Xu Da
Encyclopedia
Xu Da (1332–1385) was a Chinese
military general who lived in the early Ming Dynasty
and contributed to the founding of the dynasty. Apart from being a friend of the Hongwu Emperor
, founding emperor of the dynasty, Xu was also the father of Empress Xu
, who would marry the third ruler of the Ming, the Yongle Emperor
.
in 1353 to overthrow the Mongolia
n-ruled Yuan Dynasty
in China
. He was placed under the command of Zhu Yuanzhang (future Hongwu Emperor
of the Ming Dynasty
) and he helped Zhu conquer several regional warlords. In 1369, two years after the founding the Ming Dynasty, Xu, along with various deputies, led an attack on the Yuan capital city of Beijing
and forced the last Yuan ruler, Emperor Huizong, to flee northward.
Xu led a pursuit on the retreating Yuan forces and he encountered Yi Seonggye
(founder of the Joseon Dynasty
in Korea
), who was commanded to take out the Chinese army. Xu's presence struck fear into the Korean generals, who in turn, allied themselves with the Chinese instead. Afterwards, Xu's army entered Mongolian territory and routed Mongol reinforcements throughout the empire. Eventually, Xu's force sacked the Mongolian capital at Karakorum
, and captured thousands of Mongol nobles in 1370. His army ventured to Transbaikalia and reached the furthest north that any other Chinese army had never reached before.
Xu died in 1385 under mysterious circumstances. He was not accused of plotting an assassination on the Hongwu Emperor, although many others who contributed to the Ming Dynasty's founding had been put to death by the emperor for allegedly plotting rebellions. In legend, an illness made Xu allergic
to goose
and the Hongwu Emperor sent him goose to eat, ensuring that Xu ate it and died.
novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. As a member of the anti-Yuan
Ming Cult
, Xu participated actively in the rebellions to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty, together with Zhu Yuanzhang
, Chang Yuchun
and others, under the leadership of Zhang Wuji
. Zhang passes Xu the Book of Wumu
, a textbook on military strategies written by the Song Dynasty
general Yue Fei
, and Xu benefits greatly from reading the book. Xu becomes a brilliant military commander and leads the rebels to victory in the battles against the Yuan forces. He later aids Zhu Yuanzhang in founding the Ming Dynasty
in China.
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
military general who lived in the early Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
and contributed to the founding of the dynasty. Apart from being a friend of the Hongwu Emperor
Hongwu Emperor
The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
, founding emperor of the dynasty, Xu was also the father of Empress Xu
Empress Xu
Empress Xu , formally Empress Ren Xiao Wen , birth name Xu Yihua , was the empress consort to the Yongle Emperor and the third empress of China's Ming Dynasty...
, who would marry the third ruler of the Ming, the Yongle Emperor
Yongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
.
Biography
Xu joined the Red Turban rebelsRed Turban Rebellion
The Red Turban Rebellion was an uprising much influenced by the White Lotus Society members that targeted the ruling Yuan Dynasty.- Causes :...
in 1353 to overthrow the Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n-ruled Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He was placed under the command of Zhu Yuanzhang (future Hongwu Emperor
Hongwu Emperor
The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
of the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
) and he helped Zhu conquer several regional warlords. In 1369, two years after the founding the Ming Dynasty, Xu, along with various deputies, led an attack on the Yuan capital city of Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and forced the last Yuan ruler, Emperor Huizong, to flee northward.
Xu led a pursuit on the retreating Yuan forces and he encountered Yi Seonggye
Taejo of Joseon
Taejo of Joseon , born Yi Seong-gye, whose changed name is Yi Dan, was the founder and the first king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, and the main figure in overthrowing the Goryeo Dynasty...
(founder of the Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
), who was commanded to take out the Chinese army. Xu's presence struck fear into the Korean generals, who in turn, allied themselves with the Chinese instead. Afterwards, Xu's army entered Mongolian territory and routed Mongol reinforcements throughout the empire. Eventually, Xu's force sacked the Mongolian capital at Karakorum
Karakorum
Karakorum was the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, and of the Northern Yuan in the 14-15th century. Its ruins lie in the northwestern corner of the Övörkhangai Province of Mongolia, near today's town of Kharkhorin, and adjacent to the Erdene Zuu monastery...
, and captured thousands of Mongol nobles in 1370. His army ventured to Transbaikalia and reached the furthest north that any other Chinese army had never reached before.
Xu died in 1385 under mysterious circumstances. He was not accused of plotting an assassination on the Hongwu Emperor, although many others who contributed to the Ming Dynasty's founding had been put to death by the emperor for allegedly plotting rebellions. In legend, an illness made Xu allergic
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
to goose
Goose
The word goose is the English name for a group of waterfowl, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller....
and the Hongwu Emperor sent him goose to eat, ensuring that Xu ate it and died.
Popular culture
Xu Da is featured as a character in Louis Cha's WuxiaWuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. As a member of the anti-Yuan
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
Ming Cult
Ming Cult
The Ming Cult is a fictional cult and martial arts sect based on the actual Gnostic religion Manichaeism. It plays an important role in Jin Yong's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber of all wuxia fiction works. It is also briefly mentioned in The Legend of the Condor Heroes as well...
, Xu participated actively in the rebellions to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty, together with Zhu Yuanzhang
Hongwu Emperor
The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
, Chang Yuchun
Chang Yuchun
Chang Yuchun , style name Boren and pseudonym Yanheng , was a Chinese Muslim military general. He was a follower of the Ming Dynasty's founder, Zhu Yuanzhang, and contributed greatly to the founding of the dynasty...
and others, under the leadership of Zhang Wuji
Zhang Wuji
Zhang Wuji is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber by Jin Yong.-Early life:Zhang was born on Ice Fire Island to Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu. He is named by his godfather, Xie Xun, in memory of Xie's deceased son, Xie Wuji...
. Zhang passes Xu the Book of Wumu
Book of Wumu
The Book of Wumu is a fictional military treatise mentioned in Jin Yong's Condor Trilogy...
, a textbook on military strategies written by the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
general Yue Fei
Yue Fei
Yue Fei , style name Pengju, was a military general of the Southern Song Dynasty. His ancestral home was in Xiaoti, Yonghe Village, Tangyin, Xiangzhou, Henan...
, and Xu benefits greatly from reading the book. Xu becomes a brilliant military commander and leads the rebels to victory in the battles against the Yuan forces. He later aids Zhu Yuanzhang in founding the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
in China.