Vassals princes of Ming dynasty

When Hongwu Emperor of Ming dynasty ruling, he designated his eldest son Zhu Biao as Crown Prince, then designated his others sons and a grandnephew as vassals princes. Manor of nine of these princes were at borders of Central and Mongol for defensive. Hongwu Emperor also bestowed his brothers, cousins, uncles, granduncles and maternal-side family as princes too.

This article shows all princes of Ming dynasty, included bestowed princes and nowadays descendants of House of Zhu.

Royal & noble ranks of Ming dynasty[1]

Male members

Some princes of Ming dynasty had passed their own position to their great-grandson too, they would be called as shizengsun (世曾孙, Prince's great-grandson)

Due to some sons of commandery princes were mothered by their abuse concubine or they have offended, they have directly granted with bulwark general.

Son of a supporter lieutenant would as supporter lieutenant too.

Female members

Except imperial daughter and clanswoman, all of consorts of these female members were called as yibin (儀賓), their ranks apart were 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th.

Offenders imperial member called as Commoner (庶人). If a 1st rank prince demoted and had others clanman, emperor would fine one of them and let him presided the others clanman, and called as Clan Councilor (宗理).

Because of the imperial members were too much in Wanli reign, Wanli Emperor ordered to reduced their salaries and restricted the succession order. The new succession order for 1st rank prince was: If a prince had not heir, a 2nd rank commendery prince could succeeded as 1st rank prince. However, except the eldest son, others younger sons of 2nd rank prince could not succeeded as 2nd rank princes but still succeeded as defender generals.

Forefathers of House of Zhu

For convenience to shows relationships of these imperial princes and emperors, this text will shows forefathers of Hongwu Emperor and their sons.

Birth name Spouse Temple name Posthumous name Birth & death dates Issue
Zhu Zhongba
朱仲八 		Madan Chen
陳氏 		None ? -? Zhu Liu'er
Zhu Shi'er
Zhu Bailiu, Emperor Xuan
Zhu Bailiu
朱百六 		Empress Xuan
玄皇后 		Dezu
德祖 		Xuan
玄 		Zhu Siwu
Zhu Sijiu, Emperor
Zhu Sijiu
朱四九 		Empress Heng
恆皇后 		Yizu
懿祖 		Heng
恆 		Zhu Chuyi, Emperor Yu
Zhu Chu'er
Zhu Chuwu
Zhu Chushi
Zhu Chuyi
朱初一 		Empress Yu
裕皇后 		Xizu
熙祖 		Yu
裕 		Zhu Wuyi, Prince of Shouchun
Zhu Wu'er
A premature died son
Zhu Shizhen, Emperor Chun
Zhu Shizhen
朱世珍
Zhu Wusi
朱五四 		Empress Chun
淳皇后 		Renzu
仁祖 		Chun
淳 		1281 - 1344 Zhu Xinglong, Prince of Nanchang
(grandfather of Zhu Shouqian)
Zhu Xingsheng, Prince of Xuyi
Zhu Xingzu, Prince of Linhuai
Zhu Fonǚ (朱佛女), Princess Caoguo (曹國公主)
(paternal grandmother of Li Jinglong)
Princess Taiyuan (太原公主)
Hongwu Emperor

Situation and numbers of Princes

1st rank Princes

When the dynasty collapsed, Ming had 86 1st rank princes.[2][3][4]

Altogether 1st rank prince of the dynasty had 64 actual princes and 22 bestowed princes (not included brothers, cousins, uncles, granduncles of Hongwu Emperor and etc.) . There were 16 actual 1st rank princes were demoted (Jing, Zhou, Dai & Ming created again, Qi & Gu demoted twice. Tang demoted, then succeeded by heir or another lineages, but the tilte had not demoted so excluded), 15 princes had not descendants. When the dynasty ended, there was 33 1st rank prince. 3 emperors of Southern Ming and Prince of Lu the Agent bestowed 8 princes (1 rose as 1st rank from 2nd rank Commentary Prince). 1st rank Princes had 1 Chinese characters title and posthumous name.

Zhu Shouqian, 1st generation of Prince of Jingjiang, was Hongwu Emperor's grandnephew. His was the 1st generation prince, but titles for him and his descendants were same as 2nd rank Commentary Prince. Also, brothers of Hongwu Emperor's forefathers' bestowed title same as 2nd rank, but they were not indicate as 2nd rank Prince. Therefore, in the list of princes, Prince of Jingjiang and bestowed princes created by Hongwu Emperor will not show as "Commentary Prince".

2nd rank Commentary Princes

All of the 1st rank princes created 624 2nd rank Commnetary Princes (Excluded bestowed princes, but included Commentary Princes who had became 1st rank Prince). 2nd rank Commnetary Princes had 2 Chinese characters title and posthumous name.

  • Qin had 15, Southern Ming bestowed another one.
  • Jin had 28 .
  • Yan had a C.Prince, later became 1st rank prince (Zhu Gaoxu).
  • Zhou had 75.
  • Chu had 20, Southern Ming bestowed another one.
  • Qi had 3, all of them were demoted.
  • Lu (鲁) had 23.
  • Shu (蜀) had 21.
  • Dai had 10.
  • Su (肃) had 10.
  • Liao had 24.
  • Qing had 20.
  • Ning had 11.
  • Min had 27.
  • Gu had a C.Prince, later got demoted.
  • Han (韩) had 36.
  • Shen had 28.
  • Tang had 19.
  • Yi (伊) had 8.
  • Han (汉) had 8, all of them were demoted.
  • Zhao (2nd branch) had 17.
  • Zheng had 15.
  • Xiang had 13.
  • Jing (荆) had 14.
  • Huai had 17.
  • De had 19.
  • Chong had 7.
  • Ji had 7.
  • Hui had 24.
  • Yi (益) had 40.
  • Heng had 14.
  • Rong had 8.
  • Lu (潞) had a C.Prince.
  • Fu had 2.
  • Gui had 2.

Prince of Tan, Xiang, An, Ying, Liang, Xiu, Xing, Qi, Yong, Shou, Ru, Jing (泾), Jing (景), Rui and Hui only had single descendants, so they did not created Commentary Prince.

Longwu Emperor and Yongli Emperor of Southern Ming created some non-royals as Princes too.

Generation names

Hongwu Emperor considered that names of descentants would duplicated, he had gave generation name poems to all of his sons and Zhu Shouqian. Every 1st generation princes have poems with 20 characters. Also, Hongwu formulated his descentants' given name must used characters with Wu Xing (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal & Water), only descentants of Zhu Shouqian not need to followed.

Crown Princes

In Ming dynasty, there were many Crown Princes died young, also some Emperors bestowed their late sons as Crown Princes. This list show all of Crown Princes in Ming dynasty and Southern Ming, includes Crown Princes who later became Emperor.

List of imperial vassals princes Ming Dynasty

Established by Hongwu Emperor

Crown Prince Yiwen

Titles of Zhu Biao and his sons show here are titles before Jianwen Emperor enthrone.

Generation name / poem

"Yun Wen Zhun Zu Xun, Qin Wu Da Jun Sheng, Shun Dao Feng Yi Ji, Shi Liang Shan Ying Sheng" (允文遵祖訓，欽武大君勝，顺道宜逢吉，師良善用晟)

This poem would governed the first character of the personal names of the next 20 emperors of China, but only the first two were officially ever used, due to the usurpation of Yongle Emperor. Only name of Zhu Xiongying had not followed this poem, because this poem was created after he died.

Prince of Qin

Prince of Yan

Zhu Di, who belongs to this lineage became Yongle Emperor. This lineage shows titles that before Zhu Di and his sons became Emperor & imperial sons.

Generation name / poem
"Gao Zhan Qi Jian You, Hou Zai Yi Chang You. Ci He Yi Bo Zhong, Jian Jing Di Xian You"
(高瞻祁見祐，厚載翊常由。慈和怡伯仲，簡靖迪先猷)

After Zhu Di enthroned, this poem became main generation name for Ming Emperors. This poem had used until "Ci" (慈) generation.

Prince of Gu

Zhu Hui is 19th son of Hongwu Emperor. He received the title of Prince of Gu on 17 May 1391. The original determined generation poem was:-

“Fu Zhi Xi Xiong Chang, Cong Xing Chan Fu Chang. Du Xie Xun Yi Yu, Kuo Ji Yu Zhen Xiang”
(賦質僖雄敞，叢興闡福昌。篤諧恂懌豫，擴霽昱禎祥。)

Due to he and his son got demoted by his 4th brother Yongle Emperor and died young, this poem was only used until generation of his son, Fu (賦).

Established by Jianwen Emperor

After Zhu Yunwen enthroned as Jianwen Emperor, he designated his brothers as 1st rank prince. Please note that this list only show their after deeds when Jianwen Emperor collapsed (excluded son of Jianwen and Zhu Yuntong).

Demoted Princes established by Yongle Emperor

These princes are younger brothers of Jianwen Emperor, after Jianwen Emperor collapsed, Yongle Emperor demoted them as Commentary Princes and Commoner. This list show their original titles, after deeds and their died dates.

Established by later emperors

Due to all of later 1st generation princes were Yongle Emperor's descentants, they used Yongle's own generation poem that given by Hongwu Emperor, which is:-

"Gao Zhan Qi Jian You, Hou Zai Yi Chang You, Ci He Yi Bo Zhong, Jian Jing Di Xian You"
(高瞻祁見祐，厚載翊常由，慈和怡伯仲，簡靖迪先猷)

The main emperors lineage had used this poem until "Ci" (慈) generation.

Prince of Han

The title of Prince of Han was orginally used by Zhu Ying, who was 14th son of Hongwu Emperor, but Hongwu later granted Zhu Ying with the title of Prince of Su. When Yongle Emperor reigned, his 2nd son Zhu Gaoxu was granted as Prince of Han, then demoted by Xuande Emperor due to his rebellion. All of Zhu Gaoxu's sons died with him and left no children.

Prince of Yu

Before Longqing Emperor enthroned, he was granted with the title of Prince of Yu by his father Jiajing Emperor, due to he was not the eldest son. After Jiajing's Crown Prince Zhu Zairui (2nd son) died, Jiajing still did not want to designated Longqing as heir until he diedThis list shows Longqing and his sons with the titles when he was Prince of Yu, but excludes 4th son of Longqing, Zhu Yiliu, due to he was born after Longqing enthroned.

Non-inherited princes

Bestowed & non-title imperial princes

When Hongwu Emperor enthroned, he had bestowed his brothers and other paternal relatives as Prince. Their bestowed title actually are form of Commentary Prince. Also, some of later imperial sons got no title in their life, but got bestowed as 1st rank Prince after they died. Some of imperial sons also have not bestowed as Prince. This list show all of the bestowed princes those belong to emperors lineage of House of Zhu, include descentants of Zhu Biao & Southern Ming princes, but exclude maternal relatives of Hongwu Emperor and other nobles who bestowed as princes.

Family tree

These family trees only show bestowed princes, crown princes, and princes died sonless. Also, this family trees include consort kin who was bestowed as princes.

Forefathers & paternal relatives of Hongwu Emperor

Except Zhu Shouqian, Prince of Jingjiang and his descentants, all of these princes are bestowed.

Li Jinglong's lineage

Li Jinglong's father was son of Hongwu Emperor's 2nd sister. Also, Li Jinglong's father and grandfather had bestowed as Commentary Prince by Hongwu.

References

  1. ↑ 万历《大明会典》
  2. ↑ 《明史》诸王传、诸王世表
  3. ↑ 《明实录》
  4. ↑ 《弇山堂别集》
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