Overview
Ming Taizu was a ruler.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Other names
| Type | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|
| Temple name |
High Emperor |
高皇帝 |
|
| Regnal name |
Hongwu Emperor |
洪武皇帝 |
|
Life and dates
Attested activity
AD 1368 to AD 1398 太祖
AD 1385 洪武十八年
References in the histories
No matching passages.
History of Ming, Chapter 149Volume 149 Biographies 37: Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji · 9 passages
蹇義，字宜之，巴人，初名容。洪武十八年進士。授中書舍人，奏事稱旨。帝問：「汝蹇叔後乎？」容頓首不敢對。帝嘉其誠篤，為更名義，手書賜之。滿三載當遷，特命滿九載，曰：「朕且用義。」由是朝夕侍左右，小心敬慎，未嘗忤色。惠帝既即位，推太祖意，超擢吏部右侍郎。是時齊泰、黃子澄當國，外興大師，內改制度，義無所建明。國子博士王紳遺書責之，義不能答。
Jian Yi, style Yizhi, was from Ba and was originally named Rong. He became a jinshi in Hongwu 18 and was appointed Secretariat Drafter, where his memorials pleased the emperor. The emperor asked, "Are you a descendant of Jian Shu?" Rong kowtowed and did not dare reply. Admiring his sincerity, the emperor changed his name to Yi and bestowed the written name in his own hand. After Yi had completed three years and was due for promotion, the emperor specifically ordered him to serve the full nine years, saying, "I am about to make use of Yi." From then on Yi attended the emperor morning and evening, cautious and reverent, never offending him. When Emperor Hui came to the throne, he inferred Taizu's intention and exceptionally promoted Yi to right vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel. At that time Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng controlled the government, raising major armies outside and altering institutions within, but Yi offered no constructive proposals. Wang Shen, a doctor of the Directorate of Education, sent him a letter of reproach, and Yi could not answer.
太祖诇而異之。
Taizu noticed this and regarded him as extraordinary.
帝欲宥之，新持不可。
the Emperor wished to pardon them, but Yu Xin insisted that this could not be done.
帝怒，問：「誰教若？」
The Emperor was angry and asked, "Who told you to do this?"
帝乃下書算生於獄。
The Emperor then had the clerks and accountants imprisoned.
帝曰：「原吉能佐尚書理部事，汝欲陷之耶！」
The Emperor said, "Yuanji assists the Minister in running the ministry—are you trying to frame him?"
九載滿，與蹇義皆宴便殿，帝指二人謂群臣曰：「高皇帝養賢以貽朕。
When nine years of service were complete, he and Jian Yi were both feasted in a side hall; the Emperor pointed to them and told the ministers, "The Hongwu Emperor nurtured worthy men to bequeath to me.
原吉與義皆起家太祖時。
Xia Yuanji and Jian Yi both began their careers under Taizu.
蹇義、夏原吉自筮仕之初，即以誠篤幹濟受知太祖，至成祖，益任以繁劇。
From the start of their careers Jian Yi and Xia Yuanji won Taizu's trust through sincerity and practical ability; under the Chengzu Emperor they were entrusted with ever heavier duties.