Zhu Chenhao
Encyclopedia
Zhu Chenhao (died 1521) or Prince of Ning (宁王) (ruled 1499–1521) was a member of Ming Dynasty
's Royal Family. He was the 5th generation descendant of Zhu Quan
, the seventeenth son of Hongwu Emperor
.
's era. The title was hereditary, from their ancestor Zhu Quan, the first Prince Of Ning. Zhu Chenhao lived in Jiangxi
province, far away from the Ming capital.
succeeded to the throne he relocated Zhu Quan (1st Prince Of Ning) to Beijing
. Then, to prevent Zhu Quan's treason, his army and bodyguards were withdrawn and never restored until Zhu Chenhao's reign.
's era, Zhu Chenhao sent a eunuch to Beijing with an enormous bribe for Liu Jin
. The prince wanted Liu Jin to restore his princely bodyguards and its revenues in return for the bribe. Although the Ministry Of War objected, the princely bodyguard was restored but it was withdrawn again in September 1510, the day before Liu Jin was executed. Zhu Zhen Hao was undaunted. He tried again to restore his army in 1514 through the Ministry Of War, Lu Wan. Several years before, Lu Wan was an officer in Jiangxi
and supporter to the prince. Lu Wan agreed to do it, but Grand Secretary Fei Hong refused to sign the draft- in other words he did not approve the request since he knew what the prince would do. However, the prince had plotted with some imperial officials such as Qian Ning, Cang Sien, several eunuchs and some of Emperor Zhengde's personal staff to cheat Fei Hong. The plot was a success, Fei Hong was befooled and the Imperial decree was issued, the prince bodyguards being restored.
In June 1514, the prince requested seals to give him authority to control the military army in his region. He also recruited hundreds of bandits to become his henchmen. In August 1514, Zhu Chenhao requested authority to punish guilty Imperial Clansmen. With recommendation from Lu Wan, Zhengde Emperor agreed. By this time, the Prince Of Ning referred to himself as ruler, his bodyguards as Imperial attendants and his order as imperial edicts. He also order local officials to wear formal court robes when attend to him. Jiangxi Governor speaking on behalf of his subordinates, said that it will be improper and refused to do it.
Zhu Chenhao began to recruited strategist and advisors to his cause. His principal advisor was provincial examination graduated versed in military strategy. Local officials who refused to support the prince will be eliminated. An Judicial Intendant of Jiangxi reported the prince treason to the court, was arrested and killed. Under this circumstances, other local officials choose to cooperated and said nothing. In May 1517 several eunuch
from Zhu Chenhao household, secretly went to Beijing
to report his unlawful activities. Commander of Imperial Bodyguard Qian Ning, reported this to the prince, then the eunuchs were arrested and beaten to die before reach their objective.
into thinking that Zhengde Emperor
was his son. According to him, the person on the throne was the child of a commoner. The prince also announced that he had received an edict from the empress to punish those bandits. Sun Sui, governor of Jiangxi asked the prince to show the empresses edict, but he was rejected. Then Sun Sui accused the prince of treason. Sun Sui and several officials who refused to cooperate were executed summarily.
The prince's army issued out from his headquarters, the city of Nanchang
to secure the route to the Yangtze River
. Jiujiang
city fell on 13 July and the prefectural city of Anqing
was besieged on 23 July. When this news reached Wang Yangming
, governor of Southern Jiangxi at that time, he soon took action. Wang Yangming spread a false report that a huge Imperial army from Beijing was marching to Nanchang. The Prince Of Ning did not dare to leave his headquarters for several days until he realized it was a fake report. On 9 August, the rebel Prince and his main army reached Anqing and seized the city over ten days. After many lives were lost, Anqing city still could not be taken. On 13 August, Wang Yangming and his army reached Nanchang. The prince's headquarters was not garrisoned well and only a few soldiers of the army defended the city. Soon after the siege of Nanchang news reached Zhu Chenhao, he ordered a retreat from Anqing and back to Nanchang to protect his base.
Wang Yangming stormed Nanchang and had a serious battle with the Prince of Ning. Then on 20 August, the rebel Prince and his army were totally defeated by Wang. The prince was going to flee with a small boat but it was discovered by Wang. Wang burned the ship before the prince reached it, soon the prince was captured. Wang Yangming successfully put down the uprising that lasted for forty days.
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
's Royal Family. He was the 5th generation descendant of Zhu Quan
Zhu Quan
Zhu Quan , The Prince of Ning , was the 17th son of Ming Emperor Hongwu Zhu Yuanzhang; a military commander, historian and playwright, great tea connoisseur and a qin player....
, the seventeenth son of Hongwu Emperor
Hongwu Emperor
The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
.
Biography
Zhu Chenhao was not a military man, but had literary talents and was a pleasure seeker. However, he was cunning and ambitious like almost all other princes, aiming to become Emperor. Zhu Chenhao succeeded to the title "Prince Of Ning" in 1499 from his father, Zhu Jinjun in HongzhiHongzhi Emperor
The Hongzhi Emperor was emperor of the Ming dynasty in China between 1487 and 1505. Born Zhu Youcheng , he was the son of the Chenghua Emperor and his reign as emperor of China is called the Hongzhi...
's era. The title was hereditary, from their ancestor Zhu Quan, the first Prince Of Ning. Zhu Chenhao lived in Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
province, far away from the Ming capital.
Treason
Zhu Chenhao had long intended to rebel, but he did not have an army or even bodyguards. This situation started with his ancestor Zhu Quan. At that time, when the Yongle EmperorYongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
succeeded to the throne he relocated Zhu Quan (1st Prince Of Ning) to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. Then, to prevent Zhu Quan's treason, his army and bodyguards were withdrawn and never restored until Zhu Chenhao's reign.
Rise to power
In the summer of 1507, in Zhengde EmperorZhengde Emperor
The Zhengde Emperor was emperor of China between 1505-1521. Born Zhu Houzhao, he was the Hongzhi Emperor's eldest son...
's era, Zhu Chenhao sent a eunuch to Beijing with an enormous bribe for Liu Jin
Liu Jin
Liú Jĭn was a well-known Chinese eunuch during the reign of the Chinese Ming Dynasty Zhengde Emperor . Liu was famous for being one of the most corrupt officials in Chinese history and the emperor in all but name for some time...
. The prince wanted Liu Jin to restore his princely bodyguards and its revenues in return for the bribe. Although the Ministry Of War objected, the princely bodyguard was restored but it was withdrawn again in September 1510, the day before Liu Jin was executed. Zhu Zhen Hao was undaunted. He tried again to restore his army in 1514 through the Ministry Of War, Lu Wan. Several years before, Lu Wan was an officer in Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
and supporter to the prince. Lu Wan agreed to do it, but Grand Secretary Fei Hong refused to sign the draft- in other words he did not approve the request since he knew what the prince would do. However, the prince had plotted with some imperial officials such as Qian Ning, Cang Sien, several eunuchs and some of Emperor Zhengde's personal staff to cheat Fei Hong. The plot was a success, Fei Hong was befooled and the Imperial decree was issued, the prince bodyguards being restored.
In June 1514, the prince requested seals to give him authority to control the military army in his region. He also recruited hundreds of bandits to become his henchmen. In August 1514, Zhu Chenhao requested authority to punish guilty Imperial Clansmen. With recommendation from Lu Wan, Zhengde Emperor agreed. By this time, the Prince Of Ning referred to himself as ruler, his bodyguards as Imperial attendants and his order as imperial edicts. He also order local officials to wear formal court robes when attend to him. Jiangxi Governor speaking on behalf of his subordinates, said that it will be improper and refused to do it.
Zhu Chenhao began to recruited strategist and advisors to his cause. His principal advisor was provincial examination graduated versed in military strategy. Local officials who refused to support the prince will be eliminated. An Judicial Intendant of Jiangxi reported the prince treason to the court, was arrested and killed. Under this circumstances, other local officials choose to cooperated and said nothing. In May 1517 several eunuch
Eunuch
A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
from Zhu Chenhao household, secretly went to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
to report his unlawful activities. Commander of Imperial Bodyguard Qian Ning, reported this to the prince, then the eunuchs were arrested and beaten to die before reach their objective.
Uprising
In July 1519, when Zhu Chenhao was attending a banquet in honor of his birthday, a spy arrived from Beijing with the news that high officials had been sent to arrest him, for that was what had been rumored in Beijing. He left the banquet at once and called an urgent meeting of his advisors. They all agreed that the prince's plot was known, and cannot wait any longer to take action. On 10 July 1519, Zhu Chenhao assembled local officials and announced that eunuch Li Kuang had fooled Hongzhi EmperorHongzhi Emperor
The Hongzhi Emperor was emperor of the Ming dynasty in China between 1487 and 1505. Born Zhu Youcheng , he was the son of the Chenghua Emperor and his reign as emperor of China is called the Hongzhi...
into thinking that Zhengde Emperor
Zhengde Emperor
The Zhengde Emperor was emperor of China between 1505-1521. Born Zhu Houzhao, he was the Hongzhi Emperor's eldest son...
was his son. According to him, the person on the throne was the child of a commoner. The prince also announced that he had received an edict from the empress to punish those bandits. Sun Sui, governor of Jiangxi asked the prince to show the empresses edict, but he was rejected. Then Sun Sui accused the prince of treason. Sun Sui and several officials who refused to cooperate were executed summarily.
The prince's army issued out from his headquarters, the city of Nanchang
Nanchang
Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi Province in southeastern China. It is located in the north-central portion of the province. As it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east by Poyang Lake, it is famous for its scenery, rich history and cultural sites...
to secure the route to the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
. Jiujiang
Jiujiang
Jiujiang , formerly transliterated Kiukiang, is a prefecture-level city located on the southern shores of the Yangtze River in northwest Jiangxi Province, China. It is the second-largest prefecture-level city in Jiangxi province, the largest one being Nanchang...
city fell on 13 July and the prefectural city of Anqing
Anqing
Anqing is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Anhui province, East China. It borders Lu'an to the north, Chaohu to the northeast, Tongling to the east, Chizhou to the southeast, and the provinces of Jiangxi and Hubei to the south and west respectively....
was besieged on 23 July. When this news reached Wang Yangming
Wang Yangming
Wang Yangming was a Ming Chinese idealist Neo-Confucian philosopher, official, educationist, calligraphist and general. After Zhu Xi, he is commonly regarded as the most important Neo-Confucian thinker, with interpretations of Confucianism that denied the rationalist dualism of the orthodox...
, governor of Southern Jiangxi at that time, he soon took action. Wang Yangming spread a false report that a huge Imperial army from Beijing was marching to Nanchang. The Prince Of Ning did not dare to leave his headquarters for several days until he realized it was a fake report. On 9 August, the rebel Prince and his main army reached Anqing and seized the city over ten days. After many lives were lost, Anqing city still could not be taken. On 13 August, Wang Yangming and his army reached Nanchang. The prince's headquarters was not garrisoned well and only a few soldiers of the army defended the city. Soon after the siege of Nanchang news reached Zhu Chenhao, he ordered a retreat from Anqing and back to Nanchang to protect his base.
Wang Yangming stormed Nanchang and had a serious battle with the Prince of Ning. Then on 20 August, the rebel Prince and his army were totally defeated by Wang. The prince was going to flee with a small boat but it was discovered by Wang. Wang burned the ship before the prince reached it, soon the prince was captured. Wang Yangming successfully put down the uprising that lasted for forty days.
Death
All allies with Prince of Ning was captured, including commander of Imperial guard, Qian Ning and Ministry of War, Lu Wan. Both of them was punished to death by slicing. The Imperial status of Zhu Chenhao was removed on 1519 and he was allowed to take his own life on 13 January 1521, then his corpse was burned. All of the Prince's family members were also executed.See also
- Zhengde EmperorZhengde EmperorThe Zhengde Emperor was emperor of China between 1505-1521. Born Zhu Houzhao, he was the Hongzhi Emperor's eldest son...
- Prince Anhua
- Wang YangmingWang YangmingWang Yangming was a Ming Chinese idealist Neo-Confucian philosopher, official, educationist, calligraphist and general. After Zhu Xi, he is commonly regarded as the most important Neo-Confucian thinker, with interpretations of Confucianism that denied the rationalist dualism of the orthodox...
- Zhu Zhenhao, Prince of Ning