Princess Linan

Princess Lin'an, born Zhu Jingjing on 15 November 1360, was a member of the Ming dynasty imperial family. She was the eldest daughter of Zhu Yuanzhang, who later became the Hongwu Emperor, and his concubine Lady Sun, later known as Noble Consort Chengmu. Her full siblings included Princess Huaiqing.

Zhu Jingjing's birth occurred during a period of significant upheaval and change in China. Her father Zhu Yuanzhang had risen to prominence as a military leader during the Red Turban Rebellion, a movement opposing the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. By the 1360s, Zhu Yuanzhang had unified parts of China, established the Ming dynasty, and proclaimed himself emperor, taking the era name Hongwu.

In 1376, Zhu Jingjing married Li Qi, the son of Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han. Upon her marriage, she received the title Princess Lin'an. The marriage ceremonies were elaborate, reflecting the formalization of marriage protocols for Ming princesses at the time. Li Qi was an individual trusted by the Hongwu Emperor, partly due to his father's high status. He was often entrusted with official duties, including disaster relief efforts during floods and droughts.

The political career of her father, Li Shanchang, came to an end in 1390 when he was implicated in the Hu Weiyong case. Li Shanchang was executed, and although Li Qi was spared from execution due to his marriage to Princess Lin'an, he was stripped of his rank and exiled to Jiangpu (modern Pukou, Nanjing). Princess Lin'an chose to accompany her husband into exile, where he later died. Their sons were granted immunity from punishment following these events.

Princess Lin'an died on 30 July 1421 at the age of 60. Her younger brother, the Yongle Emperor, mourned her death publicly, suspending court sessions for four days in her honor.

Her tomb was discovered in May 2018 in the Tiexinqiao Subdistrict of Yuhuatai District, Nanjing. In September 2023, the tomb was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage protection site.