CH'ING DYNASTY, AD 1644 to 1911

In the late 1500's the Manchurians began a move to conquer the Ming Dynasty. The first in the line was Nurhachu (also know as T'ai Tsu) who established the Manchu Dynasty in 1559, but controlled only a small part of China as a rebel fighting the Ming. His power base expanded and in 1625 he established a capital at Mukden.

With the death of Nurhachu in 1626, power passed to Abahay (also known as T'ai Tsung), who changed the name of the dynasty to Ch'ing, and continued to expand the Manchu influence until his death in 1643.

Power then passed to the nine year old Shih Tsu (know as Shun Chih) and it is from his accession in 1644 that the Ch'ing Dynasty is normally, but incorrectly, recorded. Even at this point the Ch'ing control of China was not complete, as the "Ming Rebels" still held large parts of the country and were not fully defeated until about 1681.

For the most part, the Ch'ing Dynasty was a period of enlightenment, with the arts and literature reaching a high point under the emperors K'ang Hsi and Ch'ien Lung. This was also a period of increased interaction with the Western powers who, while gaining significant influence in China, failed in their efforts to gain control (i.e. colonize it).

The coinage of the Ch'ing dynasty is fairly straightforward. With only one exception, the Ch'ing dynasty emperors used only one reign title each on their cast coins. Because of this, these emperors are far better known by their reign titles than their real names.

EMPERORS OF THE CH'ING DYNASTY

Emperor NURHACHU (T'AI TSU), AD 1559 to 1626
Reign title: T'ien Ming, AD 1616 to 1626

Emperor SHIH TSU, AD 1644 to 1661
reign title: SHUN CHIH, AD 1644 to 1661

Emperor SHENG TSU, AD 1662 to 1722
reign title: K'ANG-HSI, AD 1662 to 1722

Emperor SHIH TSUNG, AD 1723 to 1735
reign title: YUNG-CHENG, AD 1723 to 1735

Emperor KAO TSUNG, AD 1736 to 1795
reign title: CH'IEN-LUNG, AD 1736 to 1795

Emperor JEN TSUNG, AD 1796 to 1820
Reign title: CHAI-CH'ING, AD 1796 to 1820

Emperor HSUAN TSUNG, AD 1821 to 1850
Reign title: TAO-KUANG, AD 1821 to 1850

Emperor WEN TSUNG, AD 1851 to 1861
Reign title: HSIEN FENG, AD 1851 to 1861

Emperor MU TSUNG, AD 1861 to 1874
Reign title: CH'I-HSIANG, AD 1861 Reign title: T'UNG CHIH, AD 1862 to 1874

KUANG HSU, AD 1875 to 1909
Reign title: KUANG-HSU, 1875 to 1908

Emperor HUNG-HSIEN, AD 1908 to 1912
Reign title: HSUAN-T'UNG, 1908 to 1912

Hung-Hsien was the last emperor of China. He was only three years old when he came to the throne and he was forced to abdicate in 1912, although he continued to live in the imperial palace until 1924. He reappeared in 1932 when the Japanese made him president of Manchukuo. In 1934 he became emperor of Manchukuo under the reign title: K'ANG-TE.

TAI PING REBELS

Tai Ping Rebels fought a civil war with the Ch'ing Dynasty from AD 1853 to 1865.

For more information on the coinage of the Ch'ing Dynasty, please check our Reference Guide.

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