Under the
永乐 Emperor he led the compiling of the 《
永乐大典》, finished in 1408. He later fell from favour and died in prison in 1415. Folk tales make him a quick-witted boy who could cap any couplet, and the lines
墙上芦苇，
头重脚轻根底浅, 'a reed on the wall: heavy head, light feet, shallow roots', are traditionally credited to him.
