Zhu Youdun

Zhu Youdun (7 February 1379 – 8 July 1439) was an imperial prince during the Ming dynasty of China. He was the eldest son of Zhu Su, Prince of Zhou, who was the fifth son of the Hongwu Emperor, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty. Zhu Youdun was born in Fengyang, the Ming central capital, and his mother was Zhu Su's first wife, daughter of General Feng Sheng. In 1381, he moved to Kaifeng, the capital of Henan Province, and in 1389, following his father’s exile to Yunnan, Zhu Youdun was placed in charge of the princely household while his father was imprisoned in Nanjing. His father was not returned to Kaifeng until late 1391 or early 1392. In spring 1391, Zhu Youdun was designated as his father's heir apparent.

In 1395, Zhu Youdun married the daughter of military commander Lü Gui. In 1396, he participated in military campaigns along the northern border near Beijing. The Hongwu Emperor died in 1398 and was succeeded by his grandson, the Jianwen Emperor. During Jianwen’s reign (1398–1402), policies aimed at reducing the power of imperial princes resulted in Zhu Youdun and his father being stripped of their titles and exiled to Yunnan in 1398. Zhu Su and Zhu Youdun faced further hardship when Zhu Su was accused of treason and transported to Nanjing. Zhu Youdun accepted the charges in an effort to protect his father. In 1399, Zhu Di, Zhu Youdun’s uncle, rebelled against the Jianwen Emperor and later ascended the throne as the Yongle Emperor in 1402 after a civil war.

Following Zhu Di’s rise, Zhu Youdun and his father were restored to their titles and privileges in 1403, with Zhu Youdun’s titles being reinstated in Kaifeng. His father’s trust and loyalty were recognized by the Yongle Emperor, who composed a poem praising Zhu Youdun. Zhu Youdun then lived in Kaifeng, engaging in literary pursuits including poetry, theater, painting, and calligraphy. He initially wrote plays in the zaju genre and later focused on painting and calligraphy. His art collection included works by old masters, such as Wang Xizhi’s Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, published in 1417. Though his paintings have not survived, descriptions of them exist in contemporary poetry. Zhu Youdun was known for painting flowers, especially peonies.

He maintained associations with literary figures such as Qu You, a writer and storyteller, and Li Changqi, an official involved in cultural activities, as well as Yu Qian, a poet and official in Kaifeng. His literary work included over thirty zaju plays, which were classified into celebratory compositions for court festivities and classical plays emphasizing virtues of loyalty and disapproval of dishonesty. His writings also include poetry—46 shi poems, a collection of 300 sanqu songs, and one ci poem—and a medical manuscript titled Xiuzhenfang (Handy Prescriptions).

In January 1426, Zhu Youdun succeeded his father as Prince of Zhou. He continued his literary work during his tenure, although only a limited portion of his creative output survives. Due to the lack of direct descendants, Zhu Youdun adopted Zhu Youxun’s eldest son. However, plans for succession were disrupted after Zhu Youxun’s involvement in a conspiracy against the Xuande Emperor, which led to his demotion and imprisonment in 1428. Zhu Youdun died in Kaifeng on 8 July 1439, and was posthumously honored with the name Prince Xian of Zhou. His wife and six concubines committed suicide shortly thereafter, specifically on 29 July 1439, wanting to be buried with him despite his request for the practice to be abolished. The title of Prince of Zhou was inherited by Zhu Youdun’s half-brother, Zhu Youjue.