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Hongwu emperor's military recognition and military policy in the early Ming Dynasty

KyeoungLok Kim 1

1국방부군사편찬연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

In this paper, I researched Hongwu Emperor(洪武帝)’s plans of country governance, his military recognition and military policy which was the general source of military policy in the Early Ming Empire. First, I will focus on state of a Hongwu period and the process of military system, and let's look at linking Hongwu's rule plan and military policy. Hongwu period was meaningful in established of the new Military Command System(軍事指揮體系) and instituting the Military System(軍制) besides common change of era. The representative military system of Ming Dynasty, and it is influenced not only China history but also Korea history, Japan history the neighboring countries. Ming dynasty established, but also it marks the reconstruction of a large number of Han Chinese regime's military system and institutions. In terms of construction of the military system, as the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty, Hongwu emperor considered it very seriously. In the early period of establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Hongwu emperor ordered to to formulate the military system with his military experience. In the Ming Dynasty emperors reign, politics was influenced by the former. Military organization was not only a classic military command system but also reflects Hongwu emperor's military recognition, it contains rich ethical thoughts. Hongwu emperor’s military thought stems from domination history of China and has been influenced a lot by traditional military system in china’s history. The political trend to strengthen imperial power continued in Ming dynasty. As we saw before, Hongwu emperor abolished prime ministership by reason of the uprising of Hu, Wei-Yong(胡惟庸), and put 6 Ministry directly under jurisdiction of emperor. Besides that, in order to control military power more tightly, Hongwu emperor divided the office for Joint chief of staff, called Great chief of staff(大都督部), into five office for chief of staff(五軍都督部). Not long after the Ming dynasty established, the military situation was unstable, and the economy also suffered severe damage. In order to strengthen the centralization of authority and consolidate the new power, Hongwu Emperor drew lessons from the failure of Yuan(元) dynasty, summarized the successful experience on the management of past ages after repeated thinking. Due to a profound historical background and his military experience in his early years, he attached great hatred towards the military official embezzlement. This thoughts ran through the whole process when formulated "the Great Ming Code", "Da Gao"(大誥) and other messages as well as regulations. Despite the limitations of these measures, the effect of military system did not achieve the desired results.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.