Wikipedia:Today's featured list/June 13, 2025
The emperors of the Ming dynasty ruled over China proper from 1368 to 1644 during the late imperial era of China (960–1912). The Ming dynasty, which succeeded the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty and preceded the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, was founded by the peasant rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang, known as the Hongwu Emperor (pictured). All Ming emperors were of the House of Zhu. After 1644, members of the dynasty continued to rule a series of rump states, commonly known as the Southern Ming, in southern China until 1662. The longest-reigning emperor of the dynasty was the Wanli Emperor (reigned 1572–1620), who ruled for 48 years; the shortest-reigning was his successor, the Taichang Emperor, who ruled for only 29 days in 1620. The Ming emperor, following a practice established in the Zhou dynasty, was known as the "Son of Heaven". He was viewed as the intermediary between humans and heaven, and was responsible for conducting numerous rituals to honor the supreme deities who safeguarded the empire. (Full list...)