Ming Dynasty was one crazy time period in terms of emperors. I remember someone once commented that the Zhu clan has the most maniacal genetics of all dynastic ruling houses.
And I totally agree! Zhu Yuanzhang was one psychotic dude and so was most of his descendants. And we also have one emperor (Hongzhi) who only had one official wife and no concubines! I admire him very much!
I think the Ming Dynasty became very closed off after YongLe(emperor who financed Zheng He's expeditions) due to coastal pirates, so they didn't grow economically/technologically as much as Song or even the Tang Dynasty (<---I may be wrong though. That's my general impression). Ming Dynasty somehow gave me the image of boom in vernacular literature (novels), crazily corrupt eunuchs, incompetent emperors, and stagnant growth due to their xenophobia.
But in terms of economic development, the Song Dynasty was actually the most economically-oriented dynasty in Chinese history, leading to the growth/prosperity of the Jiangnan region and the colonization of 岭南 Lingnan or today's Guangdong/Hainan/Guangxi provinces. However, also due to their money-making mindedness, the Song Dynasty also neglected in their military; therefore, we see all these invasions from outsiders (first Khitans, later the prototype Jurchen/Manchurian or Jins, and finally the Mongols).
Sorry for the digression from YM related news. I couldn't help myself but rant about Chinese history.