Guo Zhen

Guo Zhen, courtesy name Yanding, was born in 1372. He was the eldest illegitimate son of Guo Ying, Marquis Wuding of the Ming Dynasty, and his mother was Mistress Yong. In the 22nd year of Hongwu (1389), Guo Zhen was married to Princess Yongjia, daughter of Emperor Taizu. He passed away in the first month of the founding year (1399) at the age of 27. In April of the same year, he was buried on Jubaoshan in Yingtian Prefecture, Nanjing. Guo Ying died early in his life and was unable to inherit the title of Marquis Wuding. His wife, Princess Yongjia, fought over the title for their descendants, and ultimately, his grandson Guo Chang was granted the title of Marquis Wuding. The tomb inscription was written by Fang Xiaoru and records that Guo Zhen had three sons named Lan, Hui, and Quan; all of whom died young. It also mentions a son named Hui Neng, a name bestowed by Emperor Taizu. Scholars speculate that Guo Zhen and Princess Yongjia’s only grown son, Guo Zhen (courtesy name Hui Neng), was intentionally omitted from the tomb inscription, possibly due to conflicts over the Marquis Wuding title.