Zhu Gang
| Zhu Gang 朱棡 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince of Jin | |||||||||
| Tenure | 1370–1398 | ||||||||
| Successor | Zhu Jixi, Prince Ding | ||||||||
| Born | 18 December 1358 | ||||||||
| Died | 30 March 1398 (aged 39) | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Zhu | ||||||||
| Father | Hongwu Emperor | ||||||||
| Mother | Empress Xiaocigao | ||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Chinese | 朱棡 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Zhu Gang (18 December 1358 – 30 March 1398) was an imperial prince of the Chinese Ming dynasty. He was the third son of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the Ming.
Zhu Gang was born on 18 December 1358, as the third son of Zhu Yuanzhang and his first wife, Lady Ma.[1] At the time, Zhu Yuanzhang was a general of the Han Song dynasty, fighting in the Red Turban Rebellion from his base in Nanjing. In 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang ascended to the throne as the emperor of the Ming dynasty and quickly unified China under his rule. In May 1370, he bestowed the title of prince (王; wang) upon seven of his sons, including Zhu Gang who became known as the Prince of Jin (晉王).[2]
Upon reaching adulthood in 1378, he relocated to Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province. Despite lacking authority over the local administration, he held significant power due to his personal guard, which consisted of three regiments, and a large household led by experienced advisors and officials.[3] Motivated by his passion for the arts, he accumulated a notable collection of paintings and calligraphy in his palace, and also provided support to Buddhist monasteries in the area.[4]
During the late 1380s and early 1390s, he was one of several of the emperor's sons who were given control of the northern and northwestern frontiers.[2] After the purges of the early 1390s, he took over command of the frontier armies with Zhu Di, along with his younger brothers, the princes of Qi, Chu, Liao, and Xiang,[5] and others.
He died on 30 March 1398, after falling ill in the same year.[1][6] He left behind seven sons and three daughters, and his descendants held the title of Prince of Jin until 1648.
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ a b Goodrich & Fang (1976), pp. 389–390.
- ^ a b Langlois (1988), p. 120.
- ^ Chan (2007), p. 49.
- ^ Weidner (2001), p. 132.
- ^ Chan (2007), p. 54.
- ^ Langlois (1988), p. 181.
Works cited
[edit]- Goodrich, L. Carington; Fang, Chaoying (1976). Dictionary of Ming Biography, 1368-1644. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-03801-1.
- Chan, Hok-lam (2007). "Ming Taizu's Problem with His Sons: Prince Qin's Criminality and Early-Ming Politics" (PDF). Asia Major. 20 (1).
- Langlois, John D. Jr. (1988). "The Hung-wu reign, 1368–1398". In Mote, Frederick W.; Twitchett, Denis (eds.). The Cambridge History of China, Volume 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368–1644, Part I. Cambridge University Press. pp. 107–181. ISBN 978-0-521-24332-2.
- Weidner, Marsha Smith (2001). Cultural intersections in later Chinese Buddhism. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824823085.