Overview
Ming Taizu was the founding emperor of Ming.
Other names
| Type | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Posthumous name | Founding Emperor | 太祖皇帝 | |
| Regnal name | Hongwu | 洪武 | Hongwu |
| Epithet | late father | 皇考 |
Life and dates
Death
- AD 1398 太祖已崩Directly stated · History of Ming 144, passage 145
Attested activity
- AD 1368 洪武元年Directly stated · History of Ming 65, passage 35
- AD 1368 洪武元年Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 66, passages 2-3
- AD 1381 洪武十四年Directly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 22
- AD 1391 洪武二十四年Directly stated · History of Ming 66, passage 169
- AD 1393 二十六年Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 65, passages 35, 45
- AD 1373 六年Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 65, passages 35, 39
Show 28 more source-backed claims
- AD 1367 吳元年Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 6
- AD 1367 吳元年十二月辛酉Directly stated · History of Ming 64, passage 17
- AD 1368 to AD 1398 太祖
- AD 1368 太祖即帝位Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 127, passage 42
- AD 1398 太祖已崩Directly stated · History of Ming 144, passage 145
- AD 1368 to AD 1398 太祖時Directly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 74
- AD 1353 to AD 1355 太祖略地滁陽Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 127, passage 4
- AD 1368 to AD 1398 明初Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 77, passage 18
- AD 1368 to AD 1398 明初Directly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 65
- AD 1368 明初Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 64, passage 11
- AD 1368 明初Directly stated · History of Ming 65, passages 26, 28
- AD 1368 to AD 1398 明初（與常遇春、徐達等同時之洪武朝事）Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 140, passages 304, 308, 310
- AD 1368 明太祖甫有天下Directly stated · History of Ming 65, passage 16
- AD 1368 to AD 1398 明太祖興禮儒士Directly stated · History of Ming 298, passage 4
- AD 1368 to AD 1398 洪、永、熙、宣之際Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 77, passage 4
- AD 1370 洪武三年Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 57, passages 212, 247; History of Ming 64, passage 83
- AD 1370 洪武三年Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 49
- AD 1370 洪武三年六月Directly stated · History of Ming 57, passage 111
- AD 1392 洪武二十五年Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 115, passages 50, 65
- AD 1393 洪武二十六年Directly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 91
- AD 1391 洪武二十四年八月Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 50
- AD 1368 洪武元年Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 57, passage 269
- AD 1368 洪武元年十月Directly stated · History of Ming 64, passage 29
- AD 1368 洪武元年正月Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 15
- AD 1373 洪武六年Directly stated · History of Ming 64, passage 102
- AD 1379 洪武十二年Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 64, passage 85
- AD 1383 洪武十六年Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 64, passage 107
- AD 1371 洪武四年七月Directly stated · History of Ming 57, passage 70
Family
Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.
- Parent of Crown Prince (皇太子)crown prince 皇太子Strongly inferred · History of Ming 57, passage 119
- Sibling of Elder Brother of Hongwu (太祖兄)elder brother 兄 · Uncertain siblingsStrongly inferred · History of Ming 115, passage 172
- Sibling of Elder Sister of Hongwu (太祖姊)elder sister 姊 · Uncertain siblingsStrongly inferred · History of Ming 115, passage 172
- Parent of Zhu Biao (朱標)eldest son 長子 · paternal lineDirectly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 2
- Spouse of Empress Gao (高皇后)Empress Gao 高皇后 · Primary marriageStrongly inferred · History of Ming 115, passages 3, 172
- Spouse of Empress (中宮)empress 中宮 · Primary marriageStrongly inferred · History of Ming 57, passage 116
- Parent of Zhu Di (朱棣)late father 皇考Directly stated · History of Ming 144, passage 177
- Parent of Princess of Lin'an (臨安公主)princess 公主Strongly inferred · History of Ming 127, passage 65
Key source chapters
- History of Ming, Chapter 127 Volume 127 Biographies 15: Li Shanzhang, Wang Guangyang 42 passages
- History of Ming, Chapter 115 Volume 115 Biographies 3: Emperor Xingzong Xiaokang, Emperor Ruizong Xingxian 21 passages
- History of Ming, Chapter 57 Volume 57 Treatises 33: Rites 11 7 passages
- History of Ming, Chapter 65 Volume 65 Treatises 41: Carriages and Clothing 1 7 passages
- History of Ming, Chapter 77 Volume 77 Treatises 53: Finance and Economics 1 7 passages
Career and standing
- emperor 太祖Directly stated · History of Ming 57, passage 247
- emperor 皇帝Directly stated · History of Ming 65, passage 16
- captive-presentation rite 獻俘禮RefusedDirectly stated · History of Ming 57, passages 112-113
Places and affiliations
- Ming 明Relation Ruled
- Polity Ming 明 · Relation RuledDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passages 4, 18, 70; History of Ming 144, passage 145
- Polity Ming 明 · Relation ServedStrongly inferred · History of Ming 65, passage 331
Works and attributed material
- Ode on the Season's Snow 時雪賦Relation AuthorDirectly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 35
- Record of the Jade Diagram of the Great Foundation Hall 大本堂玉圖記Relation AuthorDirectly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 38
- Three Records Exposing the Traitorous Party 昭示奸黨三錄Relation AuthoredDirectly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 97
- AD 1368 洪武元年Directly stated · History of Ming 66, passages 3-6
- edict requiring princes’ silver ceremonial vessels be changed to gold 詔，親王儀仗內交椅、盆、罐用銀者，悉改用金AD 1383 洪武十六年 · Edict · AuthorDated from the passage context · History of Ming 64, passage 107
- edict ordering ritual officials to simplify the guard of honor 詔禮官，鹵簿彌文，務從省節Edict · AuthorDirectly stated · History of Ming 64, passage 11
Show 6 more source-backed claims
- Edict · IssuerDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 82
- Judgment · Speaker · Mode historian-summary Speaker Ming Taizu (太祖)Directly stated · History of Ming 57, passage 247
- Speech · Speaker · With Li Shanchang (李善長)Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 6
- Speech · Speaker · Direct quotationDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passages 28, 30-31, 33-34, 37-38
- Speech · Speaker
- Speech · Subject of recollection · Speaker Zhu Di (朱棣)Directly stated · History of Ming 144, passage 177
Events and relationships
- among those moved, some were banished for crimes 其間有以罪徙者Legal · Ruler · Also exiled criminals in resettlementDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 74
- ordered two wooden carriages made 命禮官考五輅制，爲木輅二乘AD 1373 六年 · Political · Ruler · CommissionedDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passage 39
- ordered additional carriages for visit to the Neutral Capital 命更造大輅一，象輅十，中宮輅一，後宮車十AD 1373 是冬 · Political · Ruler · CommissionedDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passages 42-44
- studied the Zhou five carriages and consulted officials about using the wooden carriage 考周禮五輅，以詢儒臣Directly stated · History of Ming 65, passages 28-29, 32
- enthronement rites presented for his accession 即位禮儀AD 1367 吳元年十二月辛酉 · Ritual · Sovereign · Enthronement rites preparedDirectly stated · History of Ming 64, passage 17
- charitable burial grounds established in prefectures and counties empire-wide 天下府州縣立義塚Welfare · Ruler · Established charitable burial groundsDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 80
Show 52 more source-backed claims
- established louzeyuan public burial grounds for the poor 設漏澤園葬貧民Welfare · Ruler · Established louzeyuanDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 79
- established yangjiyuan relief hospices with monthly grain for those without support 設養濟院收無告者，月給糧Welfare · Ruler · Established relief hospicesDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 78
- first established full imperial guard of honor regulations 始定鹵簿大駕之制AD 1393 二十六年 · Political · Ruler · EstablishedDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passage 45
- legislation often favored the poor and restrained the wealthy to punish late-Yuan magnates 立法多右貧抑富Legislative · Ruler · Favored poor restrained wealthyDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 83
- reviewed and fixed state rituals, keeping carriages and dress plain 考定邦禮，車服尚質Political · Ruler · Fixed state ritualsDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passage 16
- Hongwu 26 registered 10,652,870 households and 60,545,812 persons 洪武二十六年，天下戶一千六十五萬二千八百七十，口六千五十四萬五千八百十二AD 1393 洪武二十六年 · Demographic · Reign marker · Hongwu 26 censusDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 91
- granted noble ranks to commoners aged eighty or above 民年八十以上賜爵Welfare · Ruler · Honored aged with ranksDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 81
- Honored and promoted Guo Botai and Lu YiDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 311
- Honored and promoted Guo Botai and Lu YiDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 311
- legislated in imitation of Han resettlement of wealthy households to populate Guanzhong; later abuses made it a source of harm 立法之意，本仿漢徙富民實關中之制，其後事久弊生，遂為厲階Legislative · Ruler · Imitated han guanzhong wealthy resettlementDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 90
- issued edicts granting special relief to soldiers and civilians who had suffered hardship 下詔優恤遭難兵民Welfare · Ruler · Issued hardship relief edictsDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 82
- rejected the elaborate five-cap system and limited ceremonial dress 此禮太繁Directly stated · History of Ming 66, passages 3-6
- Modified surrender riteDirectly stated · History of Ming 57, passages 70, 79
- moved people from Deng, Lai, and Qing to Dongchang and Yanzhou 又徙登、萊、青民於東昌、兗州Administrative · Ruler · Moved deng lai qing peopleDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 72
- moved 20,000 households from Zhili and Zhejiang to the capital as granary porters 又徙直隸、浙江民二萬戶於京師，充倉腳夫Administrative · Ruler · Moved granary porters to capitalDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 73
- Ordered National University and prefectural and county students to practice archery and promulgated the archery protocol throughout the realmAD 1370 洪武三年 · Ritual · IssuerDated from the passage context · History of Ming 57, passages 247-251
- ordered compilation of yellow registers for tax and labor service 詔天下編賦役黃冊AD 1381 洪武十四年 · Administrative · Issuer · Ordered yellow registersDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 22
- ordered copper instead of gold ornament on imperial carriage 詔用銅AD 1368 洪武元年 · Political · Ruler · OrderedDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passage 35
- ordered net caps issued throughout the thirteen provincial administrations 命取網巾，頒示十三布政使司AD 1391 洪武二十四年 · Political · Ruler · OrderedDated from the passage context · History of Ming 66, passages 169-170
- ordered kneeling mats for suburban altar rites 命制郊丘祭祀拜褥AD 1370 洪武三年 · Administrative · Issuer · OrderedDated from the passage context · History of Ming 64, passage 83
- ordered the Ministry of Rites to expand red-courtyard ceremonial regalia 命禮部增設丹墀儀仗AD 1379 洪武十二年 · Administrative · Issuer · OrderedDated from the passage context · History of Ming 64, passage 85
- ordered scholar-officials to fix dress, housing, and utensil regulations 命儒臣稽古講禮，定官民服舍器用制度Political · Ruler · OrderedDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passage 23
- Praised Hu Mengtong Guo Bogao Li SijinDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passages 312-313
- Praised Hu Mengtong Guo Bogao Li SijinDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passages 312-313
- Praised Hu Mengtong Guo Bogao Li SijinDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passages 312-313
- Promoted junior officials out of turnDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 316
- Promoted junior officials out of turnDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 316
- Promoted junior officials out of turnDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 316
- Promoted junior officials out of turnDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 316
- Promoted Shen Chang and othersDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 315
- severely punished abuses of sumptuary rules 皆重懲其弊Legal · Authority · PunishedDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passages 21-22
- Recruited scholars and reclusesPolitical · RulerDirectly stated · History of Ming 298, passage 4
- Reduced Longyang tax after Qing Wensheng suicideDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 304
- Refused captive presentationDirectly stated · History of Ming 57, passages 111, 113
- ordered Ministry of Revenue to register over 14,300 wealthy households from nine provinces and Yingtian and move their families to the capital as fuhu 命戶部籍浙江等九布政司、應天十八府州富民萬四千三百餘戶，徙其家以實京師，謂之富戶Administrative · Ruler · Registered and moved wealthy householdsDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 84
- registered households empire-wide with household slips and registers 籍天下戶口，置戶帖、戶籍Administrative · Issuer · Registered households empire wideDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passages 18-19
- Even the highest nobles were expected to ride horses when going outPolitical · Policy maker · Required high nobles to ride horsesDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passage 331
- early Ming moved over 4,000 landless households from Suzhou, Songjiang, Jiaxing, Huzhou, and Hangzhou to Linhao with oxen, seed, carts, grain, and three-year tax exemption 當徙蘇、鬆、嘉、湖、杭民之無田者四千餘戶，往耕臨濠AD 1368 to AD 1398 明初 · Administrative · Ruler · Resettled jiangnan landless to linhao · At Linhao 臨濠Directly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 65
- adopted Liu Jiugao's proposal and resettled Shanxi Ze and Lu people in Hebei 採其議，遷山西澤、潞民於河北Directly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 70
- repeatedly resettled western Zhejiang and Shanxi people to Chu, He, Beiping, Shandong, and Henan 屢徙浙西及山西民於滁、和、北平、山東、河南Administrative · Ruler · Resettled zhejiang shanxi peopleDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 71
- Restored imprisoned officials including Yu Yancheng Zheng MinDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 314
- Restored imprisoned officials including Yu Yancheng Zheng MinDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 314
- was credited with restoring the twelve-emblem robe system 復定為十二章之制AD 1368 to AD 1398 洪武年間 · Later reference · Ruler · RestoredDirectly stated · History of Ming 66, passage 112
- Rewarded Zhang ChuDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 310
- Severely punished Chen Xiwen and Wang FuchunDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 317
- Severely punished Chen Xiwen and Wang FuchunDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 317
- went incognito to the Divine Music Observatory and saw a man wearing a net cap 微行至神樂觀，見有結網巾者AD 1391 洪武二十四年 · Personal · Observer · Traveled incognitoDirectly stated · History of Ming 66, passage 169
- Ruler and adviser · With Tao An (陶安)Directly stated · History of Ming 66, passages 2-3
- Relation Foster father of · Person Li Wenzhong (李文忠)Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 172
- Relation Foster father of · Person Zhu Wenzheng (朱文正)Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 172
- Relation Adopted proposal of · Person Liu Jiugao (劉九皋)Directly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 70
- Relation Foster father of · Person Mu Ying (沐英)Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 172
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment archery rites of former kings long abandoned; bow skills practiced only by military men while most literati did not understand them · Mode historian-summary Speaker Ming Taizu (太祖)Directly stated · History of Ming 57, passage 247
- Assessment did not wish meritorious officials to abandon mounted archery · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passage 331
- Assessment knew-corrupt-clerks-harmed-people-and-used-both-punishment-and-rewards · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · History of Ming 140, passages 308-309
- Assessment population-peak-despite-postwar-devastation · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 94
- Assessment reign associated with popular prosperity and overflowing storehouses · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 4
- Assessment resettlement-greatest-under-his-reign · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · History of Ming 77, passage 74
Show 1 more source-backed claim
- Assessment valued frugality and led by personal example in sumptuary restraint · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · History of Ming 65, passages 16, 20, 37-38
Source notes
- Historicity historicalDirectly stated · History of Ming 64, passages 11, 17; History of Ming 65, passage 331
References in the histories
98 passages
No matching passages.