Zhu Jitong

Zhu Jitong, styled Kang, was born on December 7, 1407, during the Ming Dynasty. His father was Zhu Mo (Prince Shenjian) and his mother was Lady Zhang, the secondary consort. He was born in the fifth year of the Yongle Emperor's reign (1407) and was granted the title of Prince of Wuxiang in the twenty-second year of Yongle (1424). In the sixth year of the Xuande Emperor's reign (1431), his father passed away, and in the seventh year of Xuande (1432), Zhu Jitong inherited the title of Prince of Shen, known as Prince Shen. After Lady Zhang's death in the second year of the Jingtai era (1451), Zhu Jitong requested to posthumously honor her as the Princess Consort of Prince Shen. He died in the first year of the Tianshun era (1457) at the age of fifty-one, having reigned for twenty-six years, and was posthumously titled Kang. His second son, Zhu Youxiao, succeeded him as Prince of Shenzhuang. His spouse was Lady Han, daughter of the Nan Cheng commanding general Han Xuezhi. In the third year of Xuande (1428), she was titled Princess Consort of Wuxiang, and in the seventh year of Xuande (1432), she was further promoted to Princess Consort of Prince Shen. Zhu Jitong had many children, including Crown Prince Shen (later Zhu Youxiao, Prince of Shenzhuang), Zhu Youjian, Prince of Qingyuan Zhuangjian; Zhu Youyan, Prince of Liaoshan Xuanmu; Zhu Youxi, Prince of Neiqiu Gongxi; Zhu Youjie, Prince of Guangzong Huai Jing; Zhu Youque, Prince of Tangshan Daoxi; Zhu Youran, Prince of Yongnian Rong'an; and a premature child Zhu Youdi. His eldest daughter, Princess Changping, was the daughter of the servant Li Pan.