Our Daily Life

   Our social classes are very different. Most peasants have cramped up homes as the wealthy had enormous, grand houses built of stone. The Peasants homes were mostly of clay and they worked for wealthy families as the "Help." Some might just live on the streets. The rich is more likely to large areas of land with a lot of space.
   The clothing differs as well. Some who worked as guards had embroided silk uniforms. Others with regular clothing. some so poor only had rags. It really is determined with their social classes. One would only think it wouldn't be this harsh. The weather impacts many factors.
   Food was obtained by planting or going to the stall market. The wealthy was more likely to plant all the crops they need as others might plant as much as they could to feed their family. It wasn't always for the luxury items, sometimes is was for what would keep them alive.

Yongle's Demands

   Yongle has ordered a large fleet of ships to trade among the west. His name meaning "Eternal Happiness" is certainly not what he is causing. Just before the large fleets departured, Zhu Di executed all supporters of Jianwen as well as their families and associates. Harsh but he is the Emperor and what he says goes.
   Yongle made seven new ministries to take the place of those Hongwu destroyed. Though some are researching if Yongle even deserves to rein power. Leads have been found that he may have changed records to show his mother was the Empress Ma. They don't know if it is a case of impersonation or not. But it very well does look like he is trying to hide something big.
 

Matteo Ricci

   A man very popular today, Matteo Ricci. He is a Jesuit missionary with a big intention. He is trying to convert all the Chinese to the Christian religion. He came to China very well educated. He thinks the only way to influence the Chinese people was to get them to trust them. With this decision he learned the language and characters for writing. He also created a English-Chinese dictionary. Lastly he learned Confucious prayers.
   His idea has grown very widely. The growth of this religion is the largest China has seen in a while. His followers grow in numbers everday. Soon it might become the new official religion. Confucios teaching look like they won't last too long. All because of a man with a big idea that he is on the verge of doing.

Religion

   Most Chinese are Confucianists. All schools in the nation teach the ways of Confucious. Some of the Chinese were converting to Christianity but not all of them. The only influence was of Matteo Ricci who had a quest to convert the Chinese to become Christians. He even learned the ways of Confucious to show others it wasn't hard to change religions. His idea has changed the minds of Chinese. Who knows it might become the official religion at some point. It's the fastest growing religion in the nation.
   There are other beliefs not of religion. For example there is feng shui, and Yin and Yang. They are about balance in everything. Ying represents water and balance between nature. Yang the opposite force, the mascular and imperial force. It is associated with uneven numbers, and also represents the "Mountains" and evergreen trees. Everything is said to be "balanced" in Chinese belief.
  

A Trading Base

    The Portuguese are coming more and more every day. They arrived at Guangzhou. The Europeans just started their exploration of the world as some have said. The Portuguese were the ones who first sailed down the coast of Africa and started routes to the South China coast.
    It was illegal to trade with the Chinese but it wasn't hard to take a bribe. It wasn't long before a "rule" was broken. Porcelain became has become very popular now by potters for white clay. Traders are using the grand canal to ship porcelan down the river. It has even been named over China. It won't be long until the whole world is filled with "China."

Map of Ming Dynasty

    Here is a map of the Ming Dynasty in 1400. The Greast Wall divides Mongolia and what is the Ming Dynasty. This starts to form the border between modern day China and Mongolia. Though now the map of China is grown to the west. Some of the cities haven't moven like Beijing which is still the capital of China. Not much has changed overtime of the geography but the growth of this empire.

Zhengtong who?

    After Zhengtong's kidnapping nobody cared about him. Instead of trading items for his safe return they decided they would just get a new Emperor. The Mongols only did this because they hoped to get money and items for China's Emperor back. It's as if China doesn't really care about old things. They might think "It's easier to get something new, rather then to get the old thing back."
    Most people like to take the easy way out. People did it back then, no wonder they do it now. It was as if Zhengtong never existed. Most thought he might not even be raised to power once again. The New Emperor Jingtai was a last minute replacement. Almost temporary but Jingtai shouldn't be in rein. When will China wake up and see that Zhengtong should be Restored?
    China not knowing who to control them picked someone at random. Is China this desperate for a new Emperor? "The world will never know."

A Captive Emperor

    Zhengtong was kidnapped today. Xuande's eldest son, The Emperor only twenty-two years old. Zhengtong having no experience in the army, decided to call a counter-attack.
    His army not prepared at all, fought the Mongols. The Mongols got passed the Great Wall as they raced to attack Beijing Zhengtong took poor advice so the Chinese Army was conquered.
    The Mongols had no problem overwhelming their opponents. They killed by the thousands but kidnapped one man, The Emperor. They kept him as their hostage to try and compromise with the Chinese. China refused any trade instead they took measures into their own hand.
    Instead of taking Zhengtong back they appointed a new Emperor, Jingtai. Very frustrated The Mogols let Zhengtong free because they had no use of him anymore.Though they haven't restored him to power yet. Jingtai will remain The Emperor. This kidnapping caused the government to upgrade the Great Wall. They added a second line of defense. Adding to the Great Wall is because China is wary about The Mongols to the north.