Zhang Xianzhong - Hu - Museum Gallery

In Dec. 1644 Zhang Xianzhong, another prominent rebel leader of the time, proclaimed himself 'Da Xi Guo Wang', King of the Great Western Kingdom, at Chengdu in Sichuan. He cast coins with the title of his dynasty "Dashun." The metal for casting these coins came from statues and ornaments from the temples in the Chengdu area. He was eventually killed by the Manchu forces in Jan of 1647, Schjoth comments: " Zhang was chiefly known as one of the most murderous ruffians who have disgraced the annals of China. This substantial coin was sought after by seafarers and others as a charm."
OB: Dashun tong bao; RX: 'Gong' (Board of Works) below hole.
Hartill 21.6; H Qing 2.14; S1327.
27.2 mm; 5.25 gm
Zhang Xianzhong was a Chinese rebel leader at the close of the Ming dynasty. He is known as one of the worst mass-murderers in the history of China - under him, the population of Sichuan shrank from 5 million people to some 18 thousand people, and the population of Chengdu shrank from 400,000 people to 20 people.
Following a disastrous famine in the northern province of Shaanxi in 1628, Zhang became the leader of a gang of freebooters who used hit-and-run tactics to plunder widely throughout North China. Although his forces were bought off several times and were defeated by government troops, they retreated into the hills, regrouped, and continued their raids. In 1644, the year of the fall of the Ming dynasty, Zhang advanced once again into Sichuan province in west-central China with about 100,000 men and enthroned himself as the Daxiguo Wang (King of the Great Western Kingdom). He coined money and set up an examination system to recruit talented men. Despite these attempts to establish a civilian government, he was chiefly concerned with military control, which he pursued with utter ruthlessness, eventually resulting in a virtual depopulation of Sichuan and deaths of millions of people. In late 1646 and early 1647, when Qing forces advanced into southwestern China, they attacked and killed him and defeated his troops.
The Moneta Library has a very informative article on all the the Ming Rebels, Southern Ming and San Fan rebellions.
Free VIEWING & DOWNLOAD:
Cast Coinage of the Ming Rebels - Sandrock: [ link ]
Ming Rebel Excel Spreadsheet for collectors (Hartill #'s)
Ming Rebel Checklist - Martin: [ link ]