From the Mongols to the Ming Dynasty

A beggar, an itinerant monk, leapt to greatness during a tumultuous epoch and went on to found the Ming Dynasty of China (1368–-1644).

As a destitute peasant with nothing to lose, he started a local rebellion; success built on success. Defeating local warlords, Zhu Yuan Zhang conquered all the southern part of China, then sent his army north and unified the rest.

Zhu Yuan Zhang broke out of a desperate life of poverty to reach the heights, using his intelligence, strength and integrity to win a new opportunity, a bigger battle, a more powerful position at every turn. Building a local rebellion into a great fighting force, he crushed the Yuan Dynasty, where the Mongols ruled, and brought together a large and powerful nation.

The Ming Dynasty was a brilliant stretch of three centuries of native Chinese rule, during which China’s influence left its mark on cultures and societies from Vietnam in the east to the Turks in the west.

This history traces the rise of one exceptional man during turbulent times, noting along the way the contributions of bold commanders, fearless fighters, wise leaders, and loyal servants who protected the interests and the dignity of their noble lords, illustrating values that underlie traditional Chinese culture.

This is the only English-language popular history book about Zhu Yuan Zhang, founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China. It introduces some of the key figures in Chinese history and illustrates the values that were prized during China’s rise to greatness. It’s written for students of history and Chinese language, business people, and everyone else who wishes to see inside the Great Wall.