Zhu Changfang

Zhu Changfang (朱常淓), also known as Jingyi Taoist (敬一道人), was born in 1608 and died in 1646. He was a member of the Imperial family during the late Ming dynasty and held the title Prince of Lu (潞王). The geographic location associated with the title is uncertain; some sources describe it as being near Hangzhou, while others locate it around Weihui in Henan province.

He was the son of Zhu Yiliu (簡王翊鏐) and a grandson of the Longqing Emperor. In 1618, Zhu Changfang inherited the title Prince of Lu from his father. Following his father's death, he constructed an elaborate mausoleum in Xinxiang County. This mausoleum covered approximately 157,000 square meters (about 39 acres) and featured unconventional elements such as a separate grave for his father's concubine, an increased number of guards, and unique animal sculptures.

During the rebellion of Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng against the Chongzhen Emperor, Zhu sought approval to lead military actions against the rebels. His efforts were unsuccessful, and he was compelled to relocate to Hangzhou. After the Chongzhen Emperor’s suicide in 1644, Zhu was encouraged by advisors Shi Kefa and Gao Hongtu to accept the throne in exile. However, the throne was ultimately claimed by Zhu Yousong, who established the Hongguang Emperor’s reign. Zhu Changfang was captured and surrendered to the Qing dynasty in 1646. Subsequently, he was executed in Beijing along with other Southern Ming princes.

Aside from his political involvement, Zhu Changfang was active in the arts. He was recognized as a calligrapher and traditional Chinese painter, with his work influenced by the style of Wang Xizhi. He also pursued music, playing the guqin. He manufactured over 300 guqin instruments, designed a new type of guqin incorporating Western design features, and developed a musical style called "Central Harmony." In 1634, he authored a treatise on the guqin titled Guyin Zhengzong (古音正宗). Additionally, Zhu wrote a book on Chinese chess and composed numerous biographies of imperial figures.

His calligraphy was highly regarded during his lifetime. His inscriptions can be found at various sites, including the City God Temple in Weihui and the Western Great Temple in Zhonghe. Despite his accomplishments, his artistic work was largely forgotten after his death. Notably, one of his bronze inscriptions was misattributed in a Qing catalogue to a work from the Zhou dynasty, which ended over 1800 years earlier.

Zhu Changfang is associated with the cultural motif "Eight Views of Xiaoxiang." External references include recordings by John Thompson of his piece "Pingsha Luo Yan" ("Wild Geese Descend on a Sandbank").