list of emperors of the ming dynasty

The Ming Dynasty ruled China from 1368 to 1644, succeeding the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and falling amidst much peasant turmoil to the Manchu Qing dynasty. 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

Personal Name	Posthumous name¹ (short form)	Temple name¹	Reign name	Reign years	Name by which most commonly known
Zhū Yunzhāng 朱元璋	Gāod 高帝	Tizǔ 太祖	Hngwǔ 洪武	1368-1398	Hongwu Emperor
Zhū Yǔnwn 朱允炆	Hud 惠帝	None given²	Jinwn 建文	1398-1402	Jianwen Emperor
Zhū D 朱棣	Wēnd 文帝	Chngzǔ, 成祖 or Tizōng, 太宗	Yǒngl 永樂	1402-1424	Yongle Emperor
Zhū Gāoch 朱高熾	Zhāod 昭帝	Rnzōng 仁宗	Hngxī 洪熙	1424-1425	Hongxi Emperor
Zhū Zhānjī 朱瞻基	Zhāngd 章帝	Xuānzōng 宣宗	Xuānd 宣德	1425-1435	Xuande Emperor
Zhū Qzhn 朱祁鎮	Rud 睿帝	Yīngzōng 英宗	Zhngtǒng, 正統 1436-1449; Tiānshn, 天順 1457-1464	1435-1449; 1457-1464³	Zhengtong Emperor
Zhū Qy 朱祁鈺	Jǐngd 景帝	Dizōng 代宗	Jǐngti 景泰	1449-1457	Jingtai Emperor
Zhū Jinshēn 朱見深	Chnd 純帝	Xinzōng 憲宗	Chnghu 成化	1464-1487	Chenghua Emperor
Zhū Yutng 朱祐樘	Jngd 敬帝	Xiozōng 孝宗	Hngzh 弘治	1487-1505	Hongzhi Emperor
Zhū Huzho 朱厚照	Yd 毅帝	Wǔzōng 武宗	Zhngd 正德	1505-1521	Zhengde Emperor
Zhū Hucōng 朱厚熜	Sd 肅帝	Shzōng 世宗	Jiājng 嘉靖	1521-1566	Jiajing Emperor
Zhū Zǎihu 朱載垕	Zhuāngd 莊帝	Mzōng 穆宗	Lngqng 隆慶	1566-1572	Longqing Emperor
Zhū Yjūn 朱翊鈞	Xiǎnd 顯帝	Shnzōng 神宗	Wnl 萬曆	1572-1620	Wanli Emperor
Zhū Chnglu 朱常洛	Zhēnd 貞帝	Guāngzōng 光宗	Tichāng 泰昌	1620	Taichang Emperor
Zhū Yujio 朱由校	Zhd 悊帝	Xīzōng 熹宗	Tiānqǐ 天啟	1620-1627	Tianqi Emperor
Zhū Yujiǎn 朱由檢	Zhuānglimǐn 莊烈愍	Sīzōng 思宗	Chngzhēn 崇禎	1627-1644	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.

Emperors of the Southern Ming Dynasty

Personal Name	Temple name	Reign name	Reign years	Name by which most commonly known
Zhū Yusōng 朱由崧	Ānzōng 安宗	Hngguāng 弘光	1644-1645	Prince of Fu 福王 F Wng
Zhū Yjin 朱聿鍵	Shozōng 紹宗	Lngwǔ 隆武	1645-1646	Prince of Tang 唐王 Tng Wng
Zhū Chngfāng 朱常淓	None given	None given, but sometimes referred to as the Regency of the Prince of Lu (Luh) 潞王臨國 L Wng Ln Gu	1645	Prince of Lu (Luh*) 潞王 L Wng
Zhū Yǐhǎi 朱以海	None given	None given, but sometimes referred to as the Regency of the Prince of Lu (Lou) 魯王臨國 Lǔ Wng Ln Gu	1645-1653	Prince of Lu (Lou*) 魯王 Lǔ Wng
Zhū Yyu 朱聿[金粵]	None given	Showǔ 紹武	1646	Prince of Tang 唐王 Tng Wng
Zhū Yulng 朱由榔	None given	Yǒngl 永曆	1646-1662	Prince of Gui 桂王 Gu Wng

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.

List Of Emperors Of The Ming Dynasty

Emperors of the Ming Dynasty

Emperors of the Southern Ming Dynasty

See also