Wu Sangui - Cash, H# 21.88

San Fan Rebellion. OB: Li Yong tong bao. Type 1.1 w/ closed head, two dot tong. Rx: Li to the left (one Li of silver).
Wu Sangui is a prominent figure in the San-Fan rebellion. He was rightfully vilified as the Ming general who actually invited the Manchu forces into China proper thinking they would help quell the revolt of Li Tzu-Ch'eng. Li Tzu-Ch'eng (ca. 1606-1645) was a Chinese bandit whose rebellion was the last major popular uprising in imperial China. It also caused the downfall of the Ming dynasty, the last Chinese ruling house of the Middle Kingdom.
A native of Shensi, Li Tzu-Ch'eng spent his youth as a post-station messenger, skilled in horsemanship and archery and fond of quarrels and combats. Toward the end of the Ming dynasty, official corruption and maladministration caused general economic breakdown and sowed the seeds of popular uprisings. In 1628 a great famine occurred in Shensi, and bandits became rampant.
Later, after Manchu forces showed themselves to be conquerors rather than allies, Wu Sangui fought against them for eight years. In doing so he established his own dynasty known as the Zhou. His intent was not to reestablish the Ming but to create his own empire in southern China. So, for this reason, and the fact that he had invited the Manchus in, along with killing the last remaining Ming heir in Burma, Wu Sangui and his cause was never accepted by many in China.
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