How did Confucian scholars influence Zhu Yuanzhang’s approach to government?

The Hongwu emperor’s approach to government was deeply influenced by his recognition that effective administration depended on the Confucian scholar class, despite his personal suspicion that they were a dangerous group following the expulsion of the Mongols.1

His influence by Confucian scholars manifested in several key ways:

• Bureaucratic Training: He rehabilitated the scholar class by encouraging education and establishing schools at local levels to train candidates for the civil service.12
• Examination System: He institutionalized a recruitment system based on competitive examinations, which emphasized the Song Neo-Confucian interpretation of the Classics. This ensured that officials were grounded in traditional values, though it also discouraged originality by forcing a highly stylized writing format.23
• Subordination: While he relied on scholars, he maintained a despotic stance, treating them as mere servants of the state. He famously used heavy bamboo to punish officials for minor offenses, aiming to keep them subservient to his direct control.13

Ultimately, the Hongwu emperor sought to restore traditional Chinese values while simultaneously concentrating power in his own hands to an unprecedented degree, often bypassing or suppressing the very scholars he trained.13