Hongwu Emperor's Reforms and Purges (1368–1398)

1. Embroidered Uniform Guard formed as imperial bodyguards

   Jan 1, 1368Labels: Embroidered Uniform, Hongwu Emperor

   • Jinyiwei
   • Wikipedia

2. Zhu Yuanzhang founds the Ming dynasty

   Jan 23, 1368Labels: Zhu Yuanzhang, Ming dynasty

   • Britannica
   • Wikipedia

3. Prestamped documents case triggers mass punishments

   Jan 1, 1376Labels: Prestamped documents, Hongwu administration

   • Four Cases

4. Central Secretariat and chancellorship abolished

   Jan 1, 1380Labels: Central Secretariat, Six Ministries

   • Britannica
   • Reforms
   • Zhongshu

5. Hu Weiyong executed in treason case

   Feb 12, 1380Labels: Hu Weiyong, Hongwu Emperor

   • Hu Weiyong
   • Britannica

6. Yellow Registers compiled for taxation and labor

   Jan 1, 1381Labels: Yellow Registers, taxation system

   • Yellow Registers
   • ChinaKnowledge

7. Song Lian exiled; dies en route

   Jan 1, 1381Labels: Song Lian, exile

   • UW Press

8. Grand Secretaries appointed to manage imperial workload

   Jan 1, 1382Labels: Grand Secretaries, Hanlin Academy

   • Govt Ming
   • Grand Sec

9. Guo Huan corruption case leads to executions

   May 1, 1385Labels: Guo Huan, Ministry of

   • Four Cases

10. First volume of the Dàgào “Great Edicts” issued

    Nov 1, 1385Labels: D g, Hongwu edicts

    • AncientWar

11. Li Shanchang executed in extended purge

    Jan 1, 1390Labels: Li Shanchang, founding ministers

    • Li Shanchang
    • Four Cases

12. Compilation of a legislative encyclopedia ordered

    Jan 1, 1393Labels: Legislative encyclopedia, Da Ming

    • ChinaKnowledge

13. Lan Yu executed in major military purge

    Mar 22, 1393Labels: Lan Yu, military purge

    • Lan Yu
    • Four Cases

14. Great Ming Code promulgated as final revision

    Jan 1, 1397Labels: Great Ming, Da Ming

    • Great Ming Code

15. Hongwu dies; Jianwen succeeds

    Jun 30, 1398Labels: Hongwu Emperor, Jianwen Emperor

    • Jianwen
    • Wikipedia