Why did the Hongwu emperor both support Confucian scholars and restrict their political power?

The Hongwu emperor’s complex relationship with Confucian scholars stemmed from his desire to restore traditional Chinese governance while simultaneously consolidating absolute power.

He supported the Confucian scholar class because he recognized that effective administration depended on their expertise. To this end, he promoted education, established local schools, and utilized the civil-service examination system to recruit talented individuals into the bureaucracy.12

However, he also viewed scholars as a potential threat to his authority, considering them the most dangerous group in the country following the expulsion of the Mongols. To mitigate this risk, he implemented several restrictive measures:

• Subordination: He insisted that scholars serve as mere instruments of the state, working exclusively on his behalf.1
• Administrative Control: He abolished the office of the prime minister to prevent any official from accumulating too much power, forcing the six ministries to report directly to him.1
• Brutal Enforcement: He frequently used physical violence, including public beatings, to punish scholar-officials for minor offenses, which discouraged many from pursuing government careers.1

Ultimately, the emperor sought to harness the utility of Confucian learning while ensuring that scholars remained entirely subservient to his despotic rule.1