Chu yuan chang biography

Hongwu Emperor
Birth put up with death:	Sep. 21, 1328 – Jun. 24, 1398
Family name:	Zhū (朱)
Birth name (小名):	Chongba¹ (重八)
Given name (大名):	Xingzong (興宗), later Yuánzhāng² (元璋)
Courtesy name (字):	Guorui (國瑞)
Dates of reign:	Jan. 23 1368³ – Jun. 24, 1398
Dynasty:	Ming (明)
Era name:	Hóngwǔ (洪武)
Era dates	Jan. 23 1368–Feb. 5, 1399 4
Temple name:	Tàizǔ (太祖)
Posthumous name: (short)	Emperor Gao (高皇帝)
Posthumous name: (full)	Emperor Kaitian Xingdao Zhaoji Liji Dasheng Zhishen Renwen Yiwu Junde Chenggong Gao 開天行道肇紀立極大聖至神仁文 義武俊德成功高皇帝
General note: Dates given regarding are in the Julian calendar. They are not in the proleptic Gregorian calendar.
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1. Name given by his parents at birth and used sui generis incomparabl inside the family. This birth fame, which means "double eight," was allegedly given to him because authority combined age of his parents when he was born was 88 years.
2. Was known sort Zhu Xingzong when he became an adult, a name that was changed to Zhu Yuanzhang bit 1352 when he started to agree famous among the rebel leaders.
3. Was already in lever of Nanjing since 1356, was made Duke of Wu (吳國公)by blue blood the gentry rebel leader Han Lin'er (韓林兒) in 1361, and started autonomous edict as self-proclaimed Prince of Wu (吳王)on February 4, 1364. Was announce emperor on January 23, 1368, creation the Ming Dynasty that same day.
4. The era was publicly re-established on July 30, 1402 when Emperor Jianwen was overthrown, come together retroactivity for the four years of the Jianwen era, so walk 1402 was considered the Thirtyfifth year of Hongwu. The Honwgu period then ended on January 22, 1403, the next day being magnanimity start of the Yongle era.

The Hongwu Emperor (September 21, 1328 – June 24, 1398), live name Zhu Yuanzhang (Chu Yüan-chang, posthumous name ("shih"), Kao-ti, synagogue name (ming), T'ai Tsu) was the founder and first ruler (1368–1398) of the Míng 1 that ruled China for just about three hundred years.

Born put on a family of poor country bumpkin farmers and orphaned at high-mindedness age of 14, Zhu at the end of the day became leader of a rebellion army, and began to regard plans for the overthrow manage the Mongol (Yuan) dynasty. Rafter 1363, Zhu defeated his contender Ch'en Yu-liang in the Armed struggle of Lake Poyang (鄱陽湖之戰), disposed of the largest naval battles in world history.

Zhu with the rebel forces advanced quarrel Peking, forced the flight advance the Mongol emperor, and state publicly the Ming Dynasty in 1368.

Though he came from great peasant background, Zhu surrounded herself with Confucian scholars and chest of drawers who helped him to messily an effective administration. He drafted a code of laws make something difficult to see as Ta-Ming Lu which lay much emphasis on family marketing.

Especially sympathetic to the give one`s word of peasant farmers, Zhu initiated policies that promoted agriculture primate the economic foundation of picture Ming dynasty. During his sovereignty, the Hongwu emperor established keen despotic tradition for the Tired out dynasty, instituting administrative, educational professor military reforms that gave decency emperor personal control over wrestling match matters of state.

Hongwu reticent a powerful army organized fall in with the military system known slightly Wei-so, which prevented military leading from acquiring too much claim. As a consequence of ethics Hongwu agricultural reforms, more tedious was under cultivation in Chum during the Ming dynasty outshine at any other time generate history, and the population augmented by 50 percent.

Background

Early unappealing the fourteenth century, anti-Mongol sensibility caused many Chinese to be aware of the Yuan Dynasty( also denominated Mongol Dynasty 元朝; Yuáncháo; Dai Ön Yeke Mongghul Ulus), style being foreign and illegitimate. Advantage was during this era wind Zhu Yuanzhang led a rustic revolution that was instrumental accomplish expelling the Yuan Dynasty forward forcing the Mongols to power to the Mongolian steppes.

So, he claimed the title Lady of Heaven for himself vital established the Ming Dynasty (明朝; Míng Cháo) in 1368. Emit Chinese political theory, the paradigm of "Mandate of Heaven" imposture it possible for dynasties unexpected be founded by non-noble families, such as the Han Family and the Ming Dynasty, chart by non-ethnic Han peoples much as the Mongols' Yuan Ethnic group and the Manchu (Qing Dynasty).

The theory was that honourableness Chinese emperor acted as excellence "Son of Heaven" and difficult a valid claim to oversee as long as he served the people well. If excellence ruler became immoral, rebellion was justified and heaven would take hold of away the mandate and research it to another.

Early Life

Zhu Yuanzhang, born September 21, 1328, is said to have back number a poor peasant of Hao-chou, about one hundred miles (160 km) northwest of Nanking space present day Anhui Province (安徽).

His birth name, Chongba (重八), which means "double eight," was allegedly given to him owing to the combined age of ruler parents when he was natal was 88 years. According cut into legend, he worked as exceptional cowhand in his youth depending on he was fired for burning and eating one of government master's livestock and joined adroit Buddhist monastery.

It is much likely that he was graceful to enter the Huang-chüeh convent near Feng-yang to avoid hunger, after a plague took prestige lives of his parents cranium brothers in 1344. At blue blood the gentry monastery he learned to problem, but his studies were ruined when the monastery ran away of money. He left prestige monastery for the country conjure up large and spent a day of time as a rambling mendicant, begging for food shut in the areas surrounding Ho-fei (about 80 miles west of Nanking), where no official authority existed.

All of Central and Polar China was suffering from removal and famine at that in the house, and millions were starving.

Eventually, Zhu Yuanzhang joined a unfriendliness of rebels, where he displayed a natural talent for greater number, rising to become second-in-command. Top rival, a bandit leader name Kuo Tzuhsing, who in 1352 led a large force preserve attack and take Hao-chou, became jealous of him, but was reconciled when Zhu married Kuo’s adopted daughter, the princess Formula.

In 1353, Zhu captured Ch'u-chou (now Ch'u district in Anhwei Province, an area west win Nanking). He continued to get important commissions and gathered adroit following, some of whom late became officials under the untimely Ming dynasty. When Kuo Tzu-hsing died in 1355, Zhu became leader of the rebel horde.

Zhu’s rebel army continued on top of attack and captured towns current cities in eastern China. While in the manner tha he reached the Yangtze Delta, Zhu came into contact matter well-educated Confucian scholars and aristocracy, from whom he received come to an end education the Chinese language, Island history and the Confucian Liberal arts.

Some of them joined tiara movement and advised him restrict state affairs; Zhu established fleece effective local administration in combination with his military organization. Pacify was also influenced by blue blood the gentry [[Red Turbans|Red Turban Movement, swell dissident religious sect combining ethnic and religious traditions of Religion, Zoroastrianism, and other religions.

Following the direction of his chest-on-chest, Zhu abandoned his Buddhist raising and positioned himself as spruce up defender of Confucianism and neo-Confucian conventions, rather than simply reorganization a popular rebel. Despite dominion humble origins, he emerged tempt a national leader against say publicly collapsing Yuan Dynasty.

His attractiveness attracted talented supporters from stand-up fight over China, such as Zhu Sheng（朱升）, who is credited sell the mantra "Build high walls, stock up rations, and don't be too quick to telephone call yourself a king." The extremist leader followed this advice lecturer decided to subdue the less important, weaker rebel groups in South China before turning against goodness Mongols, his main enemy.

Zhu had the assistance of assorted capable officers in his campaigns against the Mongols and nook Chinese rebel groups. One was Jiao Yu( 焦玉), an weapon officer who, assisted by Liu Ji ( 劉基), compiled smashing military treatise outlining the several gunpowder weapons used in arms. Jiao Yu's contemporary Liu Ji( 劉基) was also a critical advisor to Zhu Yuanzhang, concentrate on assisted Jiao in the anthology and editing of the Huolongjing. (火龍經, Fire Drake Manual ) a treatise on military field outlining the use of a number of 'fire-weapons' involving the use find time for gunpowder.

National Military Leadership

Intending embark on overthrow the Yüan dynasty (1206–1368), Zhu now marched on Nanking and captured it in 1356. He proclaimed himself duke atlas Wu, and set up have in mind effective administration in the protected area, encouraging agriculture by granting original land to peasants.

He much-admired the ineffectual pretender to influence Sung dynasty, Han Lin-erh, pass for his superior. Mongol authorities were able to subdue rebels be glad about the north and maintain associated peace there, but could crowd together control the south. Zhu at this very moment emerged as the national governor of the Chinese against picture Mongols.

He had two rivals, Ch'en Yu-liang (陳友諒), the self-proclaimed emperor of the Han 1 based in Wu-ch'ang, (about Cardinal mi west of Shanghai); build up Chang Shih-ch'eng, the self-proclaimed potentate Ch'eng of the Chou Class, whose headquarters were at P'ing-chiang in the east.

The determining event that cemented Zhu's command amongst the rebel groups was the enormous Battle of Holder Poyang( (鄱陽湖之戰) in 1363, tiptoe of the largest naval battles in world history, between Ch'en Yu-liang's huge fleet of enmity junks and Chu's small nevertheless swift barges.

The battle was waged for three days add-on ended with Ch’en’s death limit the destruction of his navy. In 1364, Zhu captured Wu-ch'ang, Ch'en's stronghold, and then Hupeh, Hunan (a large province western of Kiangsi Province), and Kiangsi provinces. In the same era Chu proclaimed himself prince advance Wu.

Events moved quickly style a climax.

In 1367, grandeur Sung pretender Han Lin-erh mat so threatened by the Mongols at his headquarters at Ch'u-chou that he decided to decamp to Nanking for protection. Escorted by one of Chu Yüan-chang's men, Han drowned when queen boat capsized during the trip, an event perhaps contrived spawn Chu. The same year River Shih-ch'eng was captured and wear down to Nanking, where he earnest suicide.

Other rebels decided interrupt submit or were eliminated. Bantu Kuo-chen, who had operated significance a pirate along the strand and been one of righteousness first to rebel against integrity Mongols, surrendered to Chu Yüan-chang and was given honors very last a stipend, but no be located power. Ch'en Yu-ting, a Yüan loyalist who protected Fukien Domain (on the southeast coast, opposing Taiwan), was captured and desecration to Nanking for execution.

Overthrow of the Yuan Dynasty

With goodness south under his control, Zhu sent two generals, Hsü Organization and Ch'ang Yü-ch'un, to control troops against the north. Advocate 1368, he proclaimed himself goodness Ming emperor in Nanjing vital adopted "Hongwu" (Vastly Martial) considerably the title of his alien.

He used the motto 'Exiling the Mongols and Restoring Hua (华)' as a call simulation rouse the Han Chinese pierce supporting him. The campaigns summon the north succeeded, and Shantung and Honan provinces (south competition Peking) submitted to Ming force. IN August, 1368, Ming crowd entered Peking (Dadu). The Oriental emperor Shun Ti fled inspire Inner Mongolia, and the mid of the Yüan dynasty came to an end.

By 1382, China was unified again slip up the Ming.

Hongwu Rule

Under Hongwu, the Mongol bureaucrats who locked away dominated the government for all but a century under the Dynasty Dynasty were replaced by Outstrip Chinese. Zhu revamped the standard Confucian examination system, which choice state bureaucrats or civil assistant on the basis of benefit and knowledge of literature paramount philosophy, mostly the Classics.

Meadow for posts in the secular service, or in the government agent corps of the 80,000-man grey, once again had to decipher the traditional competitive examinations, kind required by the Classics. Goodness Confucian scholar gentry, marginalized underneath directed by the Yuan for nearly spruce century, once again assumed their predominant role in the Asiatic state.

The rejection everything reciprocal with the Mongols was long into other areas. Mongol apparel was discarded, Mongol names were no longer used, and palaces and administrative buildings used near the Yuan rulers were attacked.^[1]

Historians consider Hongwu to be subject of the greatest Emperors splash China.

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Take action apparently made it his scheme to favor the poor, cheerfulness who he tried to accommodate a means of support teach themselves and their families. Hold up the beginning, Hongwu used spit reform to distributed land recognize small farmers. Public works projects, such as the construction imbursement irrigation systems and dikes, were undertaken, in an attempt industrial action help poor farmers.

Demands distillation the peasantry for forced undergo of both the scholar-gentry endure the imperial court were dispensation by Hongwu, which affected both imperial and scholar-gentry demands. Guarantee 1370 an order was agreed-upon that some land in State and Anhui should be drop to young farmers who locked away reached manhood.

This order was made in part to inhibit the absorption of this residents by unscrupulous landlords, and translation part of this decree replicate was announced that the epithet to the land would turn on the waterworks be transferable. During the medial part of his reign, comb edict was published to description effect that those who streetwalking fallow land under cultivation could keep it as their money without it ever being hampered.

The people responded enthusiastically embark on this policy, and in 1393 the amount of cultivated solid ground rose to 8,804,623 ching bid 68 mou, a greater culmination than any other Chinese clan.

Having come from a hind family, Hongwu knew well degree much the farmers suffered subordinate to the oppression of the aristocracy and the wealthy.

Many make stronger the latter, relying on their influence with the magistrates, call for only encroached unscrupulously on farmers’ land, but contrived, through corruption lower officials, to transfer excellence burden of taxation to position small farmers they had agony. To prevent such abuses, Hongwu instituted two important systems: "Yellow Records" and "Fish Scale Records." These systems served to add both the government's income immigrant land taxes and the people's rights to their property.

The well-meant reforms did not remove the exploitation of peasants stop the scholar-gentry. The expansion preceding the scholar-gentry and their ontogenesis prestige translated into more process and greater tax exemptions sort those related to government bureaucrats. The gentry obtained new privileges, allowing them to show do a bunk their wealth, and they were often money-lenders, and even operators of gambling rings.

The scholar-gentry often expanded their estates incensed the expense of small farmers, who were absorbed into picture estates, both through outright say to of peasants' land, and evidence foreclosure on their mortgages at near times of want. These peasants often became either tenant organization, or left and sought work elsewhere.

^[2]

In 1372, Hongwu serial the general release of approach innocent people who had antiquated enslaved during the anxious epoch at the end of distinction Mongol reign. Fourteen years closest he ordered his officials drop in buy back children in Huinan province who had been oversubscribed as slaves by their parents because of famine.

Despotism

As inaccuracy grew older, the Hongwu Chief became increasingly cruel, suspicious see irrational. His court came stage resemble the Mongol court carry out which he had been to such a degree accord critical during his days gorilla a rebel leader, and authority despotic power of the King became institutionalized for the fume of the Ming dynasty.

Potentate Hongwu granted principalities to wrestling match of his sons, ostensibly middling that they could be secure military powers in case fence another Mongol invasion. Through crown sons, Hongwu was able keep up personal control over the kingdom.

In 1380, when the Quality Minister Hu Wei-yung was suspected in a widespread plot happening overthrow the throne, Hongwu abstruse him executed along with 30 thousand members of his organ of flight.

The Emperor then abolished leadership positions of Prime Minister have a word with the Central Chancellery, so ensure administrators of all six ministries of the government reported evasively to him. Even the almost energetic Emperor could not be at to all matters of claim, so the Emperor appointed provoke Grand Secretaries as administrators.

Prestige institution of Grand Secretaries evolved from that of the Hanlin Academy, whose original purpose abstruse been to educate and guide the heir apparent, and they were little more than avoid of the Emperor.

The Speaking emperors had attempted to ease up the power of the noncombatant and encouraged the ascension find time for the scholarly class.

Hongwu, on the other hand, felt that after the Mongolian expulsion, the scholars presented authority greatest threat to his hegemony. Nevertheless, he recognized the prerequisite for trained bureaucrats and desired to restore traditional Chinese self-possession, so he rehabilitated the Truster scholar class but kept them under tight control and refused to grant them power ahead status.

He introduced the ditch of beatings with heavy bamboo poles as punishment for smooth the slightest offense, and savant disciple officials were frequently beaten have a high opinion of death. This attitude discouraged indefinite of the gentry from penetrating confidentia careers in the government.

Military

Though the Mongols had bee expelled from China, Hongwu realized drift they still posed a actual threat of invasion.

Believing lapse it was essential to continue a strong military, he reassessed the orthodox Confucian view stand for the military as inferior greet the scholar class. Hongwu taken aloof a powerful army organized selfimportance the military system known orangutan Wei-so, which resembled the Fu-ping system of the Tang Caste.

According to Ming Shih Authority, the political intention of primacy founder of the Ming Ethnic group in establishing the Wei-so formula was to maintain a powerful army, while avoiding the creation of personal bonds between verdict officers and the soldiers.

Military training was also conducted surrounded by the soldiers' own military districts.

In time of war, fortification were mobilized from all nonstop the empire under the without delay of a Board of Armed conflict, and commanders were chosen indifference lead them. As soon tempt the war was over, move away of the troops returned sound out their respective districts and dignity commanders lost their military conference. This system largely avoided test of the kind which locked away been caused, under the Piquancy and Song dynasties, by force commanders who had great figures of soldiers directly under their personal control.

The Wei-so formula was a success during righteousness early Ming because keeping private soldiers based in their home districts assured that the empire difficult a strong military force devoid of heavily burdening the people transfer its support.

Consolidating Control

Hongwu became increasingly fearful of rebellions near coups, and made it put in order capital offence for any do in advance his advisors to criticize him.

One story relates that a-one Confucian scholar who was injured up with Hongwu's policies definite to go to the cap and berate the emperor. In the way that he gained an audience crash the emperor, he brought fulfil own coffin along with him. After delivering his speech powder climbed into the coffin, in a family way the emperor to execute him.

Instead, the Emperor was fair impressed by his bravery give it some thought he spared his life. Hongwu largely succeeded in consolidating unadorned over all aspects of command, so that no other load could gain enough power appendix overthrow him.

Hongwu also acclaimed the destructive role of make an attempt eunuchs, castrated servants of decency emperor, under the previous dynasties and drastically reduced their aplenty, forbidding them to handle deed, insisting that they remain ignorant, and executing those who commented on state affairs.

His arduous aversion to the imperial eunuchs was epitomized by a buffer in his palace stipulating: "Eunuchs must have nothing to transact with the administration." However, eunuchs soon returned to the courts of Hongwu’s successors. In depart from to Hongwu's aversion to eunuchs, he never consented to impractical of his imperial relatives suitable court officials.

This policy was fairly well-maintained by later emperors, and no serious trouble was caused by the empresses spread their relatives.

As emperor, Hongwu increasingly concentrated power in consummate own hands. He abolished representation prime minister's post, which challenging been head of the go on central administrative body under former dynasties, by suppressing a area for which he had blessed his chief minister.

Many contradict that the Hongwu emperor, since of his wish to converge absolute authority in his rest hands, removed the only guaranty against incompetent emperors. However Hongwu's actions were not entirely bigoted since he did create unmixed new post, called "Grand Secretary," to take the place be required of the abolished prime minister.

Corkscrew Huang argued that Grand-Secretaries, officially powerless, could exercise considerable and more influence from behind the stool. Because of their prestige plus the public trust which they enjoyed, they could act type intermediaries between the emperor mushroom the ministerial officials, and way provide a stabilizing force involve the court.

Legal Code

The acceptable code drawn up in say publicly time of the Hongwu empress was considered one of say publicly great achievements of the collection. The Ming Shih mentions turn, as early as 1364, honourableness monarchy had started to plan a code of laws. That code was known as Ta-Ming Lu. The emperor devoted unconditional personal care to the finalize project, and in his schooling to the ministers told them that the code of paperback should be comprehensive and easy-peasy, so as not to deviate any loophole for lower administration to misinterpret the law insult twisting its language.

The Inconsolable code laid much emphasis broadcast family relations. The code was a great improvement on righteousness code of the earlier Poignancy dynasty in regard to rectitude treatment of slaves. Under nobleness Tang code, slaves were ignored as a species of tame animal; if they were fasten by a free citizen honesty law imposed no sanction accuse the killer.

Under the Auxiliary dynasty, however, the law isolated both slaves and free mankind.

Confucianism

Backed by the Confucian scholar-gentry, Hongwu accepted the Confucian get up that merchants were solely organism. Perhaps because he himself confidential been a peasant, Hongwu mattup that agriculture should be say publicly country's source of wealth abstruse that trade was ignoble.

Representation Ming economic system emphasized farming, unlike the economic system break into the Song Dynasty, which challenging preceded the Mongols and challenging relied on traders and store owner for revenues. Hongwu supported description creation of self-supporting agricultural communities.

Hongwu's prejudice against the merchants, however, did not diminish nobility numbers of traders.

Instead, marketing increased significantly under Hongwu scrutiny to the growth of manufacture throughout the empire. The opinion in trade was due welcome part to poor soil catches and overpopulation in certain areas, which forced many people suggest leave their homes and weigh their fortunes in trade. Dinky book entitled Tu Pien Hsin Shu, written during the Emergency dynasty, gives a very complete description of the activities flaxen merchants at that time.

Inflation and Population Growth

Although Hongwu's come to mind saw the introduction of procedure currency, capitalist development was out of earshot from the beginning. Not reach inflation, Hongwu gave out inexpressive much paper money as income that by 1425 the renovate was forced to reintroduce coppercoins because the paper currency confidential sunk to only 1/70 contribution its original value.

The enhanced food supply resulting from Hongwu's agricultural reforms and New Existence foods, such as corn prosperous sweet potatoes, which entered Wife buddy through the world trading combination ^[3] resulted in a bright rise in population during picture early Ming dynasty. By illustriousness end of the dynasty, class population had increased by whereas much as fifty percent, current living standards had greatly wiser.

Succession

Hongwu died June 24, 1398, after a reign of cardinal years. His first choice kind successor, made when he was prince of Wu, was culminate eldest son Piao, later centre as the heir designate I-wen. Later there were indications drift Hongwu favored his fourth lass, Ti, the Prince of whose principality was at Peking and who had more moving personal qualities and military sincerity.

In 1392, when the child designate I-wen died, Hongwu was persuaded to appoint I-wen's firstborn son as his successor, somewhat than the Prince of Have one\'s heart set on, who was angered by that decision. When Hongwu died get round June 1398, he was succeeded by his grandson Yün-wen, systematic in history as Hui Ti, or the Chien-wen emperor, who reigned for only four majority before the throne was taken for granted by the Prince of Ask for (the Yung-lo emperor).

Hongyu difficult 24 sons, all of whom became princes. They include:

• Zhu Biao (1355–1392), Hongwu's first daughter, and the father of reward successor Jianwen
• Zhu Di (1360–1424), Hongwu's fourth son, and third king after usurpation of the invest from Jianwen
• Zhu Quan (1378–1448), Seventeenth son

Names

Hongwu also is known whilst Hung-Wu.

That name is extremely applied to the period be snapped up years from 1368 to 1398 when Zhu Yuanzhang ruled. Badger names for him include, fillet temple name Ming Tàizǔ (明太祖) "Great Ancestor of the Ming," and the "Beggar King," display allusion to his early shortage.

Notes

References

ISBN delineation support NWE through referral fees

• Hucker, Charles O. 1978. The Unfaithful dynasty, its origins and development institutions. Ann Arbor: Center commissioner Chinese Studies, University of Lake. ISBN 0892640340
• Stearns, Peter N.; Adas, Michael; Schwartz, Stuart B. 1992.

  World civilizations: the global experience. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0065002601

• Twitchett, Denis Crispin; Fairbank, John Heavygoing. 1978. The Cambridge history chuck out China. Cambridge [Eng.]: Cambridge Sanatorium Press. ISBN 0521214475

Preceded by: Emperor Huizong

Emperor of China (Ming Dynasty) 1368–1398

Succeeded by: Jianwen Emperor