Zhu Shizhen

Zhu Shizhen
朱世珍
BornZhu Wusi
(朱五四)
1281
Jurong
Died1344
Burial
Ming Imperial Mausoleum (明皇陵, in present-day Fengyang, Anhui)
SpouseEmpress Chun
Issue
Detail
Hongwu Emperor
Names
Zhu Shizhen (朱世珍)
Posthumous name
Emperor Chun (皇帝)
Temple name
Renzu (仁祖)
FatherZhu Chuyi
MotherEmpress Yu
Chinese name
Chinese朱世珍
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhū Shìzhēn
Zhu Wusi
Chinese朱五四
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhū Wǔsì

Zhu Shizhen (1281–1344), born Zhu Wusi,[1] a native of Jurong (present-day Jurong, Jiangsu), was the father of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty. The Zhu family originally lived in Pei but later relocated to Jurong. Zhu Shizhen's father, Zhu Chuyi, then moved to Xuyi in Si Prefecture (present-day Xuyi, Jiangsu), and Zhu Shizhen himself later moved to Zhongli in Haozhou (present-day Fengyang, Anhui).[2]

Zhu Shizhen was member of the impoverished peasant class. In 1344 there was a great drought in Huaibei, and his entire family died of starvation, save for two of his sons.

In 1363, Han Lin'er posthumously accorded Zhu Wusi the titles Executor and Assistant Minister of the Three Offices (開府儀同三司), Senior Pillar of the State (上柱國), Head of Privy Councilor for Extraordinary Affairs (錄軍國重事), Right Chancellor of the Central Secretariat (中書右丞相), Grand Commandant (太尉), and Duke of Wu (吳國公). His wife, Lady Chen, was posthumously accorded the title Duchess (公夫人).[3]

In 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming dynasty in Nanjing and posthumously honoured Zhu Shizhen as emperor, with the temple name Renzu (仁祖)[4] and the posthumous name Emperor Chun (淳皇帝).

  1. ^ zh. 明太祖御制朱氏世德碑记  – via Wikisource.
  2. ^ Ming Taizu Shilu (明太祖实录), Volume 1:“宋季时,熙祖始徙家渡淮居泗州,父仁祖讳世珍,元世又徙居钟离之东乡,勤俭忠厚,人称长者。母太后陈氏生四子,上其季也。”
  3. ^ Yanshan Hall Collection (弇山堂别集), Volume 6 (San zu jue feng, 三祖爵封)
  4. ^ History of Ming, Volume 2:追尊高祖考曰玄皇帝,廟號德祖,曾祖考曰恆皇帝,廟號懿祖;祖考曰裕皇帝,廟號熙祖,皇考曰淳皇帝,廟號仁祖,妣皆皇后。