周恩溥

Zhou Enlai (March 5, 1898 – January 8, 1976), courtesy name Runzhi, was a native of Huai'an, Jiangsu Province. He was born in Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province. Among his family members, his birth mother was Mrs. Wan. Not long after Zhou Enlai was born, his family also welcomed his younger brother, Zhou Enpu, less than 12 months later. After Zhou Enpu's birth, according to local customs, he was taken to a temple during his full month, dressed in monk's robes, named "Zhou Enpu," and blessed with chanting by the monks in the temple. This practice aimed to pray for his safety and longevity, and also reflected a traditional custom in the Huai'an area for newborns. As a result, Zhou Enpu was known as the "Named Monk," and in later life, he became part of the family.

The custom of "Named Monk" originates from traditional naming practices in the Huai'an region. Some families, after a child's birth, would take the child to a temple during the full moon for prayer and blessing, giving him a name such as "Monk" or other symbolic titles. Lu Xun once commented on this custom, considering that it contained superstitious elements, but it also reflected folk beliefs and customs of the time. It is said that Zhou Enlai's grandmother, Mrs. Lu, was from Shaoxing, an area where it was popular to incorporate zodiac signs or "Monk" into naming conventions. This tradition continued into the 1950s and 1960s but gradually diminished during the Cultural Revolution.

Throughout his life, Zhou Enpu maintained some contact with family members. On October 25, 2011, Zhou Enpu's ashes were interred together with those of his wife and children at the Fenghuangshan Cemetery in Jiaozuo, symbolizing familial bonds. The repatriation ceremony was simple yet solemn, demonstrating respect for ancestors. Zhou Enpu's wife and descendants lived modestly in Jiaozuo, embodying resilience and optimism in ordinary life. His ashes were buried in places such as Shandong and Jiaozuo; the Fenghuangshan Cemetery in Jiaozuo provided a free tomb for him as a mark of respect. According to reporters and cemetery staff, this act was intended both to honor Zhou Enlai's contributions and to provide a site for future generations to pay their respects.