In the long history of China, there are many puzzling mysteries, one of which is why Empress Ma, the wife of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, did not take the surname Guo. This question has puzzled many history enthusiasts and scholars, who have discussed and studied it from various angles, but there is still no widely accepted answer. So, why didn't Empress Ma take the surname Guo? What is the reason?

Firstly, we need to clarify that Empress Ma's original name was Ma Xiuying. She was not born into a wealthy family, but came from an ordinary peasant household. Although her family was poor, she possessed outstanding intelligence and a strong character. When she was young, she was chosen by Zhu Yuanzhang because of her intelligence, beauty, and talent, and became his wife.

However, before Zhu Yuanzhang married Ma Xiuying, he had already had a concubine named Guo Ying. Guo Ying was Zhu Yuanzhang's compatriot and childhood sweetheart. After Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty, he made Guo Ying a princess and Ma Xiuying the queen. This raises the question of why Empress Ma did not take the surname Guo and instead kept her original surname of Ma.

There is no clear answer to this question in history. However, based on the research of some historians, we can speculate about the possible reasons. One possibility is that Zhu Yuanzhang respected Ma Xiuying's status and position and intentionally allowed her to keep her original surname of Ma. In ancient China, women usually took their husband's surname after marriage, which was a sign of respect and loyalty to their husband. Another possibility is that Zhu Yuanzhang intentionally allowed Ma Xiuying to keep her original surname of Ma to avoid confusion and strife in the palace. In the palace at that time, the status and power of concubines were often determined by their surnames. If Ma Xiuying had taken the surname Guo, her status and power in the palace would have been affected.

Overall, the reason why Empress Ma did not take the surname Guo is a historical mystery. Although we cannot determine the exact reason, we can gain a deeper understanding of the history, culture, and social customs of ancient China through this question.

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