Xi_dynasty
Xi dynasty
Chinese imperial dynasty from 1643 to 1647 AD
The Xi dynasty (/ʃi/; Chinese: 西朝; pinyin: Xī Cháo; Wade–Giles: Hsi¹ Chʻao²), officially the Great Xi (Chinese: 大西; pinyin: Dà Xī; lit. 'Great West'), was a short-lived Chinese imperial dynasty that existed during the Ming–Qing transition. The dynasty, which lasted from 1643 to 1647, was established by the peasant rebellion leader Zhang Xianzhong, by proclaiming himself the title of the "king" (王) and later the "emperor" (皇帝) of the Great Xi,[1] similar to the contemporary Shun dynasty established by another rebellion leader Li Zicheng. The Xi dynasty was based at Chengdu since 1644 with the era name "Dashun" (大顺, "Great Shun") and ruled most of Sichuan province, after Zhang Xianzhong seized the control of the province from the late Ming dynasty. During the regime's brief existence the province of Sichuan was greatly devastated and depopulated.[2] The dynasty ended in 1647 after the death of Zhang Xianzhong, and its territory fell to the forces of the Southern Ming and the Manchu-led Qing dynasty.
