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Qing Dynasty

Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China

The Qing Dynasty, also known as the Great Qing, ruled China from 1636 to 1912. It was the last imperial dynasty, preceding the Republic of China. The dynasty expanded China's territory and population, becoming the largest empire in world history by 1790. Despite periods of prosperity, the Qing Dynasty faced internal revolts, economic challenges, and foreign invasions, ultimately leading to its downfall in the Xinhai Revolution.

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Ming Dynasty Chinese Civil War Sejong the Great Li Qiang Zhong Shanshan Deng Xiaoping Lai Ching-te Sengoku period Meiji Restoration Mao Zedong

Timeline

Nurhaci's Conquest of Liaoning Province

Nurhaci, the leader of the Manchu people, conquered Ming China's northeastern Liaoning province, which was a crucial step towards the eventual establishment of the Qing dynasty in 1644.

Adoption of the name 'Manchu'

In November 1635, Hong Taiji officially adopted the name 'Manchu' for the united Jurchen people, marking a significant event in the history of the Qing dynasty.

Establishment of the Great Qing

In April 1636, Hong Taiji was recommended to be the emperor of the Great Qing by Mongol nobility of Inner Mongolia, Manchu nobility, and Han mandarins, leading to the renaming of the state and his elevation to Emperor.

Creation of the first two Han Banners

In 1637, the first two Han Banners were established by Hong Taiji, which later increased to eight by 1642. These military reforms played a crucial role in defeating Ming forces in battles for territories like Songshan and Jinzhou.

Tokugawa regime of Japan shuts down foreign trade

In 1639, the Tokugawa regime of Japan closed off most of its foreign trade with European powers, impacting the flow of silver into China.

Death of Hong Taiji

In September 1643, Hong Taiji, the ruler of the Qing Dynasty, passed away suddenly. This event led to a succession dispute within the Jurchen leadership, eventually resulting in the installment of his son, Fulin, as the Shunzhi Emperor.

Defeat of Li Zicheng by Wu Sangui and Dorgon

On May 27, 1644, Wu Sangui and Dorgon allied to defeat Li Zicheng's rebel forces in battle. This victory played a crucial role in the capture of Beijing and the establishment of the Qing Dynasty.

Proclamation of Shunzhi Emperor by Manchus and Wu Sangui

After the defeat of Li Zicheng's rebel forces at the Battle of Shanhai Pass, the Manchus and Wu Sangui entered Beijing and proclaimed the young Shunzhi Emperor as the new ruler of China, marking the beginning of the Qing dynasty.

Qing Entry into Beijing

The southern cadet branch of Confucius' descendants and the 65th generation descendant in the northern branch had their titles confirmed by the Shunzhi Emperor upon the Qing entry into Beijing. The Kong's title of Duke was maintained in later reigns.

Haircutting Order

Dorgon issued the controversial July 1645 edict, known as the 'haircutting order', which forced adult Han Chinese men to shave the front of their heads and adopt the queue hairstyle. This policy was a test of loyalty to the Qing dynasty but faced strong resistance from the Han Chinese population.

Death of Dorgon

Dorgon, the regent and de facto leader of the Manchu nation, died suddenly on December 31, 1650, marking the start of the Shunzhi Emperor's personal rule.

Kangxi Becomes Emperor

In 1661, Kangxi became the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty after the death of Emperor Shunzhi, marking the beginning of his long and prosperous reign.

Koxinga Drives Out Dutch from Taiwan

In 1662, Ming loyalists under Zheng Cheng-gong, also known as Koxinga, drove out the Dutch from Taiwan and established their authority over the island.

Imprisonment of Oboi

In 1669, Kangxi, at the age of fifteen, managed to disarm and imprison Oboi, a powerful politician and experienced commander, who had achieved significant political dominance and posed a potential threat to the young emperor.

Revolt of the Three Feudatories

In 1673, three feudal lords, including Wu Sangui, revolted against Kangxi's decision to strip them of their powers, leading to an eight-year conflict known as the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, which resulted in the Qing government establishing control over a ravaged southern China.

End of the Revolt of the Three Feudatories

By 1681, the Qing government had successfully unified its forces and established control over a ravaged southern China, marking the end of the Revolt of the Three Feudatories that lasted for eight years.

Qing Dynasty Takes Control of Taiwan

In 1683, the Qing dynasty forces successfully took control of Taiwan's western and northern coastal areas, establishing their authority over the island.

Establishment of the Canton Cohong system

In 1685, the Kangxi emperor legalized private maritime trade along the coast and established the Canton Cohong system, an association of thirteen business firms with exclusive rights to conduct trade with Western merchants in Canton. This system became the only permitted avenue of Western trade into China until its abolition after the Opium War in 1842.

Treaty of Nerchinsk with Russia

The 1689 Treaty of Nerchinsk was China's first formal treaty with a European power, Russia. It kept the border peaceful for the better part of two centuries.

Population Growth and Economic Development in 18th Century China

By the end of the 18th century, China's population had doubled to 300 million from the late Ming period, due to factors like peace, stability, and the introduction of new crops from the Americas. This led to a boom in production, expansion of markets, and the rise of merchant guilds with significant social and political influence.

Publication of Kangxi Dictionary

The Kangxi Emperor sponsored the publication of the Kangxi Dictionary in 1716, which remains an authoritative reference in Chinese literature.

Yongzheng Emperor's reign begins

After the death of Kangxi Emperor, his fourth son, Prince Yong, became the Yongzheng Emperor in 1723. He promoted Confucian orthodoxy, cracked down on unorthodox sects, and outlawed Christianity.

Emperor Qianlong's Reign

Emperor Qianlong ruled China from 1735 to 1796, overseeing a prosperous period of expansion and population growth, but facing challenges of corruption and financial loss towards the end of his reign.

Completion of Complete Library of the Four Treasuries

The Qianlong Emperor sponsored the completion of the largest collection of writings in Chinese history, the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries, in 1782.

First Opium War

In 1838, the Qing Dynasty of China faced the First Opium War with Britain, who sought trading cities along the Chinese coast. The Qing resisted British influence and the opium trade, but ultimately lost to British forces.

Treaty of Nanking

In 1842, the Treaty of Nanking was signed, ending the Opium War and leading to the cession of Hong Kong to Britain and opening of Chinese ports to foreign trade.

Outbreak of the Taiping Rebellion

The Taiping Rebellion, led by Hong Xiuquan, broke out in 1850 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts in history, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Qing dynasty less than 50 years later.

Second Opium War

The Second Opium War was triggered by an incident involving the boarding of a ship, the Arrow, by Qing authorities. This led to hostilities between Britain and China, resulting in the Treaty of Tientsin which contained clauses insulting to the Chinese.

Treaty of Tientsin

The Xianfeng Emperor agreed to the Treaty of Tientsin, containing clauses insulting to the Chinese, such as demands for English in official documents and British warships access to Chinese rivers.

Burning of the Old Summer Palace

Anglo-French forces looted and burnt the Old Summer Palace in Beijing as revenge for the arrest, torture, and execution of the English diplomatic mission.

Tongzhi Restoration

The Tongzhi Restoration began in 1861 when the five-year-old Tongzhi Emperor ascended the throne. It aimed to adopt Western military technology while preserving Confucian values, with officials like Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang leading the effort.

First Sino-Japanese War

The First Sino-Japanese War of 1895 was a military humiliation for Qing China, resulting in the Treaty of Shimonoseki which recognized Korean independence and ceded Taiwan and the Pescadores to Japan. The war highlighted China's weakening power in East Asia.

Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan

In 1895, the Qing Dynasty ceded Taiwan to Japan.

Hundred Days' Reform

The Guangxu Emperor initiated the Hundred Days' Reform in 1898, aiming to reorganize the bureaucracy and appoint new officials, but faced opposition and was eventually halted by the Empress Dowager.

Boxer Rebellion

The Boxer Rebellion began in 1899, leading to the persecution of foreigners and Christians in China. Western countries intervened by sending troops and declaring war.

Boxer Rebellion

Widespread drought in North China, combined with imperialist designs of European powers and instability of the Qing government, led to emergence of the Boxers. In 1900, Boxers murdered foreign missionaries and Chinese Christians, besieged the Foreign Legation Quarter in Beijing, and were defeated by the Eight-Nation Alliance.

Late Qing Reform

Empress Dowager Cixi issued an imperial edict calling for reform proposals, leading to the era of the dynasty's 'New Policies' or 'Late Qing Reform'. The reforms included the creation of a national education system and abolition of the imperial examinations in 1905.

Death of Empress Dowager Cixi

Empress Dowager Cixi, a moderate reformer who oversaw the Tongzhi Restoration, passed away in 1908, leaving the Qing dynasty in a state of turmoil.

Death of Emperor Guangxu

On November 14, 1908, Emperor Guangxu of China died of arsenic poisoning, which was followed by the death of Empress Dowager Cixi the next day.

Wuchang Uprising

The Wuchang Uprising of 10 October 1911 led to the rejection of Qing rule by most provinces and the establishment of the Republic of China in Nanjing with Sun Yat-sen as provisional head. This marked the beginning of the end of Imperial China.

Abdication of Puyi

Empress Dowager Longyu issued an imperial edict bringing about the abdication of the child emperor Puyi on 12 February 1912, ending over 2,000 years of Imperial China and ushering in a period of warlord factionalism.

End of the Timeline
Qing Dynasty

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