Protesting to the Death: Thefuquein Ming Political History

AbstractFive mass demonstrations, staged by officials, took place at irregular intervals in Beijing over the middle years of the Ming dynasty. The first took place in 1449, and the last in 1524. These highly emotional affairs were known as FUQUE, and they appear to have been a peculiarity of the Ming governing order during its middle years. Instead of dispersing as usual at the end of a routine morning assembly at the Palace, the officials, profoundly agitated over some matter of policy, would decide to remain in place in the hope that the ruler might be so "moved" (gandong) by their collective show of determination and sincerity as to rethink the issue at hand, change his mind, and endorse their position.