Princess Kunxing

Zhu Meichuo was born on 2 May 1630 during the Ming dynasty in China. She was the daughter of the Chongzhen Emperor and Consort Shun, who belonged to the Wang clan. After her mother's death, she was raised by Empress Zhou. Zhu Meichuo had two sisters, Princess Kunyi and Princess Zhaoren, and six brothers: Prince Daoliang, Zhu Cican, Zhu Cizhao, Zhu Cilang, Zhu Cihuan, and Zhu Cijiong.

She was noted for her intelligence. At age 16, her father arranged her marriage to Zhou Xian, a military officer. The wedding was canceled due to the invasion of the Ming capital by Li Zicheng and his rebel forces. During the fall of Beijing, the Chongzhen Emperor sought to protect his family. When rebels entered the palace, he executed the plan to kill his family to prevent their suffering and potential disgrace.

Following the capture of the capital, Zhu Meichuo found her mother dead at a temple. She was present when her father arrived, shouting at her and slashing her left arm. She fainted from blood loss but was saved by a eunuch. Her father committed suicide afterward by hanging himself in front of the Forbidden City. Her survival was unexpected; she regained consciousness five days later.

In 1645, after the Ming dynasty had fallen and the Qing dynasty had replaced it, Zhu Meichuo sought permission from the Shunzhi Emperor to become a Buddhist nun. Her request was refused, and she was arranged to marry Zhou Xian. During this marriage, she became pregnant at approximately 16 or 17 years old. She died during her pregnancy due to illness, on 26 September 1647.

Zhu Meichuo became a figure in Chinese folklore and popular culture, often associated with tales of survival and resistance. She features prominently in the Cantonese opera "The Flower Princess," first performed in 1957, and has been the subject of multiple film adaptations, including "Tragedy of the Emperor's Daughter" (1959) and "Princess Chang Ping" (1976).

Her story was adapted into television dramas, including ATV's 1981 series "Princess Cheung Ping" and TVB's 2003 series "Perish in the Name of Love." Folklore tells a narrative of her practicing martial arts and leading resistance efforts against the Qing dynasty after becoming a nun, earning her the nickname "One-Armed Divine Nun." She is also depicted as a disciple of Lü Siniang in folklore.

In literature, Zhu Meichuo appears in Louis Cha's wuxia novels. In "Sword Stained with Royal Blood," she is known as A'jiu and is romantically involved with the protagonist Yuan Chengzhi. After losing her arm and surviving, she chooses to become a nun and adopts the name Jiunan. She also appears in "The Deer and the Cauldron" as a martial arts teacher to the protagonist Wei Xiaobao.

**See also:**

- History of Ming, volume 121

- Di Nü Hua

- Sword Stained with Royal Blood

- The Deer and the Cauldron

**References:**

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