Zhu Shizhen
Birth date1281
Birth placeJurong
Death date1344
Burial placeMing Imperial Mausoleum (in present-day Fengyang, Anhui)
SpouseLady Chen
Issue-link
  1. Issue
Issue
Posthumous nameEmperor Chun[a]
Temple nameRenzu[b]
FatherZhu Chuyi[c]
MotherLady Wang[1][d]
Zhu Shizhen
C朱世珍
PZhū Shìzhēn
AltnameBirth name
C 2朱五四
P 2Zhū Wǔsì

Zhu Shizhen (1281–1344), born Zhu Wusi, was the father of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty.

Zhu Shizhen was a native of Jurong. His father, Zhu Chuyi, later relocated the family to Xuyi in Si Prefecture, and in subsequent years Zhu Shizhen moved to Zhongli in Hao Prefecture with his wife of the Chen clan and their children. In 1344, when a severe drought devastated the lands north of the Huai River, Zhu Shizhen, Lady Chen, and their eldest son succumbed one after another. After founding the Ming dynasty in 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang posthumously elevated his father as Emperor Chun, with the temple name Renzu, while his mausoleum was established at Fengyang as the Imperial Mausoleum.

Early life

Zhu Wusi was born in 1281[e][2] at Zhujiaxiang, Tongde Township, Jurong County, Jiangsu. His father, Zhu Chuyi, was registered as a "gold-washing household" (taojin hu) under the Yuan dynasty, which required him to deliver a fixed amount of gold annually to the authorities. As there were no gold mines in Jurong, Zhu Chuyi was forced to sell agricultural products for cash and then purchase gold to meet the quota—an arduous and costly burden. Unable to withstand the continued pressure from officials, in 1289, when Zhu Wusi was eight years old, Zhu Chuyi moved the family to Sunjiagang, located thirteen li north of Si Prefecture (in modern Xuyi County, Huai'an, Jiangsu).[3]

Zhu Wusi married a woman of the Chen family,[f][4] who bore him a son, Zhu Chongsi, and a daughter while they resided in Xuyi.[5] After the death of his father, the family sank into poverty. For the sake of survival, Zhu Wusi and his elder brother Zhu Wuyi were compelled to abandon their ancestral home and seek livelihoods elsewhere. Zhu Wuyi settled with his household in East Township, Zhongli County, Hao Prefecture (present-day Zhaofu Village north of Mingguang, Anhui). Zhu Wusi, meanwhile, moved his family to Lingbi County, Anhui, where his second son, Zhu Chongliu, was born. They later relocated to Hong County (modern Si County, Anhui), where his third son, Zhu Chongqi, was born,[g] and eventually made their home in East Township, Zhongli County.[6] On 21 October 1328, Lady Chen gave birth to her and Zhu Wusi's fourth son, Zhu Chongba, the future Hongwu Emperor.[7]

Later life and death

In 1337,[h] pressed by hardship, the family again moved, this time to West Township of Zhongli (near present-day Tangfu Village, Fengyang). The following year, they relocated to Gucun Village in Taiping Township of Zhongli (modern Ershiying Village, Fengyang County). There, they became tenant farmers under the landlord Liu Jide (), a man known for his harshness. Despite their toil, the Zhu household remained in dire straits. In 1344, the Huai River basin suffered a catastrophic drought: seedlings withered, fields cracked, and famine was soon followed by locust swarms and plague. On the sixth day of the fourth month that year,[i] Zhu Wusi succumbed to the plague at the age of sixty-four, unable to afford medical treatment. His eldest son perished later that same night. On the twenty-second day of the same month,[j] his fifty-nine-year-old wife also died of the illness.[8] Zhu Chongliu and Zhu Chongba implored their landlord Liu Jide for a small burial plot to inter their parents, but he reviled them and refused. At length, Liu's elder brother, Liu Jizu (), took pity and granted them a patch of land.[k] Lacking the means for coffins, Zhu Chongba wrapped the bodies of his parents in old quilts and buried them hastily.[9]

After death

In 1352, Zhu Chongba joined the Red Turban army under the command of Guo Zixing,[10] at which time he adopted the name Zhu Yuanzhang. He also posthumously changed his father's name from Zhu Wusi to Zhu Shizhen.[11] After Guo died, command of his army passed to Zhu Yuanzhang,[10] who gradually rose to become a prominent leader of the Red Turban Rebellion.[12] In 1366, believing that his father's burial rites had been too modest, yet fearing that reburial might disturb the geomantic currents of the land, Zhu Yuanzhang resolved instead to enlarge the burial mound so that it might conform to the standards of an imperial mausoleum.[13]

In 1363, Han Lin'er, the nominal sovereign of the Red Turbans, posthumously bestowed a series of exalted titles upon Zhu Shizhen, including Duke of Wu,[l] and honored Lady Chen as duchess.[14] In 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming dynasty and became the Hongwu Emperor. He then gave his father the posthumous name Emperor Chun () and the temple name Renzu (),[15] while Lady Chen was styled Empress Chun (). Zhu Shizhen's resting place was renamed the Mausoleum of Emperor Renzu. In 1369, the tomb received the new designation of the Ying Mausoleum (), and later that same year it was again renamed as the Imperial Mausoleum (), with the establishment of the Imperial Mausoleum Guard for its protection.[16] The Emperor first ordered the construction of Zhu Shizhen's mausoleum in 1369 and renewed the project in 1375.[17] The mausoleum was completed in 1379.[18]

Family

Issue

Zhu Shizhen had six children of his marriage with Lady Chen (1286–1344).[19]

  • Zhu Chongsi (), later Zhu Xinglong (), honored posthumously as Prince of Nanchang (; 1307–1344), first son[20]
  • Zhu Chongliu (), later Zhu Xingsheng (), honored posthumously as Prince of Xuyi (), second son[20]
  • Zhu Chongqi (), later Zhu Xingzu (), honored posthumously as Prince of Linhuai (), third son[20]
  • Zhu Chongba (), later Zhu Xingzong (), later Zhu Yuanzhang (), the Hongwu Emperor (; 21 October 1328 – 24 June 1398), fourth son[21]
  • First daughter, honored posthumously as Grand Princess Taiyuan (). Married to Wang Qiyi ().[22]
  • Zhu Fonü (), honored posthumously as Grand Princess Caoguo (曹國長公主; 1317–1351), second daughter. Married to Li Zhen (; 1304–1379).[23]

Notes

  1. ^ Chinese: 淳皇帝; pinyin: Chún Huángdì
  2. ^ Chinese: 仁祖; pinyin: Rénzǔ
  3. ^ Honored posthumously as emperor, with the temple name Xizu () and the posthumous name Emperor Yu ().[24]
  4. ^ Honored posthumously as Empress Yu ()[1]
  5. ^ In the Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Ming History and Huai'an Historical and Cultural Studies, Volume 2, it is stated that Zhu Shizhen was born in 1281. However, according to Hu Hansheng's Imperial Mausoleums of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Shizhen's birth is recorded as 1279.[25]
  6. ^ Lady Chen was a native of Jinli Town in Xuyi County. Her father served as a personal guard under the Song dynasty general Zhang Shijie. After the failure of the anti-Yuan resistance, he was forced to flee from government persecution and eventually settled in Jinli Town.[26]
  7. ^ In Xia Yurun's Zhu Yuanzhang and Fengyang, it is mentioned that Zhu Wusi took refuge in Wuhe County, where he gave birth to Chongliu and Chongqi. However, according to Wei Su's Imperial Mausoleum Stele (), it is recorded that Chongliu was born in Lingbi County and Chongqi was born in Hong County.[27]
  8. ^ There are conflicting accounts of when Zhu Wusi moved to West Township in Zhongli. According to Hu Hansheng's On the Feng Shui of Ming Imperial Tombs, Zhu Wusi moved there in 1337.[28] However, Chen Wutong's Collection of Autumn Fruits states that he moved there in 1338.[29] Both sources mention that he later moved to Gucun Village in Taiping Township "the following year", but they disagree on the specific year. Hu Hansheng states that the move occurred in 1338, while Chen Wutong dates it to 1339.[30]
  9. ^ This date corresponds to 18 May 1344 on the Julian calendar.
  10. ^ This date corresponds to 3 June 1344 on the Julian calendar.
  11. ^ In 1378, Zhu Yuanzhang posthumously accorded Liu Jizu the title of Marquis of Yihui (), and his wife, Lady Lou, the title of Marquise.[31]
  12. ^ The tiles were: Executor and Assistant Minister of the Three Offices (), Senior Pillar of the State (), Head of Privy Councilor for Extraordinary Affairs (), Right Chancellor of the Central Secretariat (), Grand Commandant (), and Duke of Wu ().[14]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Zhou (2012), p. 3.
  2. ^ Huai'an City History and Culture Research Association 2005, p. 31; Hu 2001, p. 1; Yuan 2017, p. 137.
  3. ^ Hu 2001, p. 1; Zhou 2012, p. 3; Editorial Committee of the Collection of Chinese Classics Series 2018, pp. 4–6.
  4. ^ Taylor 1975, p. 31; Hu 2001, p. 1.
  5. ^ Zhou 2017, p. 4; Tian 2007, p. 804; Veritable Records of Taizu, p. vol. 1.
  6. ^ Zhou 2012, pp. 4–5; Hu 2001, p. 1; Editorial Committee of the Collection of Chinese Classics Series 2018, pp. 4–6; Xia 2003, p. 67; Chen 2021, p. 484.
  7. ^ Hu (2001), pp. 15–16.
  8. ^ Editorial Committee of the Collection of Chinese Classics Series 2018, pp. 4–6; Veritable Records of Taizu, p. vol. 1; Hu 2001, p. 2; Hu 2008, p. 106; Mote 2003, p. 542.
  9. ^ China Forbidden City Society 2012, pp. 306–307; Veritable Records of Taizu, p. vol. 1; Wang 2008, pp. 82–83.
  10. ^ Tsai (2002), p. 22.
  11. ^ Hu (2001), p. 1.
  12. ^ Tsai (2002), p. 20.
  13. ^ China Forbidden City Society 2012, pp. 306–307; Wang 2008, p. 83.
  14. ^ Yanshan tang bie ji, vol. 6.
  15. ^ Taylor 1975, p. 57; China Forbidden City Society 2012, pp. 306–307.
  16. ^ China Forbidden City Society 2012, pp. 306–307; Zheng 2020, p. 6.
  17. ^ China Forbidden City Society (2012), pp. 306–307.
  18. ^ Xia (2003), p. 366.
  19. ^ Taylor 1975, p. 31; Xia 2003, p. 67.
  20. ^ History of Ming, pp. vol. 116, p. 3559; Zhou 2017, p. 4; Yuan 2017, p. 138.
  21. ^ Taylor (1975), p. 31.
  22. ^ History of Ming, pp. vol. 121, p. 3662.
  23. ^ History of Ming, pp. vol. 121, p. 3662; Gong 2018, p. 296.
  24. ^ Taylor (1975), p. 57.
  25. ^ Huai'an City History and Culture Research Association 2005, p. 31; Hu 2001, p. 1; Tian 2007, p. 804.
  26. ^ Hu (2001), p. 2.
  27. ^ Xia (2003), p. 67.
  28. ^ Hu (2008), p. 106.
  29. ^ Chen (2021), p. 484.
  30. ^ Hu 2008, p. 106; Chen 2021, p. 484.
  31. ^ Wanli yehuo bian, Addendum One.

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