List of Emperors of the Ming Dynasty

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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. 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.

[edit] Emperors of the Ming Dynasty

Personal Name	Posthumous name¹ (short form)	Temple name¹	Reign name	Reign years	Name by which most commonly known
Zhū Yuánzhāng 朱元璋	Gāodì 高帝	Tàizǔ 太祖	Hóngwǔ 洪武	1368-1398	Hongwu Emperor
Zhū Yǔnwén 朱允炆	Huìdì 惠帝	None given²	Jiànwén 建文	1398-1402	Jianwen Emperor
Zhū Dì 朱棣	Wēndì 文帝	Chéngzǔ, 成祖 or Tàizōng, 太宗	Yǒnglè 永樂	1402-1424	Yongle Emperor
Zhū Gāochì 朱高熾	Zhāodì 昭帝	Rénzōng 仁宗	Hóngxī 洪熙	1424-1425	Hongxi Emperor
Zhū Zhānjī 朱瞻基	Zhāngdì 章帝	Xuānzōng 宣宗	Xuāndé 宣德	1425-1435	Xuande Emperor
Zhū Qízhèn 朱祁鎮	Ruìdì 睿帝	Yīngzōng 英宗	Zhèngtǒng, 正統 1436-1449; Tiānshùn, 天順 1457-1464	1435-1449; 1457-1464³	Zhengtong Emperor
Zhū Qíyù 朱祁鈺	Jǐngdì 景帝	Dàizōng 代宗	Jǐngtài 景泰	1449-1457	Jingtai Emperor
Zhū Jiànshēn 朱見深	Chúndì 純帝	Xiànzōng 憲宗	Chénghuà 成化	1464-1487	Chenghua Emperor
Zhū Yòutáng 朱祐樘	Jìngdì 敬帝	Xiàozōng 孝宗	Hóngzhì 弘治	1487-1505	Hongzhi Emperor
Zhū Hòuzhào 朱厚照	Yìdì 毅帝	Wǔzōng 武宗	Zhèngdé 正德	1505-1521	Zhengde Emperor
Zhū Hòucōng 朱厚熜	Sùdì 肅帝	Shìzōng 世宗	Jiājìng 嘉靖	1521-1566	Jiajing Emperor
Zhū Zǎihòu 朱載垕	Zhuāngdì 莊帝	Mùzōng 穆宗	Lóngqìng 隆慶	1566-1572	Longqing Emperor
Zhū Yìjūn 朱翊鈞	Xiǎndì 顯帝	Shénzōng 神宗	Wànlì 萬曆	1572-1620	Wanli Emperor
Zhū Chángluò 朱常洛	Zhēndì 貞帝	Guāngzōng 光宗	Tàichāng 泰昌	1620	Taichang Emperor
Zhū Yóujiào 朱由校	Zhédì 悊帝	Xīzōng 熹宗	Tiānqǐ 天啟	1620-1627	Tianqi Emperor
Zhū Yóujiǎn 朱由檢	Zhuānglièmǐn 莊烈愍	Sīzōng 思宗	Chóngzhēn 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.

[edit] Emperors of the Southern Ming Dynasty

Personal Name	Temple name	Reign name	Reign years	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	Prince of Lu (Luh*) 潞王 Lù Wáng
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 Wáng Lín Guó	1645-1653	Prince of Lu (Lou*) 魯王 Lǔ Wáng
Zhū Yùyuè 朱聿[金粵]	None given	Shàowǔ 紹武	1646	Prince of Tang 唐王 Táng Wáng
Zhū Yóuláng 朱由榔	None given	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.