The Historical Positioning of Zhu Yuanzhang and Related Records in the Xu Zizhi Tongjian

Brief Introduction

Zhu Yuanzhang (1328–1398), courtesy name Guorui, later changed to Zhu Yuanzhang, style name Kaitian, posthumous name "Qin Tian Gong Yun Ying Wen Wu Qin De Sheng Shen Ren Xiao Zhe Gong Cheng Jian Da Wen Chun Di," temple name Gaozu (later defined as Taizu in the first year of Hongwu), and era name "Hongwu." He was the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty and one of the rare monarchs in Chinese history who rose from poverty to establish a unified dynasty. During the late Yuan period, when chaos reigned across the land, the Red Turban Rebellion surged. Zhu Yuanzhang raised an army to oppose the Yuan, successively capturing Chuzhou, Hezhou, Caishi, and other locations. In the 24th year of the Zhizheng era (1364), he captured Jiqing (modern-day Nanjing), initially changed the era name to "Tianyou," and later adopted the title "Xiao Ming Wang" (Little Ming King), using Jiqing as a base to gradually unify the Jiangnan region.

Core Knowledge Points

• Rising Against the Yuan: In his early years, Zhu Yuanzhang followed Guo Zixing’s Red Turban forces. His military talent and reputation for benevolence allowed him to rise rapidly. Through the strategy of "building high walls, accumulating large amounts of grain, and delaying the proclamation of kingship," he steadily expanded his sphere of influence.
• Capturing Jiqing: Jiqing Circuit (modern-day Nanjing) was the political and economic center of the Jiangnan region at the time. After capturing Jiqing, Zhu Yuanzhang established it as the core of his regional regime, laying the foundation for his later northern campaigns and the overthrow of the Yuan.
• Changing Titles and Establishing Institutions: After capturing Jiqing, Zhu Yuanzhang established a complete administrative system, set up the Six Ministries, and implemented household registration and land tax systems, providing the institutional blueprint for the Ming Dynasty.

Connections to the Content of the Xu Zizhi Tongjian

The Xu Zizhi Tongjian, continued by Hu Sansheng of the Yuan Dynasty, Wu Zhuoxin of the Qing Dynasty, and others, records history from the Qin to the Yuan. Chapters concerning the "Yuan Shundi" and the "Zhizheng Era" detail late-Yuan civilian uprisings, the Red Turban Rebellion, and events such as Zhu Yuanzhang raising forces against the Yuan and capturing Jiqing. The text uses the biographical-historical style to place Zhu Yuanzhang’s early military actions against the backdrop of late-Yuan social turmoil, official corruption, and frequent famines, revealing the causal relationship between the disorder of imperial power and the resistance of the common people.

Furthermore, when describing the "Capture of Jiqing," the Xu Zizhi Tongjian frequently cites materials from the History of Yuan and local gazetteers. It records Zhu Yuanzhang’s measures, such as incorporating surrendered troops, pacifying the gentry, and rectifying official administration, reflecting his transformation from a refugee general to the leader of a regime. These records not only provide primary source materials for studying early Ming politics and military affairs, but also demonstrate the traditional historiographical focus on the "people-centered" ideology and the logic of dynastic succession.

Conclusion

Zhu Yuanzhang’s rise from the lowest social strata to founding emperor is a typical microcosm of the intensifying social contradictions in the late Yuan. As an important historical text bridging the Song and Ming dynasties, the Xu Zizhi Tongjian’s systematic record of this history not only enriches the study of Ming history but also provides a valuable perspective for understanding the patterns of dynastic change in China.