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Zhu Yuanzhang, also known as Emperor Hongwu (ruled 1368–1398), was the founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).

He was born a peasant, becamea monk,then a rebel leader, and finally became the first emperor of a new dynasty.

Peasant

Zhu Yuanzhang grew up as a peasant. He was born in 1328. It is said that he was the youngest of seven or eight brothers.

Due to poverty, several of his brothers were given away.

During the final 30 years of the Yuan era (1279–1368), there were a lot of famines and natural disasters.

In 1344, when he was 16, the Yellow River flooded his home.

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Then his family died of disease.

Monk

He took shelter in a Buddhist monastery that also ran out of money, and he was forced to leave and beg for food. But he returned to the monastery when he was 24, and he learned to read and write there.

Then the monastery where he took refuge was destroyed by Yuan troops.

Rebel Leader

Zhu Yuanzhang first join