A combination of incompetent rulers and natural disasters led to farmer uprising which overthrew Yuan Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang (1328 - 1398) was a leader of one of these farmer uprisings. He was born in a poor farmer's family in Haozhou (today's Fengyang, Anhui province). In 1352, Guo Zixing led a farmer uprising in Haozhou, and Zhu Yuanzhang joined the troops. Later, he was put in a very important position because of his bravery and wisdom. He became the leader of the troops after Guo Zixing's death. In March 1356, Zhu Yuanzhang captured Jiqing (today's Nanjing) and changed its name to Yingtian. He took his advisors suggestions and summoned many talented people in Yingtian. Meanwhile, with Yingtian as his base, he followed the strategy of wiping out the less powerful enemy first and then the powerful ones later. He defeated Yuan armies around him one by one. At the same time, the other uprising armies all took certain teritory and proclaimed themselves as emperor. In 1364, Zhu Yuanzhang defeated the most powerful enemy, i.e. the uprising troops of Chen Youliang. Later, other farmer uprising troops were defeated one by one.

In 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself emperor. He was historically known as Emperor Taizu of Ming Dynasty, in Nanjing. In the autumn of the same year, Ming army took Dadu, the capital of Yuan Empire, putting the end to the rule of the Mongols. However, it took Zhu Yuanzhang nearly more than 20 years to consolidate his hold over the whole country.

Zhu Yuanzhang said that since the country had just been stabilized, it was the same as a little bird that just left its nest and needed great care. His first concern was to restore agricultural production, which had been severely disrupted during the wars. He encouraged farmers who had fled from their homes during the fighting to return to their fields and to open up new land. He advocated that the planting of cash crops such as cotton, mulberries and hemp. He offered tax exemptions as an incentive. By 1393, the area of agricultural land had grown to four times as big as that at the end of Yuan Dynasty. Also irrigation works had been expanded greatly. Emperor Taizu also extended preferential treatment to craftmen. All these measure provided advantageous conditions for the further overall development of society, economy and culture nationwide.

Emperor Taizu abolished the position of the Prime Minister, and set up six offices known as the "six boards" in the central government, which were directly responsible to the emperor. This method strengthened the centralization of authority. He set up a new institution of spies called "Guards in Embroidered Coats", which strengthened the imperial power. At the same time, the emperor made a thorough overhaul of the existing laws, increasing the penalties for offenders and thus laid a good foundation for the rule of Ming Dynasty.