Hu Dahai

Who was Hu Dahai?

Hu Dahai 胡大海, styled Tongfu 通甫, was a noted Chinese general of the 14th century who helped Zhu Yuanzhang establish the Ming Dynasty. He was born in what is now Si County in Anhui Province.

Hu's family was of Persian extraction, having come to China through the Silk Road and settled in Anhui as simple you tiao vendors. Hu joined the army of Zhu Yuanzhang sometime around the fall of the Yuan Dynasty. After Zhu's forces crossed the Yangtze they captured all of southern Anhui, most of Zhejiang, and other surrounding areas. Hu received positions of leadership and led troops which defeated rival warlord Yang Wanzhe, leading other Miao chieftains Jiang Ying, Liu Zhen, and Li Fu to surrender. Hu served as administrator of the entire Jiangnan region, and was responsible for safeguarding the Jinhua area of Zhejiang.

Although Hu Dahai was illiterate, he was renowned for his humility and willingness to accept suggestions from his subordinates. Hu recommended several well-known scholars and officials from Zhejiang to the service of Zhu Yuanzhang, who later became Emperor Hongwu, including Liu Bowen, Song Lian, Ye Chen, Zhang Yi. Hu's troops were highly disciplined, and Hu once said of them: "My fighting men do not know writing, they only know three duties: do not kill, do not violate women and girls, and do not burn down huts or farmhouses."