| House of Zhu | |
|---|---|
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| Country | |
| Founded | 23 January 1368, 656 years ago |
| Founder | Hongwu Emperor |
| Final ruler |
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| Titles | |
| Deposition |
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The House of Zhu was the imperial house that ruled the Ming dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. Rump states of the Ming dynasty (collectively known as the Southern Ming) continued in the southern region until 1662, but the territory gradually decreased. The Ming dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China ruled by the Han people. After its downfall, China was conquered by the Manchu-led Qing dynasty (1644–1912). The Han-led state was only restored after the fall of the Qing dynasty, with the establishment of the Republic of China as a nation state in 1912.
Its founder was Zhu Yuanzhang, the leader of a major rebellion against the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. He and his descendants lifted China to long-term economic prosperity and political stability. Over time, thanks to the polygamy common among the upper classes of Chinese society, the number of male members of the house increased to one hundred thousand. However, except for the emperors and heirs to the throne, they were excluded from politics for the sake of government stability.
From the late 16th century onwards, economic difficulties and the resulting peasant uprisings brought about a weakening of Ming power, which was used by the Manchu-led Qing dynasty in 1644 to seize power in the Central Plains.