Ming Yuzhen

Ming Yuzhen
明玉珍
Emperor of the Xia state
Reign1362–1366
SuccessorMing Sheng
Born1329
Died1366 (aged 36–37)
Burial
Rui Mausoleum (叡陵; in present-day Shangheng Street, Jiangbei District, Chongqing)
Era dates
  • Tianqi (天啟): 1361–1362
  • Tiantong (天統): 1363–1366
Posthumous name
Emperor Qinwen Zhaowu
(欽文昭武皇帝)
Temple name
Taizu (太祖)
DynastyXia
FatherMing Xuewen
MotherLady Zhao
Chinese name
Chinese明玉珍
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinMíng Yùzhēn

Ming Yuzhen (1329–1366) was one of the leaders of the Red Turban Rebellion during the final phase of the Yuan dynasty. He was born into a family of landowners and eventually became a general in the rebel Song (Tianwan) state, where he ruled over Sichuan. After the Tianwan regime fell, he declared himself King of Longshu in 1360 and later proclaimed himself emperor of the Xia state in 1362. He died just four years later. His young son succeeded him to the throne but only ruled for five years before the Xia state was conquered by the Ming dynasty in 1371.