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Liu Ji

Type Figure Region China Time 1311–1375 Also known as Liu Bowen、Master of Qingtian

Liu Ji (1311–1375), courtesy name Bowen, of Qingtian, Zhejiang, was a famous scholar, statesman and military strategist of the late Yuan and early Mi…

Timeline

  1. 1311–1340Qingtian, Chuzhou (now Qingtian, Zhejiang) · Qingtian CountyBorn to a scholarly family in Qingtian, Chuzhou, he read widely in the classics and history and mastered astronomy, military strategy and divination; he passed the jinshi examination under Emperor Shun of Yuan in the Zhizheng era, laying the scholarly foundation for his later strategic assistance to Zhu Yuanzhang.
  2. 1341–1355Jiangzhe Province · Jiangzhe regionAfter passing the jinshi he served as deputy magistrate of Gao'an County, Jiangxi and other posts; dissatisfied with Yuan corruption and dark administration, in the 1340s he alternately served and lived in reclusion in eastern Zhejiang, observing the state of the world and accumulating experience for choosing a lord to serve.
  3. 1356–1375Yingtian Prefecture (Nanjing) · Nanjing CityIn 1356 he answered Zhu Yuanzhang's invitation to join his staff, proposing the strategy of 'first take eastern Zhejiang, then turn to the Central Plains', taking part in planning the Poyang Lake campaign and designing early Ming ritual and official systems; after the founding he served as vice censor-in-chief and was enfeoffed Count of Chengyi.

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