Emperor Yongle; 3rd ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1402-1424).Personal Name: Zhu Di; Zhu D?Posthumous Name: Wendi; W閚d?Temple Name: Chengzu; Ch閚gzu; Taizong; T鄆zong.Reign Name: Ming Yongle; Ming Yongl?

The Yongle Emperor was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means 'Perpetual Happiness'. He became emperor by conspiring to usurp the throne which was against the Hongwu Emperor's wishes. He moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing where it was located in the following generations; and constructed the Forbidden City there. After its dilapidation and disuse during the Yuan Dynasty and Hongwu's reign; the Yongle Emperor had the Grand Canal of China repaired and reopened in order to supply the new capital of Beijing in the north with a steady flow of goods and southern foodstuffs. He commissioned most of the exploratory sea voyages of Zheng He. During his reign the monumental Yongle Encyclopedia was completed. The Yongle Emperor is buried in the Changling tomb; the central and largest mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty Tombs.