Ming Dynasty Trade Policies Quiz

The Forbidden City

• The Forbidden City was a great palace complex built by Yonglo in Beijing, symbolizing his power and might.
• Construction took 14 years (1406-1420) and was surrounded by 35-foot-high red walls.
• The complex had dozens of buildings, including palaces and temples, and was closed to commoners and foreigners.

Taihe Hall

• Taihe Hall, or the Hall of Supreme Harmony, is the largest building in the compound.
• It measures 201 by 122 feet and stands about 125 feet high.
• This hall was used for important ceremonies, such as those marking the emperor’s birthday or the day the crown prince took the throne.

Women's Roles

• Although men dominated the household, women had significant responsibilities.
• Women supervised the children’s education and managed the family’s finances.
• Some women worked as midwives or textile workers, and a few even found jobs outside the home.

Cultural Developments

• The culture of early modern China was based mainly on traditional forms.
• The great masterpiece of traditional Chinese fiction, "Dream of the Red Chamber" by Cao Zhan, was written during this period.
• Artists of the time painted in traditional styles, valuing technique over creativity.
• Pottery and ceramic production were of high quality, including porcelain.
• Drama was a popular entertainment, especially in rural China where literacy rates were low.

Ming Relations with Foreign Countries

• China’s official trade policies in the 1500s reflected its isolation.
• Only the government was to conduct foreign trade, through three coastal ports: Canton, Macao, and Ningbo.
• In reality, trade flourished, and profit-minded merchants smuggled cargoes of silk, porcelain, and other valuable goods out of the country.

Christian Missionaries

• Christian missionaries accompanied European traders into China, bringing Christianity and knowledge of European science and technology.
• The first missionary to have an impact was an Italian Jesuit named Matteo Ricci.

China Under the Qing

• The Qing dynasty ruled China for more than 260 years and expanded its borders to include Taiwan, Chinese Central Asia, Mongolia, and Tibet.
• Kangxi, the emperor, had too much curiosity to remain isolated in the Forbidden City and went on "tours" to learn about the common people’s grievances.

Qing Leaders

• Kangxi exhibited leadership unheard of in later Ming times, reducing government expenses and lowering taxes.
• He upheld China’s traditional Confucian beliefs and social structures, making the country’s frontiers safe.

Korea Under the Manchus

• In 1636, the Manchus conquered nearby Korea and made it a vassal state.
• Korea adopted China’s technology, culture, and policy of isolation, and organized their government according to Confucian principles.

Test your knowledge on China's official trade policies during the Ming Dynasty in the 1500s, which aimed to limit the influence of outsiders. Explore the flourishing trade along the coast and the involvement of profit-minded merchants in smuggling goods to European merchants.