Tag: Manchuria

The Golden Age of the Qing Dynasty

The reigns of Emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong represented a time of increasing expansion, stabilizing, and solidifying for China in the 1700s. However, some of the tendencies of the Qing Dynasty would ultimately sow the seeds for its own destruction.

The Rise of the Qing Dynasty

As the Ming Dynasty faced utter collapse in the face of famines, plagues, and peasant rebellions, the Qing Dynasty of Manchuria would surge and, eventually, take its place as the ruling dynasty of China.

The Fall of the Ming Dynasty

Under pressure from outside and within, the Ming Dynasty of China gradually lost control after a series of famines, plagues, and peasant rebellions. By the early 1600s, however, the Later Jin Dynasty began to take charge after unifying Manchuria and soon set its sights on claiming the Mandate of Heaven for themselves.

The Dynasties of the North

Season 6, Episode 11: The Dynasties of the North
The Liao Dynasty’s domains at its greatest extent, around 1000 CE. Source: Gabagool, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Yelu Bei, older brother of the Liao Emperor, fleeing the Kingdom of Dongdan for asylum in Song China. Source: Public Domain
Khitan hunters using falcons on their hunt. Source: Public Domain
Liao Phoenix and Dragon Crowns. The Khitan had access to truly impressive skilled metalworkers. Source: Aldermanseven, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fudong Temple, made entirely from wood and still standing nearly a thousand years after it was built. Source: Gisling, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Liao Dynasty’s domains in 1111, just before everything goes horribly wrong. Source: SY, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The state of Kara Khitai, situated in Central Asia. It is also called the Western Liao Empire. Source: SY, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Jurchen tribal leader Wanyan Aguda, who became Emperor Taizu of the Jin Dynasty. source: Public Domains
The domains of the Jin Dynasty, comfortably situated between Song china, the state of Western Xia (Xi Xia) and Goryeo. Source: User:Ian Kiu, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Chengling Pagoda, built by the Jin Dynasty between 1161 and 1189. Source: Rolf Müller (User:Rolfmueller), CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons