How did the Hongwu emperor’s rule shape the government and political tone of the Ming dynasty?

The Hongwu emperor’s reign fundamentally transformed the Ming dynasty by institutionalizing extreme political despotism and centralizing absolute power within the throne.12

His governance was defined by several key shifts:

• Centralization of Power: Following the execution of his prime minister, Hu Weiyong, in 1380, Hongwu abolished the prime ministership and the central chancellery entirely. This forced the six ministries to report directly to him, ensuring he exercised total control over state affairs.1
• Bureaucratic Control: While he rehabilitated the Confucian scholar class to ensure effective administration, he treated scholars as mere servants of the state. He utilized brutal punishments, including public beatings, to suppress dissent and discourage officials from seeking independent power.1
• Institutionalized Despotism: He established a system where grand secretaries handled routine administration but remained subservient to the emperor. Furthermore, he granted military principalities to his sons to maintain personal control over the empire.12
• Civil Service Reform: He expanded the civil-service examination system, tying education strictly to government recruitment. While this recruited talented individuals, it stifled originality by mandating a rigid, artificial literary style based on Neo-Confucian interpretations.3