ABSTRACT
The Ming dynasty had sixteen emperors. The Ming Empire became mathematically unmanageable for two principal reasons: Its hereditary military system declined quickly, and its taxation system, aligned too closely with the village economy. Modern historians agree that the 1449 incident symbolizes a turning point for Ming military power. According to classical historians, was to allow his private life to impede on the proper functioning of his government. Once the Ming dynasty had become settled, the mainstay of the government was the bureaucracy. The greatest philosopher in Ming times was Wang Yangming. His emphasis on natural instinct led to a wide spectrum of schools of thought that bore little semblance to the disciplined mind of the master himself. Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng extended his influence to both the censorial-supervising branch and literary-educational branches of the government, as well as exercising control over the ministries.
