Tang He (simplified: 汤和, traditional: 湯和, pinyin: Tāng Hé, jyutping: tong1 wo4) was a member of the Ming Order who worked alongside Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, and Chang Yuchun in the effort to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty. He was one of the few former Ming Order members who survived Zhu Yuanzhang’s purges after the establishment of the Ming Dynasty due to his complete loyalty to Zhu Yuanzhang.1
Biography
Early involvement with the Ming Order
Tang He was a member of the Ming Order who participated in the organisation’s revolutionary activities against the Yuan Dynasty. He worked alongside other Order members, including Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, and Chang Yuchun, in military campaigns and strategic planning.2
Meeting Zhang Wuji
Tang He first encountered Zhang Wuji during the young leader’s journey. Along with Zhu Yuanzhang and Xu Da, Tang He was one of the future historical figures Zhang Wuji met during his travels, witnessing the world’s cruelty and the struggles of the common people.3
Survival after the establishment of the Ming Dynasty
After Zhu Yuanzhang seized control of the Ming Order and eventually established the Ming Dynasty, he began persecuting many former Ming Order members, including military leaders who had helped him achieve power. Most of these leaders met tragic fates, with their families destroyed or themselves executed.4
Tang He was a notable exception to this pattern. He survived Zhu Yuanzhang’s purges due to his complete loyalty to Zhu Yuanzhang, which distinguished him from other leaders who were eliminated despite their contributions to the revolution.5 This survival demonstrated the importance of absolute loyalty in Zhu Yuanzhang’s political calculations and contrasted sharply with the tragic fates of other military leaders who had once been Zhu Yuanzhang’s comrades.6
Behind the scenes
Tang He is based on the historical figure of the same name, who was indeed one of Zhu Yuanzhang’s early comrades and a founding general of the Ming Dynasty. Historically, Tang He was known for his early support of Zhu Yuanzhang and his complete loyalty throughout their careers. Unlike many other founding generals who were executed or persecuted, Tang He managed to survive and retire peacefully, making him one of the few Ming founding generals to die a natural death.7
In the novel, Jin Yong incorporates Tang He as an example of how absolute loyalty could preserve one’s life even under Zhu Yuanzhang’s ruthless rule. His character serves to contrast with other Ming Order members who met tragic fates, highlighting the political realities of the transition from revolutionary organisation to imperial dynasty.
The character’s inclusion demonstrates how the novel connects fictional martial arts narratives to real historical events, showing how different individuals navigated the complex political landscape of the late Yuan period and early Ming Dynasty.