Hongwu
洪武		 1368-1398 The Hongwu emperor
Zhu Yunwen
朱允炆		 Huidi
惠帝		 None given2 Jianwen
建文		 1398-1402 The Jianwen emperor
Zhu Di
朱棣		 Wendi
文帝		 Chengzu, 成祖 or
Taizong, 太宗		 Yongle
永樂		 1402-1424 The Yongle emperor
Zhu Gaozhi
朱高熾		 Zhaodi
昭帝		 Renzong
仁宗		 Hongxi
洪熙		 1424-1425 The Hongxi emperor
Zhu Zhanji
朱瞻基		 Zhangdi
章帝		 Xuanzong
宣宗		 Xuande
宣德		 1425-1435 The Xuande emperor
Zhu Qizhen
朱祁鎮		 Ruidi
睿帝		 Yingzong
英宗		 Zhengtong, 正統
1436-1449;
Tianshun, 天順
1457-1464		 1435-1449;
1457-14643		 The Zhengtong emperor
Zhu Qiyu
朱祁鈺		 Jingdi
景帝		 Daizong
代宗		 Jingtai
景泰		 1449-1457 The Jingtai emperor
Zhu Jianshen
朱見深		 Chundi
純帝		 Xianzong
憲宗		 Chenghua
成化		 1464-1487 The Chenghua emperor
Zhu Youtang
朱祐樘		 Jingdi
敬帝		 Xiaozong
孝宗		 Hongzhi
弘治		 1487-1505 The Hongzhi emperor
Zhu Houzhao
朱厚照		 Yidi
毅帝		 Wuzong
武宗		 Zhengde
正德		 1505-1521 The Zhengde emperor
Zhu Houzong
朱厚熜		 Sudi
肅帝		 Shizong
世宗		 Jiajing
嘉靖		 1521-1566 The Jiajing emperor
Zhu Zaihou
朱栽垢		 Zhuangdi
莊帝		 Muzong
穆宗		 Longqing
隆慶		 1566-1572 The Longqing emperor
Zhu Yijun
朱翊鈞		 Xiandi
顯帝		 Shenzong
神宗		 Wanli
萬歷		 1572-1620 The Wanli emperor
Zhu Changluo
朱常洛		 Zhengdi
貞帝		 Guangzong
光宗		 Taichang
泰昌		 1620 The Taichang emperor
Zhu Youjiao
朱由校		 Zhedi
悊帝		 Xizong
熹宗		 Tianqi
天啟		 1620-1627 The Tianqi emperor
Zhu Youjian
朱由檢		 Zhuangliemin
莊烈愍		 Sizong
思宗		 Chongzhen
崇禎		 1627-1644 The 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.



Southern Ming Dynasty

Personal Name Temple name Reign name Reign years Name by which
most commonly known
Zhu Yousong
朱由崧		 Anzong
安宗		 Hongguang
弘光		 1644-1645 Prince of Fu
福王
Zhu Yujian
朱聿鍵		 Shaozong
紹宗		 Longwu
隆武		 1645-1646 Prince of Tang
唐王
Zhu Changfang
朱常淓		 None given None given,
but sometimes referred to as the
Regency of the Prince of Lu (Luh)
潞王臨國		 1645 Prince of Lu (Luh*)
潞王
Zhu Yihai
朱以海		 None given None given,
but sometimes referred to as the
Regency of the Prince of Lu (Lou)
魯王臨國		 1645-1653 Prince of Lu (Lou*)
魯王
Zhu Yuyue
朱聿[金粵]		 None given Shaowu
紹武		 1646 Prince of Tang
唐王
Zhu Youlang
朱由榔		 None given Yongli
永曆		 1646-1662 Prince of Gui
桂王

See also