The Group Of Military Officers' Political Participation During Late Ming Dynasty

Centered on Qi Jiguang,this thesis explores the group of military officers' political participation during the mid and late Ming dynasty.By studying some historical issues and social phenomenon,such as the background of the age where Qi Jiguang was,the interaction between the nation and society and the country's political pattern,this thesis strives to clarify military officers' political participation in the late Ming period from three aspects.They are approaches,influence and difficulties in political participation.It reveals political power's game during the late Ming dynasty as well as the causal relationship between historical figures' fate and national development dilemma.Besides,it also describes the living state of the nation,society,groups and individuals as well as fights against the reality and the dilemma.In the mid and late stages of Ming,on one hand,the flourishing of illegal overseas trades seriously threatened the tributary trading system at that time.Because of Japanese pirate invasion on the southern coast and Mongolian threats on the north,the national frontier defense became worse gradually.On the other hand,local ban on foreign trade,national fiscal deficits and issues of refugees come and go.What's more,these two aspects mentioned above related.Therefore,the fact that this political system with a strong conservatism failed to make any effective response in the reformation led the whole country into internal and external troubles.On this occasion,military officers took part in political decision-making in the way of protecting the dynasty from Wokou militarily.The victory of defending Wokou in the late Ming promoted military officers' status.Then,the group of military officers started to take part in the nation's political life and Qi Jiguang is the most typical representative of this group.From the study focusing on Qi Jiguang,we can find some basic ways of their participation in politics.Firstly,the positive military reform could facilitate "Anda Feng Gong"(an event which marks the end of hostile state between Ming and Tartar by Tartar's leader named Anda granted a title from Ming and accepting to pay tribute)to ensure a series of reformation's implement.Secondly,they enlarged their influence through different elite groups.Thirdly,the war practice was analyzed theoretically and then formed military thoughts.The military officer group whose representative is Qi Jiguang took part in the political life and brought the positive impacts on Ming dynasty.The positive impacts can be presented from three aspects.Firstly,the military victory defending Wokou guaranteed the normal trade order and also promoted China into the integration of world.Secondly,in the process of defending,some responses to various kinds of fiscal and military crises affected Ming dynasty's political system.Thirdly,their participation urged the group of officials to adjust themselves to making some changes on the thoughts of emphasis on literature and restrict on military force.With continual decline of the group of military officers,constant development of the community of eunuch and the gradual maturity of officials,the political pattern which emphasizes literature and restricts military force has been formed since Ming Taizu's time.Besides,in the Ming's political framework,the military officers' political status always related to others so that their political participation had to depend on other political groups.Therefore,in the conflicts of factions between south people and north people,with the decline of south force,military officers were at a disadvantage in the total patterns of political powers.The military reform carried out by QiJiguang during and after the defending against Wokou,has already objectively departed from Ming's governing system having existed.In addition,the death of powerful reforming minister,Zhang Juzheng,led to Qi Jiguang's retirement directly.Eventually,this group's political participation came to an end sadly.