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==Policies==
==Policies==
The Hongwu Emperor is known as an autocrat, who liked to exercise direct control over government policy. He abolished the Grand Secretariat which had overseen government administration in the preceding periods, and instead addressed hundreds of matters each day himself. This elimination of the Grand Secretariat would have consequences, however, as future emperors were not as active in processing memorials to the throne, and serious bottlenecks developed.<ref>[[Albert M. Craig]], ''The Heritage of Chinese Civilization'', Third Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 105-106.</ref>
Perhaps because of his peasant origins, the Hongwu Emperor adhered to a conservative Confucian notion of the importance of agriculture as the foundation of the State and of the economy, disparaging the merchant class. In a reversal from earlier policies, he returned the taxation system to one based on agricultural production, reducing or eliminating commercial taxes, and, at times (in [[1370]] and [[1398]]), banning private overseas voyages entirely. In accordance with these conservative attitudes, the Hongwu Emperor also had tax rates frozen at a given rate, based on land surveys from the beginning of his reign. The country's agricultural production was prosperous enough to support the population, and the State, for a time, but the State's financial needs grew over the course of the Ming period, along with agricultural and commercial production, which the frozen tax rates failed to capture.
Perhaps because of his peasant origins, the Hongwu Emperor adhered to a conservative Confucian notion of the importance of agriculture as the foundation of the State and of the economy, disparaging the merchant class. In a reversal from earlier policies, he returned the taxation system to one based on agricultural production, reducing or eliminating commercial taxes, and, at times (in [[1370]] and [[1398]]), banning private overseas voyages entirely. In accordance with these conservative attitudes, the Hongwu Emperor also had tax rates frozen at a given rate, based on land surveys from the beginning of his reign. The country's agricultural production was prosperous enough to support the population, and the State, for a time, but the State's financial needs grew over the course of the Ming period, along with agricultural and commercial production, which the frozen tax rates failed to capture.
In addition to his many great acts, the Hongwu Emperor is also known for extensive purges, in which thousands of people would be killed, or "disappear." In [[1376]], he dismissed 10,000 officials from government service for engaging in a traditional paperwork practice with which he disapproved; in [[1380]], when he eliminated the position of the chancellor and dismantled the Grand Secretariat, 30,000 people vanished. A scandal over grain led to 10,000 or so being sentenced to death in [[1385]], and 15,000 were killed in [[1393]], accused of involvement in challenges to imperial authority.
In addition to his many great acts, the Hongwu Emperor is also known for extensive purges, in which thousands of people would be killed, or "disappear." In [[1376]], he dismissed 10,000 officials from government service for engaging in a traditional paperwork practice with which he disapproved; in [[1380]], when he eliminated the position of the chancellor and dismantled the Grand Secretariat, 30,000 people vanished. A scandal over grain led to 10,000 or so being sentenced to death in [[1385]], and 15,000 were killed in [[1393]], accused of involvement in challenges to imperial authority.
==Death & Legacy==
Hongwu died in [[1398]]. This was followed by violent succession disputes. The Crown Prince had died in [[1392]], and Hongwu had named his teenage grandson to be his successor. The grandson took the throne as the [[Jianwen Emperor]], but only a few years later was attacked by his uncle Zhu Di (a son of Hongwu), who set fire to the palace, and took the throne himself as the [[Yongle Emperor]]. Rumors circulated of Jianwen's possibly having survived the fire, and from time to time Yongle sent missions to find and kill him.
Hongwu died in [[1398]]. This was followed by violent succession disputes. The Crown Prince had died in [[1392]], and Hongwu had named his teenage grandson to be his successor. The grandson took the throne as the [[Jianwen Emperor]], but only a few years later was attacked by his uncle Zhu Di (a son of Hongwu), who set fire to the palace, and took the throne himself as the [[Yongle Emperor]]. Rumors circulated of Jianwen's possibly having survived the fire, and from time to time Yongle sent missions to find and kill him.
*Patricia Ebrey, ''Chinese Civilization'', Second Edition, New York: The Free Press (1993), 205-207.
*Patricia Ebrey, ''Chinese Civilization'', Second Edition, New York: The Free Press (1993), 205-207.
*Valerie Hansen, ''The Open Empire'', New York: W.W. Norton & Company (2000), 371-376.
*Valerie Hansen, ''The Open Empire'', New York: W.W. Norton & Company (2000), 371-376.
<references/>
[[Category:Emperors]]
[[Category:Emperors]]
[[Category:Muromachi Period]]
[[Category:Muromachi Period]]