Zhu Changfang

Zhu Changfang (Chinese: 朱常淓; pinyin: Zhū Chángfāng), also known as the Jingyi Taoist (敬一道人; 1608–1646) was the last Prince of Lu (潞王) (an area claimed by one source as being near Hangzhou[1] and by another as being centered on Weihui in Henan[2]). Zhu Chanfang was an important member of the Imperial family of the Southern Ming dynasty during the Ming-Qing Transition. Zhu Changfang is notable both due to his historical political role and as a creative artist.

Zhu Changfang, Prince of Lu
Regent / Emperor of Southern Ming
Reign6 July 1645
PredecessorHongguang Emperor
SuccessorLongwu Emperor
Prince of Lu (潞王)
Tenure1618 - 6 July 1645
PredecessorZhu Yiliu, Prince Jian
Born1608
Mansion of Prince of Lu, Weihui, Henan Province
Died23 May 1646(1646-05-23) (aged 37–38)
Yanjing
Full name
Family name: Zhu (朱)
Given name: Changfang (常淓)
HouseHouse of Zhu
FatherZhu Yiliu (朱翊鏐), Prince Jian of Lu (潞簡王)
MotherLady Yang (楊氏), Secondary Princess Consort of Lu

Life

Zhu Changfang was the son of Zhu Yiliu (簡王翊鏐) and the grandson of the Longqing Emperor. He inherited the title Prince of Lu from his father in 1618.[2] After his father's death Zhu had an elaborate mausoleum constructed in Xinxiang County, covering over 157,000 square metres (39 acres). The mausoleum incorporated several unorthodox elements, including a separate grave for his father's concubine, a greater number of guards than normal, and novel animal sculptures.[3]

When Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng rebelled against the Chongzhen Emperor, Zhu applied to the throne for permission to undertake military action against the rebels. However his campaign was unsuccessful and he was forced to flee to Hangzhou. After the Chongzhen Emperor's suicide in 1644, Zhu was petitioned by his advisors Shi Kefa and Gao Hongtu (高弘圖) to assume the throne in exile, however it was his relative Zhu Yousong who eventually took the throne as the Hongguang Emperor.[4] Zhu Changfang was executed in 1646 in Beijing, after surrendering to the Qing dynasty along with a number of other Southern Ming princes.[2][4]

Works

Zhu Changfang was a noted practitioner of calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting, as well as being a musician who performed on the guqin. He made (or oversaw the making of) over 300 guqin, created a new type of guqin incorporating Western design elements, and developed a guqin musical style he termed the "Central Harmony".[5][3] He also wrote a treatise on the instrument, the Guyin Zhengzong, in 1634, as well as a book on Chinese chess.[2] Zhu's main literary output was, however, biographical; he composed a considerable number of biographies of imperial personages.[6]

Zhu's calligraphy was well-regarded by contemporary critics.[3][6] His calligraphy was patterned after that of Wang Xizhi, and he produced calligraphic and artistic works in several styles.[3] He was responsible for inscriptions at the City God Temple at Weihui and the Western Great Temple in Zhonghe,[7] as well as many other inscriptions and scrolls, but after his death his work was largely overlooked, to the extent that one of his bronze inscriptions was listed in a Qing catalogue of antiquaries as being from the Zhou Dynasty (which ended over 1800 years before Zhu's birth).[6]

See also

References

  1. "Ji mao zhong qiu you deng Wang yue lou ([Chinese rubbings])". University of Cambridge Digital Library. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  2. Zhou, Qingyun (1919). Qin Shi Xu (Continuation of History of the Qin, 1919). John Thompson. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  3. Roger V. Des Forges (2003). Cultural Centrality and Political Change in Chinese History: Northeast Henan in the Fall of the Ming. Stanford University Press. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-0-8047-4044-9.
  4. "Persons in Chinese History – Zhu Changfang 朱常淓, Prince of Lu 潞王". China Knowledge. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  5. 中國漆藝二千年: Catalogue of an exhibition jointly presented by the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong and the Art Gallery, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, 24th September to 21st November, 1993. Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong. 1993. p. 216. ISBN 978-962-7101-26-0.
  6. Craig Clunas (15 June 2013). Screen of Kings: Royal Art and Power in Ming China. Reaktion Books. p. 183. ISBN 978-1-78023-140-2.
  7. Richard G. Wang (23 August 2012). The Ming Prince and Daoism: Institutional Patronage of an Elite. OUP USA. pp. 98–. ISBN 978-0-19-976768-7.
Zhu Changfang
House of Zhu
Prince of Lu's (潞王) line
(line of one of Longqing Emperor's sons)
Born: 1608 Died: 23 May 1646
Chinese nobility
Preceded by
Zhu Yiliu, Prince Jian
Prince of Lu (潞王)
1618 - 6 July 1645
Title abolished
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Hongguang Emperor
Regent / Emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty
6 July 1645
Succeeded by
Longwu Emperor
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