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Emperor Taizu of Ming – Zhu Yuanzhang
(1328-1398)
Zhu Yuanzhang was a native of Zhongli, Haozhou (modern Fengyang county, Anhui). His ancestral home was Pei commandery (modern Pei county, Jiangsu). He became a Buddhist monk at an early age taking his vows at Huangjue Monastery. In 1352, he joined an insurgent force lead by Guo Zixing (1302–1355). Zhu Yuanzhang led his troops against the Yuan several times, defeating them in each and every battle. Guo Zixing promoted him and appointed him military commissioner. He also gave his adopted daughter to Zhu Yuanzhang in marriage. After Guo Zixing died of illness, all of his troops submitted to Zhu Yuanzhang. In 1368, Ming troops seized the Yuan capital Dadu, and Emperor Shun fled to the north. In the same year, Zhu Yuanzhang installed himself as emperor in Yingtian prefecture (modern Nanjing), proclaimed a new dynasty, Ming, and named his reign Hongwu. He is known as Emperor Taizu (1368–1398). He considered Yingtian the southern capital, and Kaifeng as the northern capital. In 1371, he conquered the Xi Xia (Western Xia) and consolidated his hold on Sichuan. In 1381, he entered Yunnan, and six years later, he seized the Eastern Liao. By this point, he had more or less united the entire realm. During his reign, he arrogated all political and military power to himself. He ruled his state by draconian legal measures, and severely punished corrupt court officials. However, for the sake of the livelihood of the people, he paid great attention to increasing agricultural productivity, building up the hydraulic works, and encouraging the opening of new farmland. He laid a solid foundation for the future development of the Ming dynasty. |
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