A brief introduction to Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty
Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor Hongwu (1368-1398)
Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty was named Zhu Yuanzhang. He was born on the 18th day of the 9th lunar month in the first year of the Tianli era (Wuchen, 1328) in Dongxiang, Zhongli, Haozhou (now Fengyang, Anhui Province). His father was Zhu Shizhen and his mother was Chen. His childhood name was Chongba, and later he was officially named Yuanzhang, with the courtesy name Guorui.
When Zhu Yuanzhang was young, his family was poor and he became a monk at the Huangjue Temple. It was at the end of the Yuan Dynasty when class conflicts were intensifying and peasant uprisings were in full swing. In the twelfth year of Zhizheng (1352), he defected to Guo Zixing. Not long after, he returned to his hometown to recruit soldiers and horses and formed his own army. In the 15th year of the Zhizheng era (1355), Han Lin 'er declared himself emperor in Bozhou, and Zhu Yuanzhang was appointed as the left Vice Marshal. In March of the following year, he led his troops to capture Jiqing (now Nanjing, Jiangsu Province), changed the name of Jiqing Road to Yingtianfu, abolished the harsh policies of the Yuan Dynasty, and stabilized the people's hearts. He also adopted the suggestion of the Confucian scholar Zhu Sheng, "Build high walls, store up abundant grain, and delay proclaiming himself king," to develop production and enhance his strength. In the eighth year of Longfeng (1363), he defeated his powerful rival Chen Youliang. In the first month of the following year, he declared himself King of Wu. In the 11th year of the Longfeng era (1366), in the manifesto denouncing Zhang Shicheng, he cursed the Red Turban Army for "having carried out their evil plans with their false words". In December of the same year, he premeditated the murder of Han Lin 'er. The following year, he changed the era name to the first year of Wu. After successively eliminating the separatist forces such as Zhang Shicheng and Fang Guozhen, they launched a southern campaign. He successively conquered Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi. In the first year of Wu (1367), he ordered a general to launch a northern campaign against the Central Plains. In the manifesto against the Yuan Dynasty, it was proposed to "expel the Tartars, restore China, establish laws and regulations, and relieve the people." At the end of the year, the Northern Expeditionary Army occupied Shandong. In the first year of the Hongwu reign (1368), Zhu Yuanzhang declared himself emperor in Yingtian and named his state the Great Ming. In August of the same year, the Ming army captured Dadu (now Beijing), marking the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Subsequently, the whole country was gradually unified. In the 11th year of the Hongwu reign (1378), Yingtian was designated as the capital, and a series of measures were implemented to strengthen centralization and restore and develop the social economy. The system of enfeoffment was implemented, with children and grandchildren stationed in various strategic locations as Kings, and the strategy of "guarding the frontier from the outside and supporting with domestic capital" was adopted. Establish a garrison system, with the central government firmly controlling the military command authority. The Central Secretariat and the prime Minister were abolished, and the six ministries were unified to strengthen the imperial power. Conduct a census of household registration, establish a yellow register system, measure land, compile fish-scale registers, and control the national human resources, finances and taxes. Encourage agriculture and sericulture, build water conservancy projects, reduce rents and taxes, and allow the people to rest. Rectify the administration and severely punish corrupt officials. The Jinyiwei was established, the Censorate was reorganized, the Great Ming Law was promulgated and formulated, the Party prison was initiated, and meritorious officials were executed to strengthen autocratic rule. After more than ten years of military campaigns, Zhu Yuanzhang established a unified Ming Dynasty and implemented a series of policies to ease conflicts and strengthen centralized rule, thus creating necessary conditions for the social, economic and cultural development of the Ming Dynasty.
On the 10th day of the fifth lunar month in the 31st year of the Hongwu reign (1398), Zhu Yuanzhang died in the West Palace of Nanjing at the age of 71. He was posthumously honored as Emperor Shengshen Wenwu Qinming Qiyun Junde Chenggong Tongtian Daxiao Gao and given the temple name Taizu. During the Jiajing period, his posthumous title was changed to "Kaitian Xingdao Zhaogji Li Da Sheng Zhi Di Sheng Shen Ren Wen Yi Wu Jun De Cheng Gong Gao Di". Buried in the Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing.
Chronology of Major Events
In the 11th year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (Xinmao, 1351)
The Red Turban Rebellion broke out in May.
In the sixteenth year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1356, the year of Bing Shen)
In March, Zhu Yuanzhang gathered to celebrate the establishment of the system. The veteran scholar Zhu Sheng from Huizhou offered his advice.
In the 23rd year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1363, the year of GUI MAO)
In April, Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang engaged in a fierce battle on Poyang Lake.
In May, the Lixian Hall was established, where Liu Ji, Tao An and others delivered lectures on classics and history.
In August, Chen Youliang was shot dead and the Han Dynasty was pacified.
In the 24th year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1364, the year of Jia Chen)
In the first lunar month, Li Shanchang, the vice premier, and Xu Da, a general, repeatedly submitted memorials to persuade him to advance. Eventually, Zhu Yuanzhang was appointed as the King of Wu. The official departments of the Jianbai Office. The Central Secretariat was established, with Li Shanchang as the Right prime minister, Xu Da as the Left Prime minister, Chang Yuchun and Yu Tonghai as the Pingzhang Zhengshi, Wang Guangyang as the Right Censor, and Zhang Chang as the Left Censor.
In March, Zhu Yuanzhang went to Jiankang (Nanjing) to establish the official system and rank of the Grand Dudufu and other government offices. When the Jiangxi Province advanced with the gilded bed used by Chen Youliang, Zhu Yuanzhang believed that "the Chen father and son were extremely poor and extravagant, how could they not perish?" and thus ordered it to be destroyed.
In the 26th year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1366 Bingwu)
In August, the city of Jiankang (Nanjing) was expanded. He ordered Liu Ji and others to predict the location and build a new palace on the sun of Zhongshan Mountain, about two li outside the Bai Xia Gate to the east of the old city. (Another work: Sanli Xu)
In October, Xu Da was sent to the north to launch an expedition against the forces of the Old Yuan.
In December, the person in charge of the construction of the palace presented a map of the palace. Zhu Yuanzhang saw that there were some exquisitely carved parts in the map and immediately ordered them to be removed.
In the first year of Wu (1367, Dingwei, the 27th year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty)
The expansion of Kangcheng was completed in February.
In July, the selection of the most handsome and talented young people to become music and dance students will be concentrated. Zhu Yuanzhang summoned the scholars Zhu Sheng and Fan Quan at the Yuji Gate and led the music and dance students to pay their respects. He personally struck the stone chime and ordered Zhu Sheng to distinguish the five tones. Sheng was unable to do so, so he used the palace as a sign.
In August, the Circular Altar, the Square Altar and the Altar of Heaven and Earth were completed. The Circular Mound Altar is located on the southeast side of the capital city, outside the Zhengyang Gate, on the sun of Zhongshan Mountain. Fangqiu is located to the north of Zhongshan Mountain outside Taiping Gate, and the Altar of Land and Grain is to the southwest of the palace city, facing north.
The Imperial Ancestral Temple is completed in September. To the southeast of Miyagi, everything faces south. He was appointed as an inner supervisor with a rank of the fourth grade. Later, the Nei Shi Jian and Yu Shi Jian were both of the third rank, each with the positions of Ling, Cheng, Feng Yu, and Dian Bu ranging from the third to the seventh rank. The Imperial Gate Officials, Chun Gong Gate Officials, and Yu Ma Si were all of the fifth rank. The Shangbao Si also held positions such as Dian Shou, Shang Yi, Shang Pei, Shang Lu, Shang Yao, and Ji Shi, all of which were of the sixth rank. A new palace was completed. The main hall is called the Fengtian Hall, in front is the Fengtian Gate, at the back is the Huagai Hall, and after that is the Jinshen Hall, all with the wing of ÀÈâÐ. To the left and right of the Fengtian Hall are the Wen Tower and the Wu Tower. After the Jinshen Hall came the Ganqing Palace and the Kunning Palace. The six palaces were arranged in sequence. The imperial city was located around the Zhou Dynasty. The gates of the city were south of the Meridian Gate, east of the Donghua Gate, west of the Xihua Gate and north of the Xuanwu Gate.
In the tenth month, the etiquette of all officials should remain on the left. The Right Prime Minister was changed to the Left Prime Minister, and the Left Prime Minister was changed to the Right Prime Minister. The rest of the officials were the same.
In December, the positions of Shangbao Si and Jiaofang Si were established. There was one Minister of the Bureau of Treasures, with a rank of the fifth grade, and one Deputy Minister, with a rank of the fifth grade. There was one chief clerk, of the sixth rank. The rank of the Office of Ceremonial Officers was set at the fifth grade. The rank of the Education Bureau is the ninth grade. It is in charge of banquet music and is composed of musicians. It has one ambassador, one deputy envoy, and two harmony directors. Order the establishment of the Six internal departments. Li Shanchang, the Left Prime minister of the Central Secretariat, led the officials in charge of the rituals for the emperor's throne, the system of the imperial register, the system of officials' enthronement, and the rituals for the enthronement of the empress and the crown prince.
In the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368, the year of Wu Shen, the 28th year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty)
On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Zhu Yuanzhang worshipped heaven and earth in the southern suburbs and ascended the throne as emperor. The state was named Ming and the Yuan Dynasty was established as Hongwu. Empress Ma was made the empress and Prince Zhu Biao was made the crown prince. Announce it to the world. Zhu Yuanzhang moved from the old palace to the new one. The officials of the Eastern Palace were appointed, with Li Shanchang concurrently serving as the tutor to the Crown Prince, Xu Da concurrently as the tutor to the Crown Prince, and Chang Yuchun concurrently as the tutor to the Crown Prince. Each of the following officials holds a part-time position. The sacrificial ceremony of the Hanlin Academy of the Central Secretariat entering the Suburban Ancestral Temple.
In August, Zhu Yuanzhang decided to establish two capitals and one capital. He issued an edict designating Yingtian (formerly Jiankang) as Nanjing and Kaifeng as Beijing. He made several visits to Beijing for inspection.
In the second year of the Hongwu reign (1369, Jiyou)
In February, the records of the thirteen dynasties of the Yuan Dynasty were obtained. The Left Prime Minister Li Shanchang, the former official in charge of daily life Song Lian and others were ordered to lead some scholars to compile the "History of the Yuan Dynasty". Emperor Hongwu personally enjoyed farming and cultivated the registered fields in the southern suburbs.
In August, the system of the Imperial guards and various departments was established. The eunuaries were to supervise and serve sixty people, including one in charge of treasures, seven in charge of crowns, ten in charge of clothing, nine in charge of pendants, eight in charge of shoes, seven in charge of music, two in charge of Chronicles, four in charge of food, two in charge of secretarial work, four in charge of incense, four in charge of the Imperial Temple, and two in charge of cleaning. Four bureaus, namely, the Bureau of Wine, the Bureau of Flour, the Bureau of Vinegar and the Bureau of Dyeing, the Bureau of Horse, the Bureau of Imperial Service, the Bureau of Inner Treasury and the Bureau of Imperial Seal, the Bureau of Imperial Han, the Bureau of Imperial Cuisine, the Bureau of Imperial Clothing, the Bureau of Imperial Music and the Bureau of Imperial Carriage, were established. In addition, a gatekeeper was also appointed.
In September, the sixth imperial treasure was made: three pieces of white jade and three pieces of green jade. The inscription reads: "Emperor's Travel Treasure", "Emperor's Trust Treasure", "Emperor's Treasure", "Emperor's Travel Treasure", "Emperor's Trust Treasure", "Emperor's Treasure". An imperial edict was issued to establish Linhao (Fengyang) as the Central capital.
In the third year of the Hongwu reign (1370 AD, Gengxu)
The imperial examination system was resumed in February.
In April, the princes were enfeoffed. An edict was issued to confer upon the princes ˜¾ the title of King of Qin, 㭎 the title of King of Jin, Di the title of King of Yan, King of Wu, zhen the title of King of Chu, ˜_ the title of King of Qi, Zi the title of King of Tan, King of Zhao, and Tan the title of King of Lu. Later, a few people changed their titles.
In the fifth month, the imperial consort was Sun, the Consort was Wu, the Consort was Guo, the Consort was Guo, the Consort was Da, the Consort was Hu.
The rituals of the June morning assembly.
In September, the number of court gatherings, feasts, pleasures and dances is set.
In October, the winter clothes for civil and military officials were determined. Re-establish the regulations for the attire of imperial envoys.
Serving in December?? He retired under the tutelage of Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han. Wang Guangyang, the Right Censor of the Central Secretariat, was appointed as the Right Chancellor, and Hu Weiyong, a political advisor, was appointed as the Right Censor.
In April, Chang Yuchun's daughter was made the Crown Prince's consort.
In June, the official ban was issued. The system for female positions was established with six bureaus and one office: the Bureau of Rites, the Bureau of Clothing, the Bureau of Food, the Bureau of Bedding, and the Bureau of Merit. Each bureau was in charge of four offices, with one office being the Office of the Palace Chief. There were a total of seventy-five officials and eighteen female historians. The residence system for Princess Ding. Make a red plaque engraved with the words of the empress and concubine.
In the seventh year of the Hongwu reign (1374, the year of Jia Yin)
The garrison system was established in August.
In September, Empress Sun passed away at the age of thirty-two.
In November, the Fengxian Hall was rebuilt.
In the eighth year of the Hongwu reign (1375, the year of Yi MAO)
In July, it was converted into the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
The imperial palace was renovated in September.
In October, the Crown Prince, the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Jin, the Prince of Chu and the Prince of Jingjiang were ordered to tour Zhongdu and conduct military training.
In the ninth year of the Hongwu reign (1376 Bingchen)
In July, Lee Hong, the eldest son of Duke of Korea Lee Seon-chang, married Princess Lin 'an, the eldest daughter of the emperor.
In the tenth year of the Hongwu reign (1377, Ding Si)
On the day of Bingyin in the sixth month, he ordered the domestic and foreign political affairs department to first appoint the Crown Prince and then report to him.
In October, the grand inner palace was completed.
In the eleventh month, the emperor, with the imperial palace not being extravagant, said to his attendants, "Frugality can cultivate one's character, but extravagance will surely lead to the loss of virtue..." " Ji MAO, Zhu Yun, the second grandson of the emperor, was born žÉ. On the day Dinghai, the Winter Solstice, the worship of heaven and earth was first held in the Fengtian Hall.
In the 11th year of the Hongwu reign (1378, the year of Wu Wu)
In the first month, the princes Chun were enfeoffed as King of Shu, bai as King of Xiang, GUI as King of yu, ˜D as king of han, and zhi as King of wei. The title of King of Wu zhu ˜þ was changed to King of zhou. The stele for the construction of the imperial mausoleum was engraved by the emperor himself because many Confucian ministers were decorated with literary works, directly describing the hardships of his humble times.
On the day GUI Si of the seventh lunar month, the imperial grandson Zhu Gaochi was born, and the King of Yan was born. He was the eldest son of the legitimate wife.
In the twelfth year of the Hongwu reign (1379, Jiwei)
In February, God is optimistic.
In December, the Right Chancellor Wang Guangyang was demoted to Hainan for deceiving the emperor and was pursued and killed.
In the thirteenth year of the Hongwu reign (1380, the year of Gengshen)
In the first month, Hu Weiyong, the left prime minister, was executed for treason and a prison was launched against the Hu faction. More than 15,000 people were implicated.
In March, the kingdom of Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, was located in Beiping.
On the day of Yi Si in the ninth month, the day of Wan Shou, he received the court at the Fengtian Hall and held a banquet for all the ministers in the Jinshen Hall. This was a regular event for the following years.
In the fourteenth year of the Hongwu reign (1381, Xinyou)
In July, on the Empress's birthday, the ritual of paying homage to the empress was officially established.
In the 15th year of the Hongwu reign (Renxu, 1382)
On the first day of the first lunar month, a banquet was held for all the ministers in the Jinshen Hall, and the nine pieces of music were first played.
Empress Ma passed away in August. Fifty-one years old. The grand funeral ceremony for Empress Ding. Posthumous title: Xiaoci.
In September, Empress Xiaoci was buried on the sun of Zhongshan Mountain.
In the 17th year of the Hongwu reign (1384, the year of the Rat)
In October, Li was appointed as a Shu Fei and was in charge of the affairs of the six palaces. Not long after his death, he re-registered Ningfei Guo as a Shu Fei and took charge of the affairs of the six palaces.
In the 19th year of the Hongwu reign (1386, Bingyin)
In August, the Crown Prince went to Xuyi, where he buried the clothes and hats of the Third Patriarch and Empress, and added construction, which was called the Ancestral Mausoleum.
In the 20th year of the Hongwu reign (1387, Dingmao)
In the second month, the emperor inspected martial arts outside the Meridian Gate. From now on, generals and guards are ordered to practice shooting outside the Meridian Gate every day.
The 23rd year of the Hongwu reign (1390, the year of Gengwu)
In April, Li Shanchang, the Grand Tutor and Duke of Han, was executed on suspicion of rebellion. He was 77 years old at that time, and more than 70 of his family members were all executed.
In the 24th year of the Hongwu reign (1391, Xinwei)
In March, the princes 㮵 were enfeoffed as King Qing, Quan as King Ning, ˜F as King Min, ™B as King Gu, song as King Han, Mo as King Shen, ying as King An, —J as King Tang, dong as King Ying, and Yi as King.
In August of this year, the Crown Prince was ordered to serve as the governor of Shaanxi Province. When he returned to the capital, he presented a map of the situation in the Guan and Luo regions and proposed to make Chang 'an the capital.
In the 25th year of the Hongwu reign (Renshen, 1392)
In March, King GUI of Yu was enfeoffed as King of Dai, King Heng of Han was enfeoffed as King Su, and King Zhi of Wei was enfeoffed as King of Liao.
In April, the Crown prince passed away at the age of thirty-nine.
In August, the Crown Prince was buried to the right of Empress Ma's mausoleum and posthumously named Yiwen. The offices of the Jianzong People's Office, the Five Offices, the Six Ministries, and the Taichang Office are located outside the Chaomen Gate, facing east and west. However, the Three Ministries remain outside the Taiping Gate.
On the day of Gengyin in the ninth month, the third grandson of the emperor, Yun žÉ, was made the crown grandson.
In the 26th year of the Hongwu reign (1393, the year of Guiyou)
In the first month, all the concubines gave birth to children.
In February, a blue jade table was set up.
In the 31st year of the Hongwu reign (Wuyin, 1398)
On the eighth day of the fifth lunar month in the leap year, the emperor was critically ill. He passed away in the West Palace on the tenth day at the age of seventy-one. Will, Crown Prince Yun žÉ shall ascend to the throne. On the sixteenth, Zhu Yun žÉ ascended the throne. Take next year as the first year of Jianwen. On the same day, he was buried on the sun of Zhongshan Mountain with the empress and was named Xiaoling. The posthumous title was "Emperor Taizu Qinming Qiyun Jun De Chengtong Tian Da Xiao Gao", and Empress Xiao Ci Zhaoxian Zhi Ren Wen De Chengtian Shun Sheng Gao. (Later modified) Empress Dowager Lu, the mother consort, is honored.
In June, Qi Tai, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War who was entrusted with the mission, was appointed as the Minister of War and the Director of the Taichang Temple. He had accompanied Huang Zicheng, who studied in the Eastern Palace, and concurrently held the position of a member of the Hanlin Academy, working together on state affairs.
In July, Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng suggested reducing the power of the vassal states. King Zhu of Zhou was arrested on charges of rebellion. Professor Fang Xiaoru from Hanzhong Prefecture was summoned and promoted to the position of attendant lecturer in the Hanlin Academy. The Emperor of the Day was accompanied by advisors on both sides. When attending court and reporting affairs, for matters discussed by ministers and officials, the Party concerned shall be ordered to reply in the hall.
In August, King Zhu of Zhou was deposed and made a commoner. He also ordered the arrest of King Qi Zhu ˜_, King Dai zhu GUI and King Min zhu ˜F, while King Yan zhu Di was suspicious and frightened.
In October, the monk and Taoist Yanmi, who had accompanied the King of Yan to Beiping, persuaded the King of Yan to raise an army. The King of Yan feigned illness but secretly trained his troops.
In November, the Emperor appointed Zhang Bing, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, as the governor of Beiping. Secret edict: Keep an eye on the King of Yan.
In December, Ge Cheng, the governor of the Yan Prefecture, was ordered by the King of Yan to report to the capital. The emperor summoned him and asked about the affairs of the mansion. Ge Cheng responded with the truth. The emperor sent him back and ordered him to serve as an inside agent during the capture of the King of Yan. Wang noticed something.