Impact of the 1380 Hu Weiyong case on the politics and governance of Ming China

Abstract

To date, the 1380 Hu Weiyong Case remains one of the most historically significant events that took place during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). While there exists multiple accounts seeking to examine the 1380 Hu Weiyong Case and its implications on the politics and governance on Ming China, its significance as a singular event that brought about a watershed in Ming China warrants further attention of researchers interested in this period in China’s history. This paper proposes to examine the history and significance of the 1380 Hu Weiyong Case from three perspectives: first, in causing a widespread purge of both the Ming court and Ming society; second, in triggering political reorganisations during the Hongwu reign; and third, in laying a foundation for the rise of factional politics in subsequent Ming reigns. Through a study of primary sources such as the Nichen lu (Records of the Treasonous Officials), this paper argues that one of the most immediate impact of the 1380 Hu Weiyong Case was the indiscriminate executions of both civil and military officials and society at large. In addition, secondary sources such as The Cambridge History of China, Volume 7 and Volume 8, further illuminate the fact that the 1380 Hu Weiyong Case had long-term impact on the politics and governance of Ming China. Specifically, this paper puts forth the argument that the 1380 Hu Weiyong Case resulted in the abandonment of the political structure the Ming Dynasty inherited from the Yuan Dynasty and that in the long run, the new political structure introduced by Zhu Yuanzhang resulted in the exacerbation of the political rot that led to the eventual demise of the Ming Dynasty.