Zhu Shizhen

Zhu Shizhen (1281–1344), born Zhu Wusi, was a native of Jurong in the region of modern Jiangsu Province. His family originally resided there, but his father, Zhu Chuyi, moved the family to Xuyi in Si Prefecture, which is currently Xuyi County in Huai'an, Jiangsu. Subsequently, Zhu Shizhen relocated with his family to Zhongli in Hao Prefecture (modern Fengyang, Anhui).

Zhu Shizhen was born in 1281 at Zhujiaxiang, Tongde Township, Jurong County, Jiangsu. His father, Zhu Chuyi, was registered as a "gold-washing household" (taojin hu) under the Yuan dynasty, responsible for delivering a fixed amount of gold annually to officials. Due to the lack of local gold mines, Zhu Chuyi was required to sell agricultural products to purchase gold in order to meet this quota, which was a burdensome obligation. In 1289, at the age of eight, Zhu Chuyi moved the family to Sunjiagang, located approximately thirteen li north of Si Prefecture.

Zhu Wusi married a woman from the Chen clan, and they had at least four children, including a son named Zhu Chongba, born in 1328, who was later known as Zhu Yuanzhang. Following the death of his father, Zhu Wusi's family faced poverty, prompting him and his brother Zhu Wuyi to seek livelihoods elsewhere. Zhu Wuyi's family settled in East Township, Zhongli County, Hao Prefecture, while Zhu Wusi's family moved to Lingbi County, Anhui, where Zhu Chongliu was born. They later moved to Hong County (modern Si County, Anhui), where Zhu Chongqi was born, and eventually settled in East Township, Zhongli County.

In 1337, due to ongoing hardships, Zhu Wusi relocated with his family to West Township of Zhongli, near present-day Tangfu Village, Fengyang. The following year, the family moved to Gucun Village in Taiping Township of Zhongli (modern Ershiying Village, Fengyang County). During these years, they became tenant farmers under the landlord Liu Jide, known for his harshness.

In 1344, a severe drought affected the Huai River basin, causing widespread crop failure, famine, and subsequent locusts and disease outbreaks. During this year, Zhu Wusi died from plague on the sixth day of the fourth lunar month at age sixty-four. His eldest son also died later that night, and his wife, Lady Chen, died on the twenty-second day of the same month at age fifty-nine. The family struggled to bury them; Zhu Chongba, the youngest son, and Zhu Chongliu requested a burial plot from their landlord Liu Jide, who refused. Their uncle, Liu Jizu, eventually provided a patch of land, and Zhu Chongba hastily buried his parents wrapped in old quilts due to lack of coffins.

After his death, Zhu Wusi was posthumously honored. In 1352, Zhu Chongba joined the Red Turban army under Guo Zixing, adopting the name Zhu Yuanzhang and changing his father's name to Zhu Shizhen. In 1363, the Red Turbans conferred upon Zhu Shizhen a series of titles posthumously, including Duke of Wu and other high-ranking official titles. His wife, Lady Chen, was similarly honored as Duchess.

Following the founding of the Ming dynasty in 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang posthumously promoted his father to Emperor Chun (淳皇帝; 'Pure Emperor') with the temple name Renzu (仁祖; 'Benevolent Ancestor'). His mausoleum was located at Fengyang and was later renamed the Mausoleum of Emperor Renzu and then the Ying Mausoleum (英陵). Construction of Zhu Shizhen's mausoleum commenced in 1369, completed in 1379, on two separate occasions ordered by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Shizhen had six children with Lady Chen:

- Zhu Chongsi (later Zhu Xinglong), first son, Prince of Nanchang

- Zhu Chongliu (later Zhu Xingsheng), second son, Prince of Xuyi

- Zhu Chongqi (later Zhu Xingzu), third son, Prince of Linhuai

- Zhu Chongba (later Zhu Yuanzhang), fourth son, the future Hongwu Emperor

- A daughter known as Grand Princess Taiyuan

- Another daughter, Lady Zhu, styled Grand Princess Caoguo

Zhu Shizhen died in 1344 at age sixty-four, and his remains were reinterred in the imperial mausoleum of Fengyang, which was extensively developed and enshrined with honor after his son established the Ming dynasty.