Zhu Biao

Template:Infobox Chinese Royalty Zhu Biao (Chinese: 朱標) (1355 – 1392) was Emperor Hongwu's first son and Crown Prince of the founder of the Ming Dynasty. He was supposed to be soft hearted. He once questioned his father why many of the ministers and generals who were pioneers of the Empire were being killed or banished. His father told him that they were like thorns on a vine, and he was removing the thorns before passing the vine (crown) to his son. Zhu Biao died in 1392 -- at the age of 38 -- before his father Emperor Hongwu died. As a result, Zhu Biao's son Zhu Yunwen succeeded Emperor Hongwu to become emperor.