Qing dynasty, Wade-Giles romanization Ch’ing, also called Manchu dynasty or Pinyin Manzu, the last of the imperial dynasties of China, spanning the years 1644 to 1911/12. Under the Qing the territory of the empire grew to treble its size under the preceding Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the population grew from some 150 million to 450 million, many of the non-Chinese minorities within the empire were Sinicized, and an integrated national economy was established. Qing dynasty China during the late Qing dynasty. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Top Questions What is the Qing dynasty? The Qing (or Ch’ing) dynasty, also called the Manchu (or Manzu) dynasty, was the last of the imperial dynasties of China, spanning from 1644 to 1911/12. Where was the Qing dynasty located? The Qing dynasty was primarily located in what is now China and Mongolia, along with parts of Russia. When was the Qing dynasty established? The Qing dynasty was established in 1636 by the Manchus to designate their regime in Manchuria, in what is now northeastern China. It became the imperial dynasty of all of China in 1644 after the reigning Ming dynasty called upon the Manchus for military assistance. The Manchus used that opening to declare their own imperial rule. What did the Qing dynasty accomplish? Under the Qing dynasty the territory of the Chinese empire expanded greatly, and the population grew from some 150 million to 450 million. Many of the non-Chinese minorities within the empire were Sinicized, and an integrated national economy was established. The dynasty’s cultural accomplishments included work with jade carving, painting, and porcelain; philological developments; and the development of jingxi (Peking opera).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy McKenna , Senior Editor.