List of vassal prince peerages of the Ming dynasty

After Hongwu Emperor of Ming dynasty succeeded the throne, he designated his eldest son, Zhu Biao as crown prince, and enfeoffed his all other sons and a grandnephew as vassals princes. Fiefs of nine of these princes were located at borders of Central and Mongol for defensive. Hongwu Emperor also posthumously bestowed his late patrilineal and matrilineal relatives with princely titles too.

This article shows all princes of Ming dynasty, included non-actual princes (male imperial members and nobles had not title).

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

Numbers of actual peerages

1st rank princely peerages

^[1]^[2]^[3]

Hongwu Emperor's line: 25 peerages (included Prince of Jingjiang), 2 was absorbed into the crown (Yongle Emperor & Southern Ming Longwu Emperor), 7 were abolished, and 2 had not heir
Zhu Biao's line: 3 peerages, all of them were abolished.
Yongle Emperor's line: 2 peerages
Hongxi Emperor's line: 8 peerages, 4 had not heir
Xuande Emperor's line: 1 peerage, was absorbed into the crown (Jingtai Emperor)
Emperor Yingzong's line: 8 peerages, 1 was absorbed into the crown (Chenghua Emperor), 3 had not heir
Chenghua Emperor's line: 10 peerages, 1was absorbed into the crown (Jiajing Emperor), 6 had not heir
Jiajing Emperor's line: 2 peerages, 1 was absorbed into the crown (Longqing Emperor), 1 had not heir
Longqing Emperor's line: 1 peerage
Wanli Emperor's line: 4 peerages, 2 peerages were absorbed into the Southern Ming crown (Hongguang Emperor & Yongli Emperor)
Taichang Emperor's line: 1 peerage, was absorbed into the crown (Chongzhen Emperor)
Chongzhen Emperor's line: 2 peerages, both of them were abolished

By Southern Ming

By Longwu Emperor: 3 peerage, 2 from line of Prince of Tang, 1 from cadet peerage of line of Prince of Yi
By Zhu Yihai: 1 peerage, from cadet peerage of line of Prince of Ning

List of actual princely peerages

By Hongwu Emperor

Prince of Qin (Inherited)
Prince of Qi (Non-inherited)
Prince of Jingjiang (Inherited)

By Yongle Emperor

By Chenghua Emperor

Prince of Xing (Inherited; absorbed into the crown)
Prince of Yi (Inherited)

By Wanli Emperor

Prince of Fu (Inherited; absorbed into the crown)
Prince of Rui (Inherited)
Prince of Gui (Inherited)

Posthumous imperial princes & non-title imperial princes

After Hongwu Emperor enthroned, he had posthumously bestowed his brothers and patrilineal relatives with various 2nd-rank princely titles. Also, some imperial sons who died prematurely were posthumously bestowed with 1st-rank princely titles, but some of them also had not posthumous titles, too. Below shows all of the posthumous princes of the imperial house, include descendants of Zhu Biao & Southern Ming princes, but exclude matrilineal relatives of Hongwu Emperor and other nobles, as they cannot considered as members of the imperial house.

Noted: Bold names refers posthumous princes and non-title imperial princes

Line of Hongwu Emperor patrilineal relatives

Zhu Zhongba, doesn't have posthumous title.
- 1st son: Zhu Liu'er (朱六二), doesn't have posthumous title.
- 2nd son: Zhu Qianshi (朱千十), doesn't have posthumous title.
- 3rd son: Zhu Bailiu (朱百六), posthumously honoured as "Emperor Dezu Xuan" (德祖玄皇帝).
  - 1st son: Zhu Siwu (朱四五), doesn't have posthumous title.
  - 2nd son: Zhu Sijiu (朱四九), posthumously honoured as "Emperor Yizu Heng" (懿祖恆皇帝).
    - 1st son: Zhu Chuyi (朱初一), posthumously honoured as "Emperor Xizu Yu" (熙祖裕皇帝).
      - 1st son: Zhu Wuyi (朱五一), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Shouchun" (壽春王).
        1st son: Zhu Chongyi (朱重一), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Huoqiu" (霍丘王).
        1st son: Zhu Saige (朱賽哥), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Gaosha" (高沙王).
        
        2nd son: Zhu Tiege (朱鐵哥), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Shouchun" (壽春王).
        
        2nd son: Zhu Chong'er (朱重二), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Baoying" (寶應王).
        
        3rd son: Zhu Chongsan (朱重三), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Anfeng" (安豐王).
        1st son: Zhu Zhuan'er (朱轉兒), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Liu'an" (六安王).
        
        2nd son: Zhu Ji'er (朱記兒), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Lai'an" (來安王).
        
        3rd son: Zhu Sao'er (朱臊兒), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Dumeng" (都蒙王).
        
        4th son: Zhu Run'er (朱潤兒), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Yingshan" (英山王).
        
        4th son: Zhu Chongsi (朱重四), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Mengcheng" (蒙城王).
      - 2nd son: Zhu Wu'er (朱五二), doesn't have posthumous title.
      - 3rd son: Unnamed, died prematurely.
      - 4th son: Zhu Shizhen (朱世珍), named Zhu Wusi (朱五四) during his lifetime, posthumously honoured as "Emperor Renzu Chun" (仁祖淳皇帝).
        Siblings of Hongwu Emperor (see below)
    - 2nd son: Zhu Chu'er (朱初二), doesn't have posthumous title.
    - 3rd son: Zhu Chuwu (朱初五), also name Zhu Xiao (朱孝), doesn't have posthumous title.
    - 4th son: Zhu Chushi (朱初十), doesn't have posthumous title.

Line of Hongwu Emperor's brothers

Zhu Shizhen, "Emperor Renzu Chun"
- 1st son: Zhu Xinglong (朱興隆; died 1344), named Zhu Chongwu (朱重五) during his lifetime. Initially posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Yuzhang" (豫章王), later changed to "Prince of Nanchang" (南昌王)
  - 1st son: Zhu Shengbao (朱聖保), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Shanyang" (山陽王).
  - 2nd son: Zhu Wenzheng (朱文正; died 1365)
    - Zhu Shouqian, Prince of Jingjiang
- 2nd son: Zhu Xingsheng (朱興盛), named Zhu Chongliu (朱重六) during his lifetime. Posthumously bestowed as Prince of Xuyi (盱眙王).
  - Zhu Wang'er (朱旺兒), posthumously bestowed as "Prince of Zhaoxin" (昭信王).
- 3rd son: Zhu Xingzu (朱興祖), named Zhu Chongqin (朱重七) during his lifetime. Posthumously bestowed as Prince of Linhuai (臨淮王).
- 4th son: Hongwu Emperor

Line of Ming emperors

Hongwu Emperor
- 1st son: Zhu Biao, Crown Prince Yiwen
  - 1st son: Zhu Xiongying (朱雄英), "Prince Huai of Yu" (虞懷王)
  - 2nd son: Jianwen Emperor
    - 2nd son: Zhu Wengui (朱文圭), "Prince Huai of Run" (潤懷王)
- 4th son: Yongle Emperor
  - 1st son: Hongxi Emperor
    - 1st son: Xuande Emperor
      - 1st son: Emperor Yingzong
        1st son: Chenghua Emperor
        1st son: Unnamed
        
        3rd son: Hongzhi Emperor
        2nd son: Zhu Houwei (朱厚煒), "Prince Dao of Wei" (蔚悼王)
        
        4th son: Zhu Youyuan
        1st son: Zhu Houxi (朱厚熙), Prince Huai of Yue
        
        2nd son: Jiajing Emperor
        3rd son: Longqing Emperor
        2nd son: Zhu Yiling (朱翊鈴), "Comm. Prince of Lantian" (藍田郡王), later changed to "Prince Dao of Jing" (靖悼王)
        
        3rd son: Wanli Emperor
        1st son: Taichang Emperor
        2nd son: Zhu Youxue (朱由㰒), "Prince Huai of Jian" (簡懷王)
        
        3rd son: Zhu Youji (朱由楫), "Prince Si of Qi" (齊思王)
        
        4th son: Zhu Youmo (朱由模), "Prince Hui of Huai" (懷惠王)
        
        5th son: Chongzhen Emperor
        5th son: Zhu Cixuan (朱慈烜), "Prince Yin of Huai" (懷隱王)
        
        6th son: Zhu Cican (朱慈燦), "Prince Huai of Dao" (悼懷王)
        
        7th son: "Prince Liang of Dao" (悼良王)
        
        6th son: Zhu Youyi (朱由栩), "Prince Huai of Xiang" (湘懷王)
        
        7th son: Zhu Youshan (朱由橏), "Prince Zhao of Hui" (慧昭王)
        
        2nd son: Zhu Changxu (朱常漵), "Prince Ai of Bin" (邠哀王)
        
        4th son: Zhu Changzhi (朱常治), "Prince Huai of Yuan" (沅懷王)
        
        8th son: Zhu Changpu (朱常溥), "Prince Si of Yong" (永思王)
        
        5th son: Zhu Zailu (朱載𪉖), "Prince Shang of Ying" (潁殤王)
        
        6th son: Zhu Zai... (朱載[[[File:Zh 戞斗土.svg|14px]]), "Prince Huai of Qi" (戚懷王)
        
        7th son: Zhu Zaikui (朱載㙺), "Prince Ai of Ji" (薊哀王)
        
        8th son: Zhu Zai... (朱載), Prince Si of Jun (均思王)
        
        10th son: Unnamed
        
        3rd son: Zhu Jianshi (朱見湜), no posthumous title
    - 4th son: Zhu Zhanyin (朱瞻垠), "Comm. Prince of Jingle" (靜樂郡王), later changed to "Prince Xian of Qi" (蘄獻王)
  - 4th son: Zhu Gaoxi (朱高爔), no posthumous title
- 26th son: Zhu Nan (朱楠), no posthumous title

Family trees

Legend:

- Emperors
- Posthumously emperors (non-actual emperors)
- Members who have posthumously title
- Members who have not title
– – – - The dashed lines denotes the unknown lineages
Titles with bold writing are actual titles.

Forefathers & paternal relatives of Hongwu Emperor

					Zhu Zhongba 朱仲八



	1		2		3

	Zhu Liu'er 朱六二		Zhu Qianshi 朱千十		Zhu Bailiu 朱百六 Emperor Dezu 徳祖



			1		2

			Zhu Siwu 朱四五		Zhu Sijiu 朱四九 Emperor Yizu 懿祖



				1		2	3	4

				Zhu Chuyi 朱初一 Emperor Xizu 熙祖		Zhu Chu'er 朱初二	Zhu Chuwu 朱初五 Zhu Xiao 朱孝	Zhu Chushi 朱初十



				1		2		4

				Zhu Wuyi 朱五一 Prince of Shouchun 壽春王		Zhu Wu'er 朱五二		Zhu Shizhen 朱世珍 1281 - 1344 Emperor Renzu 仁祖



1		2				3	4

Zhu Chongyi 朱重一 Prince of Huoqiu 霍丘王		Zhu Chong'er 朱重二 Prince of Xiacai 下蔡王				Zhu Chongsan 朱重三 Prince of Anfeng 安豐王	Zhu Chongsi 朱重四 Prince of Mengcheng 蒙城王	Hongwu Emperor & his brothers



1		2		1		2	3	4

Zhu Saige 朱賽哥 Prince of Gaosha 高沙王		Zhu Tiege 朱鐵哥 Prince of Baoying 寶應王		Zhu Zhuan'er 朱轉兒 Prince of Liu'an 六安王		Zhu Ji'er 朱記兒 Prince of Lai'an 來安王	Zhu Sao'er 朱臊兒 Prince of Dumeng 都蒙王	Zhu Run'er 朱潤兒 Prince of Yingshan 英山王

Brothers of Hongwu Emperor

Zhu Shizhen 朱世珍
1281 - 1344
Emperor Renzu 仁祖

1

2

3

4

Zhu Xinglong 朱興隆
died 1344
Prince of Nanchang
南昌王
Prince of Yuzhang
豫章王

Zhu Xingsheng 朱興盛
Prince of Xuyi
盱眙王

Zhu Xingzu 朱興祖
Prince of Linhuai
臨淮王

Hongwu Emperor

1

2

Zhu Shengbao 朱聖保
Prince of Shanyang
山陽王

Zhu Wenzheng 朱文正
died 1365

Zhu Wang'er 朱旺兒
Prince of Zhaoxin
昭信王

Zhu Shouqian
Prince of Jingjiang
靖江王
1370 - 1380
1387 - 1392

Later princes
and members
of Prince of Jingjiang peerage

Ming emperors line

		Hongwu Emperor



		1	4	26

		Zhu Biao	Yongle Emperor	Zhu Nan (朱楠)



	1	2	1	4

	Zhu Xiongying (朱雄英) Prince Huai of Yu (虞懷王)	Jianwen Emperor	Hongxi Emperor	Zhu Gaoxi (朱高爔)



		2	1	4

		Zhu Wengui 朱文圭 1401 - 1457 Prince Huai of Run 潤懷王	Xuande Emperor	Zhu Zhanyin 朱瞻垠 1406 - 1421 Comm. Prince of Jingle 靜樂郡王 Prince Xian of Qi 蘄獻王



			1

			Emperor Yingzong



			1	3

			Chenghua Emperor	Zhu Jianshi 朱見湜 1449 - 1451



	1	3	4	10

	Unnamed	Hongzhi Emperor	Zhu Youyuan 朱祐杬 Prince Xian of Xing 興獻王 Emperor Ruizong 睿宗	Unnamed



		2	1	2

		Zhu Houwei 朱厚煒 1495 - 1496 Prince Dao of Wei 蔚悼王	Zhu Houxi 朱厚熙 1500 Prince Huai of Yue 岳懷王	Jiajing Emperor



	3	5	6	7	8

	Longqing Emperor	Zhu Zailu 朱載𪉖 1537 Prince Shang of Ying 潁殤王	Zhu Zai... 朱載 1537 - 1538 Prince Huai of Qi 戚懷王	Zhu Zaikui 朱載㙺 1538 Prince Ai of Ji 薊哀王	Zhu Zai... 朱載 1540 Prince Si of Jun 均思王



2	3

Zhu Yiling (朱翊鈴) Comm. Prince of Lantian (藍田郡王) Prince Dao of Jing (靖悼王)	Wanli Emperor



	1	2	4	8

	Taichang Emperor	Zhu Changxu (朱常漵) Prince Ai of Bin (邠哀王)	Zhu Changzhi (朱常治) Prince Huai of Yuan (沅懷王)	Zhu Changpu (朱常溥) Prince Si of Yong (永思王)



2	3	4	5	6	7

Zhu Youxue (朱由㰒) Prince Huai of Jian (簡懷王)	Zhu Youji (朱由楫) Prince Si of Qi (齊思王)	Zhu Youmo (朱由模) Prince Hui of Huai (懷惠王)	Chongzhen Emperor	Zhu Youyi (朱由栩) Prince Huai of Xiang (湘懷王)	Zhu Youshan (朱由橏) Prince Zhao of Hui (慧昭王)



		2	6	7

		Zhu Cixuan (朱慈烜) Prince Yin of Huai (懷隱王)	Zhu Cican (朱慈燦) Prince Huai of Dao (悼懷王)	Prince Liang of Dao (悼良王)

Southern Ming emperors line

	Hongwu Emperor



	4	23

	Yongle Emperor	Zhu Jing 朱桱 1386 - 1415 Prince Ding of Tang ¹ 唐定王 1391 - 1415



	1	2

	Hongxi Emperor	Zhu Qiongdan 朱瓊炟 1412 - 1475 Prince Xian of Tang ³ 唐憲王 1428 - 1475



	1	2

	Xuande Emperor	Zhu Zhizhi 朱芝址 1432 - 1485 Prince Zhuang of Tang ⁴ 唐莊王 1477 - 1485



	1	3

	Emperor Yingzong	Zhu Miqian 朱彌鉗 died 1523 Prince Gong of Tang 唐恭王 (title posthumously honoured)



	1

	Chenghua Emperor	Zhu Yuwen 朱宇溫 1490 - 1560 Prince Jing of Tang ⁵ 唐敬王 1525 - 1560 Emperor Hui 惠皇帝



	4

	Zhu Youyuan 朱祐杬 Prince Xian of Xing ¹ 興獻王 1487 - 1519 Emperor Ruizong 睿宗	Zhu Zhouyong 朱宙栐 1538 - 1564 Prince Shun of Tang ⁶ 唐順王 Emperor Shun 順皇帝



	2

	Jiajing Emperor	Zhu Shuohuang 朱碩熿 died 1630 Prince Duan of Tang ⁷ 唐端王 1569 - 1630 Emperor Duan 端皇帝



	3

	Longqing Emperor	Zhu Qisheng 朱器墭 died 1629 Hereditary Prince of Tang 唐世子 1594 - 1629 Emperor Xuan 宣皇帝



	3	1	5

	Wanli Emperor	Longwu Emperor	Zhu Yurui 朱聿𨧨 died 1641 Prince Min of Chen 陳愍王



	3		7

	Zhu Changxun 朱常洵 Prince Zhong of Fu ¹ 福忠王 1601 - 1641 Emperor Gongzong 恭宗		Zhu Changying 朱常瀛 Prince Duan of Gui ¹ 桂端王 Emperor Lizong 禮宗



1	2	3	4

Hongguang Emperor	Zhu Youju 朱由榘 died 1641 Prince Chong of Ying 潁沖王	Zhu Youhua 朱由樺 Prince Huai of De 德懷王	Yongli Emperor



4	5	6	7

Zhu Ci... 朱慈𤇥 born 1650 Prince Ai of Yuan 沅哀王	Zhu Ciyi 朱慈熠 1654 - 1655 Prince Shang of Mian 沔殤王	Zhu Cichao 朱慈焯 1654 - 1656 Prince Chong of Li 澧沖王	Zhu Ciwei 朱慈煒 1654 - 1655 Prince Dao of Fu 涪悼王

Non-imperial princes

References

^ 《明史》诸王传、诸王世表
^ 《明实录》
^ 《弇山堂别集》

[明史-1] 《明史》诸王传、诸王世表

[明实录-2] 《明实录》

[弇山堂-3] 《弇山堂别集》

[1]

[2]

[3]