Poverty in the Imperial Clan: What Petitions to Increase Princely Stipends Mean for Ming History

This paper examines the phenomenon of poverty among imperial clansmen in Ming China (1368–1644) by analyzing 143 petitions submitted between 1411 and 1490 recorded in the Veritable Records of the Ming asking for stipend increases. The founding emperor had designed a generous stipend system to provide for imperial descendants, symbolizing their privileged status and social prestige. However, the imperial clan’s rapid growth, combined with lower income relative to high expenditures, rendered the state unable to pay out these stipends. This paper explores the reasons behind these petitions, the court’s responses, and the broader socioeconomic consequences.

Recognizing the huge financial drain posed by the princely institution, later Ming emperors converted large portions of the clansmen’s stipends into worthless paper currency. Indeed, most petitions asked for the stipend to be converted to rice, citing financial hardships exacerbated by inflation, growing household sizes, and ceremonial obligations. And although the court implemented remedial measures – such as partial conversions, temporary grants, and paying some stipends in silver – these policies were unable to alleviate the widespread poverty among lower-ranking clansmen. In 1490, the court banned such petitions altogether but without introducing any meaningful reforms, signaling that it had no good solutions to the problem.

The princely stipend system thus reflected some of the broader challenges the Ming faced, such as fiscal limitations, bureaucratic rigidity, and a propensity for temporary expediency over structural reform. The persistent financial struggles of lower-ranking clansmen not only led to widespread impoverishment but also fueled corruption, crime, and even attempted rebellion. It was only towards the end of the dynasty that the court allowed clansmen to engage in other occupations and take the civil service examinations, the most significant reform to the institution since its inception. But by then, it was already too late – the Ming would soon fall.