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Mining in Ming China
A common occupation for individuals residing in China during the Ming Dynasty from 1368 to 1644 A.D. was that of a miner; someone who extracts a variety of types of precious rock from the Earth. This occupation is a vital part to society, for example, as of 2019, China is the largest producer and consumer of coal on the entire globe. Mining is a predominant feature of many societies, both in the past and the present.

Coal miners
The most common mining done during the Ming Dynasty was coal. Coal was used in a variety of activities, starting with its initial use as earrings for upper-class women. After its energy properties were discovered, coal was used to power fires that were mainly used for their warming properties in homes and other infrastructures. Coal was also used for more intricate endeavours such as experimentation with metallurgy, usually with iron, silver, and copper.

Other miners
Other metals such as silver and copper were also extremely predominant during the Ming Dynasty, but as far as an occupational approach goes, even with the obstacle already of limited sources on this topic during this time period and location, there is far more information and sources on coal mining during the ming dynasty regarding a domestic point of view. Copper and Silver were much more involved in world trade and even more when China reorganized their economic system to be relied on the value of silver.

Technique and location of work
There were many Chinese miners during the Ming Dynasty, most of them in the north and southwest China. The limited information on them informs us that the main path into this occupation is mainly a local phenomenon. Men and their families who lived within a short vicinity of a mine usually ended up being coal miners as if they were not already merchants or artisans, mining seemed to be the most convenient option.

Mining is primarily based upon heavy, manual labor by males. This includes squashing rock with hammers and loading minerals and metals into minecarts or other similar containers. Although simple, mining was an extremely dangerous profession. The long list of risks include developing diseases such as lung cancer and other lung related diseases as well as the physical risk of a mine collapsing on you.

The people in this occupation were mainly on par with that of farmers. Both lived in the countryside as that is where mines were located and many had very large families.

Much of the actual materials mined such as silver and copper were sold to merchants to be sent off to trade, while other minerals such as coal were used for other industries that required fire such as poetry; it was also used as fuel for other furnaces and homes.

Mining was extremely important to Ming culture as it provided economic and social benefits both domestically and internationally. This was made possible by the day to day, ordinary workers who endured the harsh conditions set by mines in order for the comfort and utility of others.