Zhu Yuanzhang called himself the Hongwu Emperor (expansive and martial) and made Nanjing his capital. Imperial titles like “Hongwu” relate to the reign of each emperor, in which they declare the nature of their particular rule. These titles are not the actual name of the emperor, but this is how they are known in Chinese history.
I think this shows how important symbolic titles were in Chinese history. Instead of just being a name, they reflected the emperor’s character and how he wanted his rule to be remembered. For example, “Hongwu” suggests power and expansion. It makes me realize that in Chinese culture, the way leaders were remembered was as important as the policies they carried out.