In April 1644 Li Zicheng's rebel army captured Beijing and the last Ming emperor
崇祯 Chóngzhēn hanged himself on Coal Hill. His Shun (
大顺) dynasty lasted barely 42 days — Ming general
吴三桂 Wú Sānguì opened Shanhai Pass to the Manchus, who drove Li out and founded the Qing. The story is the dramatic hinge between the Ming and Qing dynasties.
