List of emperors of the Ming dynasty

The Ming dynasty ruled China from 1368 to 1644, succeeding the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty and falling amidst much peasant turmoil to the Manchu-ruled Qing dynasty. Sixteen emperors ruled over the whole of China spanning 276 years. A series of claimants to the Ming throne continued to claim the throne of what was known as the Southern Ming until the last was executed in 1662.

Emperors of the Ming dynasty

See also: Ming emperors family tree

Name by which most commonly known	Reign years	Given name	Reign name	Posthumous name¹ (short form)	Temple name¹
Hongwu Emperor	1368–1398	Zhū Yuánzhāng 朱元璋	Hóngwǔ 洪武	Gāodì 高帝	Tàizǔ 太祖
Kang Emperor^*		Zhu Biao 朱標	none^*	Kangdì 康帝	Xingzong 兴宗
Jianwen Emperor	1398–1402	Zhū Yǔnwén 朱允炆	Jiànwén 建文	Rangdì 讓帝	Huizong 惠宗
Yongle Emperor	1402–1424	Zhū Dì 朱棣	Yǒnglè 永樂	Wéndì 文帝	Tàizōng 太宗 and Chéngzǔ 成祖²
Hongxi Emperor	1424–1425	Zhū Gāochì 朱高熾	Hóngxī 洪熙	Zhāodì 昭帝	Rénzōng 仁宗
Xuande Emperor	1425–1435	Zhū Zhānjī 朱瞻基	Xuāndé 宣德	Zhāngdì 章帝	Xuānzōng 宣宗
Zhengtong Emperor	1435–1449³ and 1457–1464	Zhū Qízhèn 朱祁鎮	Zhèngtǒng 正統 and Tiānshùn 天順	Ruìdì 睿帝	Yīngzōng 英宗
Jingtai Emperor	1449–1457	Zhū Qíyù 朱祁鈺	Jǐngtài 景泰	Jǐngdì 景帝	Dàizōng 代宗
Chenghua Emperor	1464–1487	Zhū Jiànshēn 朱見深	Chénghuà 成化	Chúndì 純帝	Xiànzōng 憲宗
Hongzhi Emperor	1487–1505	Zhū Yòuchēng 朱祐樘	Hóngzhì 弘治	Jìngdì 敬帝	Xiàozōng 孝宗
Zhengde Emperor	1505–1521	Zhū Hòuzhào 朱厚照	Zhèngdé 正德	Yìdì 毅帝	Wǔzōng 武宗
Xian Emperor^*		Zhu Youyuan 朱祐杬	none^*	Xiandì 獻帝	Ruizong 睿宗
Jiajing Emperor	1521–1567	Zhū Hòucōng 朱厚熜	Jiājìng 嘉靖	Sùdì 肅帝	Shìzōng 世宗
Longqing Emperor	1567–1572	Zhū Zǎihòu 朱載垕	Lóngqìng 隆慶	Zhuāngdì 莊帝	Mùzōng 穆宗
Wanli Emperor	1572–1620	Zhū Yìjūn 朱翊鈞	Wànlì 萬曆	Xiǎndì 顯帝	Shénzōng 神宗
Taichang Emperor	1620	Zhū Chángluò 朱常洛	Tàichāng 泰昌	Zhēndì 貞帝	Guāngzōng 光宗
Tianqi Emperor	1620–1627	Zhū Yóujiào 朱由校	Tiānqǐ 天啟	Zhédì 悊帝	Xīzōng 熹宗
Chongzhen Emperor	1627–1644	Zhū Yóujiǎn 朱由檢	Chóngzhēn 崇禎	Lièdi 烈帝	Sīzōng 思宗
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 assumed the throne of his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, who died in a palace fire. The Yongle Emperor wiped out the record of his nephew's reign and no temple name was given him.
3 After listening to poor advice from 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.

Emperors of the Southern Ming dynasty

Personal name	Temple name	Era name	Years of Reigning	Name by which most commonly known
Zhū Yóusōng 朱由崧	Ānzōng 安宗	Hóngguāng 弘光	1644–1645	Prince of Fu 福王 Fú Wáng
Zhū Yùjiàn 朱聿鍵	Shàozōng 紹宗	Lóngwǔ 隆武	1645–1646	Prince of Tang 唐王 Táng Wáng
Zhū Chángfāng 朱常淓	None given	None given, but sometimes referred to as the Regency of the Prince of Lu (Luh) 潞王臨國 Lù Wáng Lín Guó	1645–1646	Prince of Lu (Luh*) 潞王 Lù Wáng
Zhū Yǐhǎi 朱以海	Yìzōng 义宗	Gēngyín 庚寅	1645–1655	Prince of Lu (Lou*) 魯王 Lǔ Wáng
Zhū Yùyuè 朱聿𨮁	Wénzōng 文宗	Shàowǔ 紹武	1646–1647	Prince of Tang 唐王 Táng Wáng
Zhū Chángqīng 朱常清	Jìngzōng 敬宗	Dōngwǔ 東武	1648–1649	Prince of Huai Huái Wáng
Zhū Yóuláng 朱由榔	Zhāozōng 昭宗	Yǒnglì 永曆	1646–1662	Prince of Gui 桂王 Guì Wáng

The two characters are homonyms, both pronounced Lu; to distinguish them, one is usually kept as Lu and the other spelled differently. Luh is from Cambridge History of China; Lou is from A.C. Moule's Rulers of China (1957). When one irregular spelling is used, the other is kept as regular (Lu). The two systems are distinct and not used simultaneously.
Other Ming claimants included Prince Dingwu of Han (Zhu Benli, 1646–1663) and Prince of Huai (Zhu Changqing, 1648–1661).
Ming Prince Zhu Shugui carried out his duties in the Kingdom of Tungning in the name of the last Southern Ming Emperor until 1683.

Ming dynasty topics

History	Red Turban Rebellion Ming conquest of Yunnan Ming campaign against the Uriyangkhad horde Battle of Buir Lake Jingnan Campaign Treasure voyages Ming–Turpan conflict Ming–Hồ War Ming–Kotte War Lam Sơn uprising Yongle Emperor's campaigns against the Mongols Rule of Ren and Xuan Luchuan–Pingmian campaigns Tumu Crisis Rebellion of Cao Qin Miao Rebellions Prince of Anhua rebellion Prince of Ning rebellion Malayan–Portuguese war Japanese missions to Ming China Ningbo Incident Great Rites Controversy Jiajing wokou raids Single whip law Japanese invasions of Korea Donglin movement Sino-Dutch conflicts Battle of Beijing Qing conquest of the Ming Battle of Shanhai Pass Southern Ming

Government & Military	Emperor List Family tree Grand Secretariat Eastern Depot Imperial Clan Court Imperial Commissioner Grand coordinator Military conquests of the Ming dynasty Manchuria under Ming rule Fourth Chinese domination of Vietnam Nine Garrisons of the Ming dynasty Shenjiying Jinyiwei

Compilations & Documents	History of Yuan The Hundred-word Eulogy Huang-Ming Zuxun Yongle Encyclopedia Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty Ming Shilu Luso-Chinese agreement (1554)

Palaces and Mausoleums	Forbidden City Chaotian Palace Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum Ming Ancestors Mausoleum Ming tombs Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Society & Culture	Ming poetry Ming dynasty painting Four Masters of the Ming dynasty Wu School Zhe school Chinese lacquerware table Ming presentation porcelain Covered jar with carp design Yongning Temple Stele Economy of the Ming dynasty Ming dynasty Tai history Islam during the Ming dynasty

Other topics	House of Zhu History of Ming Ming official headwear Ming Great Wall Sino-Tibetan relations during the Ming dynasty Wokou

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