Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Si Fei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Zhu Yuanzhang was born into a poor tenant farmer family and had been a wandering monk. After joining the army, he associated with scholars and literati, acquiring a scholarly demeanor, engaging in discussions about the past and present. Due to his humble origins, he often portrayed himself as extraordinary, using divine teachings to intimidate the common people, colluding with Taoist priests and Buddhist monks to fabricate many anecdotes. He could write prose, advocating for clear and straightforward writing, understanding magical arts, and addressing current affairs. He was particularly knowledgeable about history. He studied the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Zuo Zhuan with Song Lian, and read the Hong Fan and the Nine Orders with Chen Nanbin. He enforced the law extremely strictly, ensuring orders were carried out without fail, personally overseeing every matter, with no rest or holidays. He lived a frugal life, refusing to indulge in excessive luxury.