Running Head: Emperor Hong Wu
Emperor Hong Wu
Name
Institution
Emperor Hong Wu
Emperor Hong Wu was born Zhu Yuan hang to poor peasant parents in 1328 in China. His parents, being peasant farmers, did not have much to offer young Zhu not even a decent formal education. To compound his challenges, Zhu was orphaned by the age of fourteen years as documented by the New World Encyclopedia (2014). Consequently, Zhu found himself living at the mercy of a Buddhist monastery sometimes having to beg for basics such as food. This however did not deter him from pushing on in life. Soon after, the monastery, which acted as his home, was raised down in flames during a rebellion war between the ‘Red Turbans’, a Buddhist rebel group, and the
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ailing Yuan dynasty. Zhu seized the opportunity to join the rebel group. The Red Turbans provided a suitable platform for Zhu to draw followers and mount a rebellion movement against the Yuan dynasty. The objective of this paper is to analyze the importance and significance of Emperor Hong Wu during his tenure. During his time with the red turbans, he learned a wide array of skills, leadership and otherwise that proved quite useful in his later endeavors. The New World Encyclopedia (2014) documents that he rose rapidly through ranks due to his outstanding leadership skills to become the second in command. His skills and craftiness made his stay worthwhile. He even proceeded to marry the daughter of his commander, which gave him an upper hand. As he turned thirty years old, Zhu assumed the leadership of the Red Turbans, a rebel group with a large army. He led the rebel army into conquering several cities and towns. To gain more political influence, Zhu joined hands with a larger rebel group. He proceeded with conquest wars until he reached Yangtze River where upon he encountered an elite group. Part of the elite group joined him while the rest resisted his influence. According to Buckley (2009), during his tenure as emperor of the Ming dynasty, Hong Wu made clear his stand regarding corruption and injustice. He punished any officials accused of corruption ruthlessly. This discouraged dishonesty by all costs and promoted rapid growth of the economy making the dynasty economically strong. Besides, he built the dynasty’s economy on the basis of agriculture. In so doing, he ensured that all persons in his dynasty were actively involved in wealth creation. He resettled peasants and settlers on reclaimed land due to the realization that each individual in is dynasty was crucial as far as building a strong kingdom was involved. These three factors together enabled Hong Wu gain positive popularity among his loyal subjects as they acted as unifying factors for all persons. These strong relations among his subjects lay a stable foundation upon which the dynasty thrived for nearly 300 years. Hong Wu sought to achieve and explore new methods of wealth creation for his dynasty. In this light, he undertook to explore possible trading mechanisms between China and outside countries ranging from Western countries to Southeast Asia as well as Africa in significant scale. This opened up the dynasty and created external trade links with the world. Consequently, the dynasty became renowned far and wide for its economic superiority. During the time, it is documented that the dynasty wielded more affluence and military power far much more than the Western countries. Its superiority during this ancient period led t its recognition by major Western powers such as Europe who invited Emperor Hong Wu to open an embassy in the country. During his reign paper money which was previously used during the Yuan dynasty was abolished on account of a sharp decline in value.
In its place copper coins were introduced and were used as a medium of exchange in place of paper money. The newly explored ties with the outside world made the dynasty flourish under the leadership of Emperor Hong Wu and better placed to deal with any invasions as well as spreading its influence. Despite the fact that the emperor accepted to trade and maintain close ties with outside countries, the emperor discouraged subsequent emperors from intervening in affairs of other nations. In this light, the emperor wrote a directive towards the same specifically pointing out to countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia but that instead the emperors were to concentrate on safeguarding its territory against …show more content…
invasion. According to Sanderson (2007), Hong Wu undertook to promote education throughout the empire. In bid to make the population enlightened, the emperor promoted establishment of both public and private institutions of learning. In these institutions, basic literacy skills were taught in addition to several other skills such as archery and horsemanship for military use, arithmetic and law for others. This ensured that the education which was formerly a preserve of the affluent was accessible by individuals of all social classes. It is apparent that Hong Wu pursued long term considerations which would yield power and authority to his subjects in the times ahead thus guaranteeing continuity of his dynasty. The kingdom continued to thrive on these foundations and spread its influence far and wide. Sanderson (2007) documents that, during Hong Wu’s tenure a total of 871 degrees were awarded following the establishment of an imperial system of learning. Half of the degrees were awarded in 1375. As regards religion, it is controversial which religion Emperor Hong Wu actually supported.
This is because he was known to support several religious groups including Islam, Buddhism among other marginalized religions. However, Buddhism assumed centre stage and was given most attention throughout the kingdom as it was the traditional religion among the Chinese people. Sanderson (2007) documents that Hong Wu abolished some Buddhist sect’s such as the White Lotus though it had assisted him overthrow the Yuan dynasty. This move was aimed at unifying the people under his rule and minimizing chances off internal
resistance. The emperor modified the existing system of religion so as to preserve the role of making sacrifices solely to himself. Hong Wu is documented to have issued directives for the construction of mosques in different parts in the dynasty. In addition, he wrote several scripts praising Islam religion and its values and had them displayed in the mosques. This shows the he was working hard to maintain close relationship with the Muslim thus uniting his subjects regardless of their religious affiliations. He however fully empowered and promoted Buddhist religion in the dynasty. Upon his ascension into power, he undertook to revolutionize the administration that was formerly in place during the Yuan dynasty. In this respect, he abolished the position of the prime minister and enforced a powerful secretariat which was structured into six major departments (Sanderson, 2007). The implication hereby is that he held supreme power and could not be challenged by other arms of his government. In addition the emperor enforced a complex system of appointing leaders in positions of power whereby they had to pass a multidisciplinary assessment tests in order to qualify. This ensured only the competent personalities were given sensitive positions and responsibilities. Later on, he abolished the system and replaced it with a relatively more effective one whereby individuals were only appointed following recommendation based on creditable merit. Besides, he replaced all the existing Mongol leaders in the government with people of Chinese origin. Hong Wu’s tenure is credited for restoration of the Chinese culture and religion which were close to extinction. This was due to the influence of the Mongols who had been ruling the entire kingdom and had undertaken to spread their culture and way of life. In this effort he popularized Buddhist religion and way of life which were on the verge of extinction. The emperor also adopted Confucianism policies and popularized them throughout the kingdom. Population explosion is also characteristic of the Ming dynasty. The emphasis placed in agriculture translated into rapid population growth over a short spun of time. This is attributed to food security achieved in the dynasty. In line with the issues raised herein, it is evident that Emperor Hong Wu played a critical role in laying the foundation and a strong basis upon which China was built. His policies enabled the dynasty remain strong and intact for over six hundred years after which the system was disintegrated to pave way for more advanced systems of administration. Besides, the disintegration was aimed at factoring in recent developments in the prevailing times. Apparently his leadership skills and long term plans played out as planned and the dynasty continued to thrive with minimal disruptions due to succession disputes. References “Hong Wu Emperor of China”. New World Encyclopedia. (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Hongwu_Emperor_of_China Patricia Buckley (2009). Chinese Civilization: A Source book. 2nd Edition. Simon and Schuster Publisher. Sanderson Beck (2007). China Korean and Japan to 1800.Volume 3 of Ethics of Civilization. World Peace Communications Publishers.
The United States gives Columbus a national holiday, Zheng He should deserve a national holiday as well. He was kidnapped at the age of ten by the Ming Dynasty, and had to watch as his father died. He was taken prisoner and became an eunuch who eventually rose to power. The Emperor Yongle rewarded his loyalty by electing him as the fleet commander and eventually went on 7 voyages all around Asia, India, and eastern Africa in the next 28 years. Using the measuring sticks of scale/size, significance, and skill, should we commemorate the voyages of Zheng He? We should recognize the voyages of Zheng He for the 3 major reasons, the incredible distances/destinations traveled, the amazing size/scale of the ships, and the honorary purpose of many of the expeditions.
The Sun of the Revolution by Liang Heng, is intriguing and vivid, and gives us a complex and compelling perspective on Chines culture during a confusing time period. We get the opportunity to learn the story of a young man with a promising future, but an unpleasant childhood. Liang Heng was exposed to every aspect of the Cultural Revolution in China, and shares his experiences with us, since the book is written from Liang perspective, we do not have a biased opinion from an elite member in the Chinese society nor the poor we get an honest opinion from the People’s Republic of China. Liang only had the fortunate opportunity of expressing these events due his relationship with his wife, An American woman whom helps him write the book. When Liang Heng and Judy Shapiro fell in love in China during 1979, they weren’t just a rarity they were both pioneers at a time when the idea of marriages between foreigners and Chinese were still unacceptable in society.
Shi Huangdi now able to unite the warring states, explored ways to establish a stable, and long lasting dynasty. The improvements he made to a now unified China, changed they way the world looked upon the country.
Since the introduction of Buddhism into China, it was not well received by the population as its foreign beliefs clashed with pre-existent principals of Confucianism and Taoism. On top of that, it was alienated by the Confucianism-based government in the late Han Dynasty. All in all, Buddhism was not a common nor a popular religion throughout China at first. Nevertheless, this all changed after the rise of the Tang Dynasty. There is no doubt that Buddhism and the Tang administration under Wu’s reign formed a critical symbiotic relationship with one another. Buddhism played a pivotal role in justifying Empress Wu’s rule. She enthroned herself as the monarch of China, an extraordinarily difficult achievement for a woman in a male-dominant society, by associating herself with Buddhism: proclaiming herself as the Maitreya and that she will bring an utopian era for the Chinese. (Smarr, 17 Feb. 2012) At the same time, Buddhism benefitted handsomely from government support, as monasteries are exempted from tax and that they are financially supported by the state, as seen in A Pilgrim’s Visit to the Five Terraces Mountains, which ultimately resulted in the substantial growth in attraction of Buddhist converts and Buddhism itself. Wu’s extensive support of the religion with ostentatious gifts and donations contributed to the rapid proliferation of Buddhism. Evidently, the mutually benefitting relationship between Buddhism and the state are crucial to each other’s survival during Wu’s sovereignty, but to what extent did her financial support (donations to monasteries) of Buddhism bettered the government overall?
There is no simple answer to this question, especially with the convoluted and entwining relationship between Buddhism and Wu, so we focus on how the religion assisted Wu in grasping power and its indispensable role in the Chinese economy. The close connection between government and religion is not a new concept to the Tang era as it has been well-established prior to its time, and it even survived long after. In the case of Buddhism and Empress Wu, the religion played a pivotal role in justifying her rule, which could explain her special interest in it. Among the Buddhists followers, she was identified as the bodhisattva Maitreya, which helped her gain a sense of legitimacy to her reign, especially in a male-dominant society (Smarr Feb. 17 2012). The association of Buddhism with Wu helped spur Wu’s benevolent policies towards the religion, who benefitted handsome...
Religion has always had an impact on an individual’s perspectives and the government, and this can clearly be seen with Buddhism and the Tang Dynasty. Before Buddhism pervaded China, the traditional religion in China was Confucianism, and the majority of individuals strictly followed the rules and principles of Confucianism. When Buddhism was introduced, every person engendered their own views on Buddhism and the influences the religion would have on the government. The Tang Dynasty generated a prosperous time in China, until the dynasty spiraled down into its demise in c. 750 (Smarr “Tang China”). Many individuals believed that the reason why the collapse of the Tang Dynasty occurred was because of Buddhism and foreign ideas. A Chinese poet, named Han Yu, believed in the concept that Buddhism was the ultimate cause for the destruction of the Tang Dynasty, and his ideas were very influential. Han Yu’s ideas promoted the riddance of Buddhism values and monasteries in China (Smarr “An Lu-shan Rebellion”). Therefore, the question that arises from such observations is was this an accurate portrayal of perspectives during the Tang dynasty and how influential was this portrayal? Although, one portrayal of the Tang Dynasty’s collapse was Emperor Xuanzong’s carelessness, Han Yu persists that the accurate portrayal of the collapse was brought about by Buddhism through monasteries and monks, and selfish values.
Seeing the change that Buddhism has caused Tang Wu was not at all fond of it and wanted it stopped, “Having thoroughly examined all earlier reports and consulted public opinion on all sides. this evil should be eradicated.” Buddhism looked beyond classes and was made for everyone. When it came to China, it was the perfect time for the Chinese scholars, but not for the government and strict Confucianists. With the Chinese scholars, it gave them a sense of new direction in their lives and it was their escape from all the chaos around them.
Religion was very important to the Huang He Civilization; the early religion of the Huang He people was polytheistic, meaning they had more than one. They believed in supernatural forces and that they could communicate with dead ancestors that were in the afterlife with oracle bones and also that spirits, kings and dead ancestors could help them have a good future. Confucianism and Taoism (also known as Daoism) existed in the area since about 450 BC and Buddhism hit the area in 110 BC – 220 AD and became the main religion in that area. One of the many dynasties near the Huang He River that was called the Shang Dynasty worshipped a God named Shang Di who ruled over Gods of the sun, moon, wind, rain and other natural forces.
One of the eras of a majestic ancient civilization that has left a lasting impression upon the world of today is the Chinese Song Dynasty. Established by General Zhao Kuangyin this dynasty lasted from 960–1279 AD and brought a new stability to China after many decades of civil war, and ushered in a new era of modernization. It was divided into the Bei (Northern) and the Nan (Southern) Song periods. This brilliant cultural epoch gave birth to major advances in economic reform, achievements in technology, and helped to further medical knowledge.
Empress Wu’s rise to power was due to her unwavering determination and ruthless spirit. She first entered the palace as a thirteen year old concubine and from an early age she realized the importance of raising her status. Wu was ‘not just another imperial consort… she was very much a political fig...
During the early Ming Dynasty, China was one of the most economically and technologically advanced countries in the world. As Ebrey pointed out, “Europe was not yet a force in Asia and China continued to look on the outer world in traditional terms.” China was regarded as the center of Asia at the beginning of 15th century and the idea of “Middle Kingdom” (Zhong guo) began to take off at that time. The early Ming Emperors were not interested in promoting commercial trade at all. Emperor Hongwu, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, implemented the Hai jin policy which forbade maritime shipping and private foreign trade outside of the tributary system (Ebrey, p. 209). Emperor Yongle, the son of Emperor Hongwu, lifted this policy to a certain extent when he ordered his eunuch Zheng He’s voyages. However, he was only intereste...
The Buddhist brought with them the concept of multiple gods and Buddha’s “spiritual state to provide the power for humans to make the transition into death and the afterlife successfully” (Corduan, 2012, p.410). Confucianism brought the obedience of the child to the parent into Chinese mainstream life, plus the “social stratification and codes governing dress, actions and communication” (Corduan, 2012, p.409). Taoism introduced the balance of forces in harmony in spirits in the form of yin and yang, thus creating that balance of nature and humans (Corduan, 2012). Christianity influenced Chinese life both socially and economically by introducing the concepts of “love for one’s neighbor, self-discipline, and trust” (Lu, 2014, p.2) as both essential and beneficial (Lu, 2014). All of these together with the traditional Chinese religion, give the Chinese culture it’s popular religion
The Tang Dynasty (618 -907 A.D), also known as China’s glorious revelation, was a time of major change both politically and economically in the Chinese Empire. During this time period, trade became greater than ever. The military power strengthened. The population also increased during this time period from fifty million to eighty million in just two centuries with its large population base, the dynasty was able to raise professional and conscripted armies of hundreds of thousands of troops to contend with nomadic powers in dominating Inter Asia. The Tang also has a strong influence on its neighboring states such as Korea (which was at the time made if of three kingdoms) and Japan. During this time period the Silk Road expanded and trade
The Tang Dynasty (618-906) succeeded the Sui Dynasty, who ruled from 581-618 A.D., respectively. The foundation for the development, growth, and expansion of China during the Tang Dynasty’s rule was laid during the Sui Dynasty’s reign. The political and governmental institutions of the Sui Dynasty directly influenced the Tang tremendously. Diplomatic relationships were successfully established during this period, and Tang China took its role as one of the greatest and prominent empires existing in the medieval world. Retail traders, clerics, ambassadors, and convoys from Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other countries emerged into common members of everyday society in Tang China.
government, he felt that “Principle was the diffusion of the imperial government.”(www.travelchinaguide.com). So in order to correct the situation of the government, he tried to strengthen rule into absolute rule by emperor. One of the single most important innovations that Hongwu made to the Chinese government was the abolishment of the Chief Minister. By eliminating the Chief Minister, Hongwu essentially took over the administration. In a way he was proclaiming absolute...