The Beginning of Ming Dynasty - Zhu Yuanzhang (Hongwu Emperor)
Zhu Yuanzhang - The Founder of Ming Dynasty
“Ming Dynasty” was one of the most prosperous dynasties in 5,000 years of Chinese history. As the last Han Chinese controlled Empire, in their vast 300-year history, the population of China tripled from 65 million to approximately 160 to 200 million people. However it started all from one person.
“Zhu Yuanzhang”, the son of a peasant family rose up against the rebels over the dying "Yuan Dynasty" ruled by the Mongols. He joined with the "Red Turban Rebels" that also rebelled against Yuan and he became the new leader. He quickly became a commander and many talented people joined his side. Soon after, he eventually defeated the Red Turbans at the Battle of Lake Poyang, one of the largest naval battles in the world. He also defeated the Yuan Dynasty and they retreated to Mongolia afterwards and declared himself “Hongwu Emperor” and his capital “Nanjing”.
When the Ming Dynasty was created, it was growing into a very prosperous nation and many aspects were vastly improved. In the historical record “The History of Ming”, it stated that the Law was rebuilt, the capital received increased fortifications and the military was organized so no one was really forced to join the military. That meant the common peasants had more power, for example some owned land, farms and shops.
The law written by Hongwu Emperor supported the same idea of equality where people were treated fairly and more equally than before. Slaves were treated worse than citizens, at the level of domesticated animals previously, but Hongwu changed that and gave slaves many more rights and freedom.
He thought that trading was less important and crucial to the economy of China, and agriculture was the main standing point of prosperity in China. However he still allowed traders and some people had to trade because agriculture was sometimes difficult. Therefore Ming Dynasty was prosperous for 2 centuries. However, China did not prosper as much during the 16th century, and in fact it began to fall because of the ideas of “Confucianism” for disliking merchants.
The military system called “Weisuo” or “Guard Battalion” which ordered troops to be in groups of 5,600 soldiers, and whenever they were needed for war they would be ready. Once a war was over, they are sent back to their specific district to continue patrol or heal.
As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, suspicions arose because his chancellor allegedly wanted to take over his position as Emperor. From that moment after the emperor beheaded the Chancellor, he created a secret service army called the “Brocade-Clad Guards.” They only protected the Emperor but not much time later they went out of control and wrong executed 40,000 people, however their powers were suppressed eventually.
Zhu Yuanzhang’s control was very powerful and at many times it was brutal. He executed people in extremely brutal ways, cutting them into one thousand pieces in public and sharing the remaining flesh with all the people watching. He sometimes allowed his generals for massacre if the surrendering enemy did not obey. Also no one was ever allowed to criticize or bash him in public or they will be tortured to death. However, he was solely trying to keep control without anyone or any group of power overthrowing him.
His way of ruling China allowed no particular group to become too powerful. He noticed that the “eunuchs” (castrated officials) had too much power in the imperial government. Many previous dynasties prior to Ming had fallen because of eunuchs that affected imperial rule. Therefore he disallowed them to learn how to read and have any involvement in the important government matters. Even though this was one of his best decisions as an emperor, after he passed away, the power of eunuchs came back to its original state, and then even became stronger, eventually becoming one of the reasons that Ming Dynasty had fallen in the 17th century.
“Zhu Yuanzhang”, the son of a peasant family rose up against the rebels over the dying "Yuan Dynasty" ruled by the Mongols. He joined with the "Red Turban Rebels" that also rebelled against Yuan and he became the new leader. He quickly became a commander and many talented people joined his side. Soon after, he eventually defeated the Red Turbans at the Battle of Lake Poyang, one of the largest naval battles in the world. He also defeated the Yuan Dynasty and they retreated to Mongolia afterwards and declared himself “Hongwu Emperor” and his capital “Nanjing”.
When the Ming Dynasty was created, it was growing into a very prosperous nation and many aspects were vastly improved. In the historical record “The History of Ming”, it stated that the Law was rebuilt, the capital received increased fortifications and the military was organized so no one was really forced to join the military. That meant the common peasants had more power, for example some owned land, farms and shops.
The law written by Hongwu Emperor supported the same idea of equality where people were treated fairly and more equally than before. Slaves were treated worse than citizens, at the level of domesticated animals previously, but Hongwu changed that and gave slaves many more rights and freedom.
He thought that trading was less important and crucial to the economy of China, and agriculture was the main standing point of prosperity in China. However he still allowed traders and some people had to trade because agriculture was sometimes difficult. Therefore Ming Dynasty was prosperous for 2 centuries. However, China did not prosper as much during the 16th century, and in fact it began to fall because of the ideas of “Confucianism” for disliking merchants.
The military system called “Weisuo” or “Guard Battalion” which ordered troops to be in groups of 5,600 soldiers, and whenever they were needed for war they would be ready. Once a war was over, they are sent back to their specific district to continue patrol or heal.
As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, suspicions arose because his chancellor allegedly wanted to take over his position as Emperor. From that moment after the emperor beheaded the Chancellor, he created a secret service army called the “Brocade-Clad Guards.” They only protected the Emperor but not much time later they went out of control and wrong executed 40,000 people, however their powers were suppressed eventually.
Zhu Yuanzhang’s control was very powerful and at many times it was brutal. He executed people in extremely brutal ways, cutting them into one thousand pieces in public and sharing the remaining flesh with all the people watching. He sometimes allowed his generals for massacre if the surrendering enemy did not obey. Also no one was ever allowed to criticize or bash him in public or they will be tortured to death. However, he was solely trying to keep control without anyone or any group of power overthrowing him.
His way of ruling China allowed no particular group to become too powerful. He noticed that the “eunuchs” (castrated officials) had too much power in the imperial government. Many previous dynasties prior to Ming had fallen because of eunuchs that affected imperial rule. Therefore he disallowed them to learn how to read and have any involvement in the important government matters. Even though this was one of his best decisions as an emperor, after he passed away, the power of eunuchs came back to its original state, and then even became stronger, eventually becoming one of the reasons that Ming Dynasty had fallen in the 17th century.