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The reign of Emperor Yongle, or ́Perpetual Happiness, ́ was one of the most dramatic and significant in Chinese history. It began with civil war and a bloody coup, saw the construction of the Forbidden City, the completion of the Grand Canal, consolidation of the imperial bureaucracy, and expansion of China ́s territory into Mongolia, Manchuria, and Vietnam.Beginning with an hour-by-hour account of one day in Yongle ́s court, Shih-shan Henry Tsai presents the multiple dimensions of the life of Yongle (Zhu Di, 1360-1424) in fascinating detail. Tsai examines the role of birth, education, and tradition in molding the emperor ́s personality and values, and paints a rich portrait of a man characterized by stark contrasts. Synthesizing primary and secondary source materials, he has crafted a colorful biography of the most renowned of the Ming emperors.… (more)
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Yongle was the founding Ming emperor Hongwu's fourth son (born Zhu Di, or the Prince of Yan), who usurped the throne from the designated heir apparent after their father's death in the 4th year (?) of his older brother's rule...and then tried to expunge his name and memory from Ming history. In doing so, he expanded and defended the empire, re-established Chinese society after a century of foreign (Mongol) rule, created the world's largest encyclopedia of its time, moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing, and sent out the eunuch Admiral Zheng He who became one of history's greatest explorers.
Nine chapters cover his life and accomplishments (and shortfalls--ego, temper, and a tendency to imprison and punish court nay-sayers)...and there is enough information on Hongwu to make it a good introduction to the early years of the Ming Dynasty in general.
An excellent bibliography and list of Chinese names in Chinese characters provide the means for readers to go on to more in-depth research.
As an educator and trainer of museum docents, this volume is a true 'find' that I will add to our recommended reading list.