Hongwu: first Ming Emperor (dec 23, 1368 – dec 23, 1398)
Description:
1368: Hongwu (a peasant's son) commanded rebel army and drove Mongols out- became first Ming emperorBegan reforms to restore land devastated by war
- erased all traces of Mongols
Increased:
- rice production
- irrigation
- fish farming
- growing crops (cotton, sugar cane)
Return to Confucianism
Merit-based civil service examination system: China was a meritocracy but Japan was more feudalistic
Became a tyrant when problems emerged: ruthless killing
1398: Hongwu died- power struggle but his son Yonglo won
Added to timeline:
Date:
dec 23, 1368
dec 23, 1398
~ 30 years