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The Ming Dynasty was the last Chinese dynasty to be ruled by a [[Han Chinese]] Imperial line. The dynasty began with the [[1368]] overthrow of the [[Mongol]] [[Yuan Dynasty]] by Han Chinese rebels, and ended with the fall of [[Beijing]] to [[Manchu]] invaders in [[1644]], marking the beginning of the [[Qing Dynasty]], China's last imperial dynasty.  

The Ming Dynasty was the last Chinese dynasty to be ruled by a [[Han Chinese]] Imperial line. The dynasty began with the [[1368]] overthrow of the [[Mongol]] [[Yuan Dynasty]] by Han Chinese rebels, and ended with the fall of [[Beijing]] to [[Manchu]] invaders in [[1644]], marking the beginning of the [[Qing Dynasty]], China's last imperial dynasty.  

The Ming is known for numerous prominent cultural developments, including the voyages of [[Zheng He]], the development of ''[[kunqu]]'' drama, and the rise of [[literati painting]] (and concordant decline in appreciation for court painting), and the reconstruction of the [[Great Wall]] and [[Forbidden City]]. The Ming capital was originally established at [[Nanjing]] by the first Ming emperor, the [[Hongwu Emperor]], but after the [[Yongle Emperor]] seized power in [[1402]] by attacking and destroying the palace at Nanjing, he returned the capital to Beijing. Much of the Ming elements of the Great Wall and Forbidden City survive today.

The Ming is known for numerous prominent cultural developments, including the voyages of [[Zheng He]], the development of ''[[kunqu]]'' drama, the rise of [[literati painting]] (and concordant decline in appreciation for court painting), the publishing of several of the greatest Chinese novels, and the reconstruction of the [[Great Wall]] and [[Forbidden City]]. The Ming capital was originally established at [[Nanjing]] by the first Ming emperor, the [[Hongwu Emperor]], but after the [[Yongle Emperor]] seized power in [[1402]] by attacking and destroying the palace at Nanjing, he returned the capital to Beijing. Much of the Ming elements of the Great Wall and Forbidden City survive today.

The Ming Dynasty was also the first to establish [[tribute]] relations with Japan (briefly, under the [[Ashikaga shogunate]]), and with the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. Though the Ming, at times, implemented strict policies of [[hai jin|maritime restrictions]], in other ways, or at other times, it was also a high point of trade and foreign relations.

The Ming Dynasty was also the first to establish [[tribute]] relations with Japan (briefly, under the [[Ashikaga shogunate]]), and with the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. Though the Ming, at times, implemented strict policies of [[hai jin|maritime restrictions]], in other ways, or at other times, it was also a high point of trade and foreign relations.