The Imperial Clan Of Ming Dynasty In Shanxi

In the early period of Ming Dynasty, Zhu yuanzhang established the royal clan's system, then conformed the system after some adjustment. The imperial clan was endowed with prerogative in areas of politics, economy and judicature. There were three imperial clan systems in Shanxi Province, Jin imperial clan system, Dai imperial clan system and Shen imperial clan system. They were composed of the Qin wang and the imperial clan who were reproduced from Qin wang. Shanxi was situated in the Northern border defense front, whose strategic location was very important. Jin wang and Dai wang not only possessed armed soldiers, but also lead them to open up field. They contributed for defending border against Menggu to a certain degree. Nevertheless, Qin wang's political right was gradually weakened after "Jing Nan Zhi Yi". They became parasitism estate. Externally the country's policy provided material condition for imperial clan's population reproduction. The imperial clan's totality in Shanxi was the largest all of the country, which resulted in negative effects. One side, the food supply was in scarcity, the other side, the land couldn't accommodate so much population. The government took measures to resolve the contradictory, but there was only little effect. In the middle Ming period, the imperial clan members polarized seriously, so as to "the overbearing disturbed the law and discipline and the impoverished ruined the custom". The crime occurred in various areas of Shanxi. The imperial clan of lower floor severely interfered with the regional control order because of indigence. Whereas this situation, the government had to boost the power of penalty constantly. But that can't solve problems radically. In the late Ming period, the ruler took a reform concerning disparking the prohibition rule. A lot of imperial clan in Shanxi served as officials according to the exam. They were outstanding representatives of the imperial clan reform. But more imperial clan was not willing to give up the parasitism living. So the government had to increase the taxes and duties to defray the salary of imperial clan. At last, the farmers who were exploited deeply exterminated this rotten estate during the insurgence.