History
General and Art
The Ming Dynasty
A brief summary
The start of the Ming dynasty was in 1368, Zhu Yuanzheng along with the rebel army he led from Nanjing overthrew the harsh rule of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). He was the only emperor in China’s long history to have been born into a peasant family yet rose a dynasty as the Hongwu Emperor for thirty years. He established the dynasty and named it ‘Da Ming’ meaning Great Brightness. Thereafter the Ming dynasty was ruled by seventeen emperors over a period of 276 years. Across these years, China’s population doubled. The development of this era allowed for trade expansion to the outside world and established cultural ties with the west.
Zhu Di, Zhu Yuanzhang’s son waged a campaign for the throne over Emperor Jianwen, his nephew. He then succeeded and became Emperor Yongle. He was the emperor who ushered in a period of prosperity. He ordered the Forbidden City to be built and after its construction, moved the Ming capital from Nanjing to Beijing.
The fall of the Ming dynasty was caused by varying factors; an economic disaster due to the lack of silver, natural disasters and peasant uprisings and finally the attacks of the Manchu people. The Ming dynasty was the last imperial dynasty ruled by the Han Chinese.
Ming Dynasty Art
The Culture & it's Influence
Chinese painting progressed further based on the achievements in painted art during the earlier Song and Yuan Dynasties.
The painting techniques which were invented and developed before the Ming period became classical during this period. More colours were used in painting during the Ming dynasty. Many new painting skills/techniques were innovated and developed. The use of calligraphy used much more frequent and in harmony with paintings.
Chinese painting reached another climax in the mid and late Ming. The painting was derived on a broad scale, many new schools were born, and many outstanding masters emerged.
Early Ming
1368-1505 Hong era to Hongzhi Era
Art during this era focused on the power and glory of the kingdoms.
The painting schools of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)Â remained but such styles quickly changed.
The painting styles developed and matured. The Zhe school, a school of painters thrived during the Ming Dynasty. It was led by Dai Jin and the name refers to his home province Zhejiang. The school was supported by the royal court Yuanti School. The school however did not formulate a new distinctive style and instead further developed the style of Southern Song and specialised in large decorative paintings.
Many of the paintings during this period are influenced and painted based on the glory and representation of the hopes and prospects for the country. Painting Ming Dynasty China often in glorious, powerful light. Depicting a peaceful and prosperous country.
Mid Ming
1465-1566 Chenghua era to Jiajing era
In this era, Zhe school and Yuanti school were declined and instead rose Wu School. Wu/ Wumen School was a group of painters of the Southern school. However, despite its name, it was not an academic or educational institution but rather a united group of members who conversed about artistic theories.
They consisted of scholar-officials. Scholars or amateur painters idolised the concept of personalising works and integrating artists into their art. The school's style was mainly characterised by the use of Inscriptions in their paintings. In this era, art was created as an outlet of personal expression and the man who founded the school was Shen Zhou. The Wu school prized its concept of art with emotions and artistic values. One of such art styles is known as Shan Shui the ‘enjoyable style’, ‘great enjoyable style'.
Late Ming
1567-1644 Jiajing Era to Chongzhen Era.
In this era, artistry and form became more expressive with some European influence. The artworks of this era became developed to become more melancholic and expressive in forms of personal emotion and sorrows. In modern times we would say, the Late Ming took on a more abstract form of art and culture.
Songjiang school; and Huating School were born and developed, formed rudiments later Shanghai School.