Legends of Zhu Yuanzhang

With the vivid brushstrokes of folk legend, this book offers a sweeping portrait of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty, from his beginnings as a poor shepherd boy to his rise as an emperor. Divided into four parts, it centers on the theme of the “Heaven-ordained True Dragon.”

Part One, “Heaven’s Chosen, the Hidden Dragon Among the Common Folk,” focuses on his miraculous birth. Zhu Wusi and his wife dream of a deity bestowing a treasure, while visions of red light filling their home and purple clouds swirling overhead set the story in motion. As a shepherd boy, he shows signs of greatness when he “claims the throne atop a mound” and “slaughters an ox to share the meat.” In his youth, a plague wipes out his family, and the agonizing struggle to find a place to bury his parents plants a deep hatred of the powerful. At the Huangjue Monastery, strange tales such as “the temple guardians changing places” and “mice and sparrows being banished” reveal the hidden dragon’s growing power.

Part Two, “Begging Across the Land, Heaven Protects the True Dragon,” depicts his years as a wanderer. While begging for alms, he is saved by “black plums” and made a marshal, while “a Taoist immortal’s words” point him in the right direction. One miraculous sign follows another: “spiders seal the door,” “crows blot out the sun,” “a divine tortoise bears a boat,” and “soldiers of the underworld drive off the enemy.” Amid countless brushes with death, each affirms that “the True Dragon cannot die” and that Heaven has chosen him.

Part Three, “The Dragon Soars Over Haozhou, the Heroes Bow,” tells the story of his rise. He joins the army in Haozhou and takes the name Zhu Yuanzhang, proclaiming his ambition to destroy the Yuan. He quickly proves his worth and wins the loyalty of heroes such as Xu Da and Liu Bowen. He governs the army with an “iron hand that loves the people” and defeats his enemies with “clever, interlocking schemes.” At the decisive Battle of Lake Poyang, the “divine wind fans the flames” and a “divine tortoise bears its master,” laying the foundation for his imperial rule.

Part Four, “Hongwu Founds a New Era, the True Dragon Rules the Realm,” portrays his life as emperor. The legend of a “treasure basin filling the city” accompanies the establishment of his capital at Jinling, and “all birds paying homage to the phoenix” heralds his coronation. “Traveling incognito to expose corruption” and “hosting a pearl banquet for his hometown” reveal the character of an emperor who came from humble beginnings. His “iron-fisted rule” is accompanied by complicated memories of “migration legends,” “literary inquisition cases,” and more.