The Study Of Longqing Reformation In Ming Dynasty

Longqing reign was the turning point in the historical development of Ming Dynasty. After entered its middle stage, the empery was faced with a severe situation for its anarchy, official corruption, financial crisis and frontier conjuncture. An overall reformation had to be implemented in order to put down disturbances and consolidate the empery's dominant position.The changes of crowns offered a hard-won chance to renew. Longqing government immediately took measures to compensate the imperial censors, punish alchemists, cease worship, limit expense and reduce redundance. These measures, in a way, solved or even removed the abuse left by Jiajing reign, and played an important role in mitigating the crisis and stabilizing the situation. All the efforts offered preconditions for the more profound reformation in Longqing reign.The essential issues in the feudal age such as administration of officials, economy, military affairs and frontier defence were involved in the reformation in Longqing reign. It was the outset of a great reformation during the middle and late stages of Ming Dynasty. Aimed at removing the political abuse, Longqing government rectificated the imperial examinations and changed the personnel system on the one hand, and pushed strict examination system of bureaucracy on the other hand. The innovation in economy included several steps. The first was to push business-friendly policies, the second was to open trade to boost private overseas trade, the third was to proceed taxation reformation called single tax in silver started in Jiajing reign. In order to buildup Ming's military, Longqing government exerted itself to reform armament and consolidate the army. And finally achieved "Anda Khan's being granted with reward and paying tribute to the royal court". This move ended the Ming's long-standing frontier disaster of more than a hundred years.The influence of the reformation was far and wide. It, to some degree, changed the declining trend of the reign. As an important moment of the great reformation during Jiajing, Longqing and Wanli reigns, its ideas and practice of innovation set a good example for Zhang Juzheng's political practice.