Because Zhu Yuanzhang was the eighth in the family, he was named Zhu Chongba. In the Yuan Dynasty, if ordinary people did not hold an official position or go to school, they could not have their own names. They could only be named after the sum of their parents' ages or the date of their birth. Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was born in a poor peasant family, had an ancestor named Zhu Bailiu, a great-grandfather named Zhu Sijiu, a grandfather named Zhu Chuyi, and his father was also named Zhu Wusi.
His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all tax defaulters for several generations, hiding from debts everywhere in the Huaihe River Basin, looking for a place to work as tenants and live a hand-to-mouth life. He was the youngest child among his siblings who survived the catastrophe. Except for the eldest child, all the other children were given away or married off because they were unable to raise them. Because his family was too poor to study, Zhu Yuanzhang made a living by herding cattle for the landlord in the village since he was a child.
The name Zhu Yuanzhang was used until he participated in the anti-Yuan uprising. After he entered Guo Zixing's army, Zhu Chongba changed his name to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Extended information:
Zhu Chongba changed his name to Zhu Yuanzhang:
Zhu Yuanzhang's small character is Chongba, and later he took the name Xingzong, then changed it to Deyu, and then changed it to Yuanzhang, named Guorui. When he changed his name to Yuan Zhang, he secretly communicated with Chahan Timur in order to flatter Chahan, because Chahan's cousin's name was Tingrui. If the names match, Yuanzhang will be the Guizhang of the Yuan Dynasty, and the national auspiciousness will be the national auspiciousness. Zhu Chongba's brothers were named Zhu Xinglong, Zhu Xingzu, and Zhu Xingzong.
Another meaning: "Yuan" means salvation, favor, and comfort; "Zhang" means the land of China and the people living on it. The meaning of the two words combined is self-explanatory.
As he grew up, the eldest son of the Zhu family defected to the rebel army and married Ma, the adopted daughter of the leader of the rebel army, Guo Zixing. People’s name for him also changed. They no longer called him Zhu Chongba, but Zhu Chongba. He was respectfully called Mr. Zhu. From then on, he was named "Yuanzhang" and his courtesy name was "Guorui".
According to the "Records of Taizu of the Ming Dynasty", "Zhang" is a kind of jade with a slanted tip, "Zhu Yuanzhang" is the sharp jade that destroyed the Yuan Dynasty; and "Zhu Guorui" means to establish a future. Red is an auspicious country.
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