The Founder (太祖) | 24 Histories

Overview

The Founder was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1376 九年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passage 334
AD 1356 太祖克集慶
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 212
AD 1355 太祖自濠引兵趨定遠
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 222
AD 1370 洪武三年
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 217-218
AD 1368 洪武元年
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 331

Places and affiliations

Polity Ming 明 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 218, 332

Works and attributed material

funeral elegy for Mao Qi 文
Relation Author · With Mao Qi (毛騏)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 230
Letter · Author · With Köke Temür (擴廓)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 330
Speech · Speaker · With Li Shanchang (李善長) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 218-219
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 243

Events and relationships

Accepted Wang Lian's advice to ease levies
Political · Ruler · With Wang Lian (王濂)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 216
Campaigned against Wuzhou
AD 1360 征婺州 · Military · Commander · At Wuzhou 婺州
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passage 229
Dined with Mao Qi and discussed military affairs
Personal · Host · With Mao Qi (毛騏)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 223
Led troops from Hao toward Dingyuan
AD 1355 太祖自濠引兵趨定遠 · Military · Commander · At Dingyuan 定遠
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 222
Personally received Wang He in the side hall to instruct and send him as left counselor to the Prince of Jin
AD 1376 九年 · Political · Ruler · With Wang He (汪河)
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passage 334
Sent seven letters to Köke Temür without reply
Diplomatic · Author · With Köke Temür (擴廓)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 330

Show 4 more source-backed claims

Took Chuzhou
AD 1355 取滁州 · Military · Commander · At Chuzhou 滁州
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passage 224
Took Jiqing
AD 1356 太祖克集慶 · Military · Commander · At Jiqing 集慶
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 212
Wept, composed a eulogy, and attended Mao Qi's burial
Ritual · Mourner · With Mao Qi (毛騏)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 230
Relation Patron of · Person Mao Qi (毛騏)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 227, 229

Assessments and attributes

Assessment among civil officials who crossed the Yangzi and managed documents for more than ten years, none compared with Yang Yuangao, Ruan Hongdao, Li Menggeng, Hou Yuanshan, and Fan Jingzhao · Mode quoted-speech Speaker The Founder (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 243
Assessment if Wang Lian had still been alive, Li Shanchang's implication would not have come to this · With Wang Lian (王濂) · Mode quoted-speech Speaker The Founder (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 219
Assessment Wang Lian had the talent of a king's minister; his death was like losing an arm · With Wang Lian (王濂) · Mode quoted-speech Speaker The Founder (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 218

References in the histories

Search passages

History

18 passages

History of Ming, Chapter 135Volume 135 Biographies 23: Chen Yu, Ye Dui, Fan Chang, Song Siyan, Guo Jingxiang, Yang Yuangao, Ruan Hongdao, Kong Keren · 18 passages

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初從汝、潁賊，太祖克集慶，乃渡江來歸。 At first he followed the rebels of Ru and Ying; after the Founder took Jiqing, he crossed the Yangzi to submit.

太祖納之。 The Founder accepted his advice.

帝謂善長曰：「濂有王佐才，今死，朕失一臂。」 The Emperor said to Li Shanchang, "Wang had the talent of a king's minister; now that he is dead, I have lost an arm."

後善長坐事，帝嘆曰：「使王濂在，必不至是。」 Later, when Li Shanchang was implicated in a case, the Emperor sighed and said, "If Wang Lian had still been alive, things would surely not have come to this."

太祖自濠引兵趨定遠，騏扶縣令出降。 When the Founder led troops from Hao toward Dingyuan, Mao helped the county magistrate come out to surrender.

太祖喜，留與飲食，籌兵事，悉當意。 The Founder was pleased, kept him to dine with him, and discussed military affairs; everything Mao said accorded with his wishes.

是時太祖左右惟善長及騏，文書機密，皆兩人協贊。 At that time only Li Shanchang and Mao Qi stood at the Founder's side; confidential documents were all handled jointly by the two of them.

征婺州，命權理中書省事，委以心膂。 During the campaign against Wuzhou, he was ordered to manage Secretariat affairs on a provisional basis and was entrusted as the Founder's right-hand man.

俄病卒，太祖親為文哭之，臨視其葬。 Before long he died of illness; the Founder personally composed a funeral elegy and wept for him, and attended the burial in person.

捕倭浙東，斬獲多，擢都督僉事，見親任，嘗掌錦衣衛事，典詔獄。 In pursuing Japanese pirates in eastern Zhejiang he took many heads and captives; he was promoted to vice commissioner of the chief command, enjoyed the Founder's trust, once managed the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and oversaw the imperial prison.

二人皆於太祖最故，又皆儒雅，嗜文學，練達政體，而元杲知慮尤周密。 Both were among the Founder's oldest associates; both were refined and literary, devoted to letters, and skilled in the ways of government, though Yuangao's forethought was especially thorough.