Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty (pronounced: ching dynasty) also known as the Manchu Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and succeeded by the Republic of China. The Qing multi-cultural empire lasted for almost three centuries and formed the territorial base for modern China.

Etymology

The term "Qing" (pronounced: ching) comes from the name of the Jurchen's dynasty, the Jin Dynasty, which ruled northern China from the 12th to the 13th century. The character "Qing" (清) is composed of "water" (氵) and "azure" (青), implying that the Qing Dynasty was a "clear" or "pure" dynasty.

Related Terms

Manchu: The Manchu are an ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchuria derives its name. They are sometimes called "red-tasseled Manchus".
Ming Dynasty: The Ming Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, described by some as "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic Han Chinese.
Republic of China: The Republic of China (ROC) was a state in East Asia from 1912 to 1949. It occupied the territories of modern China, and for some of its history Mongolia and Taiwan. It was established on 1 January 1912 after the Xinhai Revolution, which overthrew the Qing dynasty.
Jurchen: The Jurchen are a Tungusic people who inhabited the region of Manchuria until the 17th century, when they adopted the name Manchu.
Jin Dynasty: The Jin Dynasty, officially known as the Great Jin, lasted from 1115 to 1234 as one of the last dynasties in Chinese history to predate the Mongol invasion of China.