In 1368, a former peasant became emperor and founded the Ming dynasty
Zhu Yuanzhang rose from a destitute, wandering monk to a powerful military leader, eventually seizing the throne in 1368 to establish the legendary Ming dynasty that defined imperial China.
In 1368, the Hongwu Emperor ascended the throne, marking the start of the Ming dynasty. Born into extreme poverty, Zhu Yuanzhang spent his youth as a beggar and a monk before joining a rebel group against the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. His rise is one of history's most dramatic 'rags-to-riches' stories.
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