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The Story about the Ming Dynasty: Finale

      Across the street from the North Gate of the Palace Museum is Jingshan Park, where Coal Hill was built to bring good feng shui to the imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Yet it didn’t bring any good luck to the last emperor, Chong Zhen (1617–44), who hanged himself on a tree on Coal Hill, the day peasant rebels led by Li Zicheng (1606-1645) stormed into Beijing. Before Chong Zhen committed suicide, he loosened his long hair to cover his face, a ritual to show guilt and shame. The suicidal scene was described in the last chapter of The       Story about the Ming Dynasty: Finale. With the death of Chong Zhen, the Ming Dynasty came to an end.

      As the seventh and last book of the scintillating history series, The Story about the Ming Dynasty: Finale, was welcomed by numerous feverish readers who called themselves Ming Fans. The first book was published three years ago, telling the story of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. It quickly became a hit in the book market. In comparison with serious history books, it's quite lively and entertaining, yet full of detailed descriptions of historical events. The series is such a success that many other authors are now trying to model after its grass-roots writing style.

      Readers, however, may find the author surprisingly young and amateurish despite the sophisticated knowledge presented in his books. A policeman with the China Customs service in Guangzhou, the author writes in his spare time as a hobby. In one interview, he said he has liked history ever since a child. He enjoys writing after work every day, and he also writes a blog. Will he quit his job to become a professional writer? ”Writing is my hobby,” he said. “If it became a job, it would not be so much fun anymore.”

      “There is only one way to be successful,” the author wrote in the closing sentence of the series. “Live your own life in your own way.”

The Story about Ming Dynasty: Finale

(《明朝那些事儿：大结局》 )

Dang Nian Ming Yue (当年明月)

China Customs Publishing House  (中国海关出版社) April 2009, 29.8 yuan