Why did the Hongwu emperor prevent the empress from taking part in court politics?

The Hongwu emperor’s decision to prohibit the empress from participating in court politics was rooted in his broader effort to centralize power and prevent the political instability he associated with previous dynasties.

Having risen from humble peasant origins to establish the Ming dynasty, the emperor was deeply suspicious of any group he believed prone to intrigue or the usurpation of imperial authority. He viewed maternal relatives, court eunuchs, and the military as historical sources of corruption and political interference. By strictly limiting the influence of these groups—including forbidding the empress from meddling in state affairs—he aimed to ensure that all administrative control remained directly under his own command.12

This policy was part of a larger, often despotic, trend in his governance, which included abolishing the prime ministership and centralizing authority to prevent the erosion of his absolute power. His actions were driven by a desire to resuscitate a stable, traditional Chinese government while aggressively stamping out any potential for internal challenges to his rule.341