Hongwu Emperor
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The Hongwu Emperor, personal name Zhu Yuanzhang, was the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1368 to 1398.
A Seated Portrait of Ming Emperor Taizu, c. 1377
Portrait of Lady Ma, Zhu Yuanzhang's wife, as empress. National Palace Museum, Taipei
A cannon from the Huolongjing, compiled by Jiao Yu and Liu Ji before 1375
Pan Gate, one of the gates of the Suzhou City Wall. The ten-month conquest of Suzhou, the seat of Zhang Shicheng, was one of the most fierce battles fought by Zhu's troops.
Yongle Emperor
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The Yongle Emperor, personal name Zhu Di, was the third emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1402 to 1424. He was the fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the dynasty.
Palace portrait on a hanging scroll, kept in the National Palace Museum in Taipei
The Hongwu Emperor, the father of Zhu Di, in his old age, c. 1397
Portrait of Lady Xu, Zhu Di's wife, as empress
The Hall of Revering Heaven in the Forbidden City, Beijing. The Forbidden City, a 72-hectare complex of palaces and buildings, served as the imperial residence of the Ming emperors from 1420 onward. The current buildings of the palace complex are the result of restorations during the Qing dynasty, which did not significantly alter the appearance of the Ming constructions.