Zhu Su

Zhu Su (8 October 1361 – 2 September 1425) was a member of the Ming dynasty nobility, a medical scientist, and a botanist. He was the fifth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, who later became the Hongwu Emperor, and Empress Ma. His familial titles included the Prince of Wu, bestowed in 1370, and later the Prince of Zhou, granted in 1378.

Born in 1361, Zhu Su was a native of China and was alive during the early consolidation of the Ming dynasty by his father. In 1370, at approximately nine years old, he was granted the title of Prince of Wu when his father was consolidating his rule over China. In 1374, the Hongwu Emperor discouraged Zhu Su from settling in Hangzhou, emphasizing the importance of the Jiangnan region’s revenue to the central government.

In 1376, Zhu Su relocated to Fengyang in central China, where he engaged in military training alongside other princes. His father elevated his status to Prince of Zhou in 1378. Around this period, he married the daughter of General Feng Sheng, the military commander stationed in Kaifeng, the capital of Henan Province. By 1381, Zhu Su had moved to Kaifeng, where he did not hold official administrative power but maintained influence through his personal household and military connections, working alongside his father-in-law in overseeing troops in the region.

In 1389, Zhu Su left Kaifeng secretly to visit Feng Sheng in Fengyang. Feng Sheng had been condemned by the emperor for actions during a battle against the Mongols in 1387. Subsequently, Zhu Su was banished to Yunnan, though he was effectively detained at the imperial court in Nanjing. His eldest son, Zhu Youdun, succeeded his household in Kaifeng. Zhu Su was only permitted to return to Kaifeng in late 1391.

Following the death of the Hongwu Emperor in 1398, his grandson, the Jianwen Emperor, ascended the throne. During this period, Zhu Su became a target of the emperor’s policies aimed at reducing the power of princely relatives. In autumn 1398, Zhu Su was accused of planning rebellion by his second son, Zhu Youxun, resulting in his imprisonment, the loss of titles, and exile to Yunnan. In 1399, Zhu Di (later the Yongle Emperor) rebelled, leading to a three-year civil war. After Zhu Di’s victory and accession to the throne, Zhu Su was allowed to return to Nanjing in 1402 and to Kaifeng in 1403. Despite financial benefits granted by the Yongle Emperor, Zhu Su was kept away from political involvement.

Zhu Su turned increasingly to scholarly pursuits, especially in botany and medicine. In 1406, he published the Jiuhuang Bencao, a botanical monograph detailing 414 edible wild plants, emphasizing their potential to prevent famine. He also authored Puji fang, a compendium containing 61,739 medical prescriptions. Additionally, Zhu Su was recognized for his calligraphy.

In 1420, Zhu Su was accused of plotting rebellion and was summoned to Nanjing. He confessed to the allegations, received a pardon from the emperor, but his personal guard was reduced. He died in 1425.

Zhu Su had a total of at least sixteen sons and nineteen daughters. His eldest son, Zhu Youdun, became a playwright known for writing over thirty plays in the zaju genre. His family retained the title of Prince of Zhou until the mid-17th century.