The Jianwen Emperor (Chinese: 建文帝, Jiànwéndì; 5 December 1377 – 13 July 1402) was the second emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China. His personal name was Zhu Yunwen (朱允炆). The era name Jianwen meant "Establishing Civility" and represented a sharp change in tone from his grandfather's era of "Great Martiality" (Hongwu). His reign did not last long: an attempt to restrain his powerful uncles led to the Jingnan rebellion and usurpation by the Yongle Emperor. Although the new emperor presented a charred body as Zhu Yunwen's, rumors circulated for decades that the young emperor had escaped his burning palace in a monk's robe. This rumor is credited by some as having prompted Zheng He's voyages of exploration to the Indian Ocean.
Read more about Jianwen Emperor: Early Life, Reign, Fate, Family
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—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)