Ming Dynasty

Hello. I am the Hongwu Emperor. That is a big name, but I was just a person who wanted to help. A long, long time ago, my home of China was a little messy. People were sad, and things were not always fair. I wanted to make everything safe and happy again. I wanted to give everyone a brand new beginning, like when the sun comes up in the morning. It was time for everyone to feel safe in their homes and smile again. I knew we could do it if we all worked together.

So, in the year 1368, my friends and I started our big job. First, we needed to make sure everyone was safe. We built big, strong walls to protect our towns. We even made parts of the Great Wall bigger and stronger. It was like building the biggest, longest fort you have ever seen. Then, we built a beautiful new city called Nanjing to be our capital. We filled it with pretty gardens and big buildings. We planted lots and lots of trees to make the air fresh and give us yummy fruit. We made sure everyone had good food to eat so their tummies would be full and happy.

We did not just build big things. We also made beautiful little things. My people learned how to make the prettiest vases. They were white with lovely blue pictures on them. People all over the world still think they are beautiful today. Our new beginning, our Ming Dynasty, lasted for a very, very long time because we all worked together like a big family. And that is my story. When you build good things with your friends, you can make the world a more beautiful and happy place for everyone to share.