Hongwu Emperor ( ; October 21 , 1328 â `` June 24 , 1398 ) , also known by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by the temple name Taizu of the Ming was the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty . The Hongwu Emperor ( ; 21 October , 1328 â `` 24 June 1398 ) , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China .