明太祖, also known as Zhu Yuanzhang, was the founder of the Ming Dynasty in China. Born in 1328, he rose from humble beginnings as an orphaned peasant to become a military leader. In 1368, he successfully overthrew the Yuan Dynasty, which was established by the Mongols, and declared himself the emperor. As emperor, 明太祖 implemented significant reforms to strengthen the central government and improve agricultural production. He emphasized Confucian values and established a civil service examination system to select government officials. His reign marked the beginning of a prosperous era in Chinese history, lasting until 1644.