Princess Lin'an

Princess Lin'an (15 November 1360^[a] – 30 July 1421), personal name Zhu Jingjing,^[b] was a princess of the Ming dynasty. She was the eldest daughter of the Hongwu Emperor and Noble Consort Chengmu.

Zhu Jingjing
Princess Lin'an
Born	15 November 1360
Died	July 30, 1421(1421-07-30) (aged 60)
Burial	Tiexinqiao, Yuhuatai, Nanjing
Spouse	Li Qi
Issue	Li Fang[1] Li Mao[1]
Father	Hongwu Emperor
Mother	Noble Consort Chengmu
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	臨安公主
Simplified Chinese	临安公主
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lín'ān Gōngzhǔ
Personal name
Traditional Chinese	朱鏡靜
Simplified Chinese	朱镜静
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhū Jìngjìng

Life

China in 1360, a year Lin'an was born.

Zhu Jingjing was born on 15 December 1360,^[a] as the eldest daughter of Zhu Yuanzhang. Her mother was Zhu Yuanzhang's concubine, Lady Sun (later Noble Consort Chengmu),^[2] and she was the full older sister of Princess Huaiqing.^[3] At the time, Zhu Yuanzhang was based in Nanjing and was a prominent leader in the Red Turban Rebellion, an uprising against the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty that controlled China. The rebellion aimed to restore Han Chinese rule after decades of Mongol domination. In the 1360s, Zhu Yuanzhang conquered China, established the Ming dynasty, and declared himself emperor.^[4] He is commonly known by his era name as the Hongwu Emperor.^[5]

On 26 July 1376, Zhu Jingjing was married to Li Qi, the son of Li Shanchang, Duke of Han. She was also granted the title of Princess Lin'an.^[6] This marriage took place during a time when the wedding protocols for Ming princesses were just being established. As part of the ceremony, Li Qi was first granted ceremonial headgear, an official commission, and court robes, followed by a grand procession. The princess was known for diligently adhering to the moral codes expected of women. As the son of a meritorious official and the emperor's eldest son-in-law, Li Qi enjoyed significant trust from the Hongwu Emperor. He was frequently ordered to provide relief whenever floods or droughts struck various regions.^[7]

On 6 July 1390, Li Shanchang was executed for his involvement in the Hu Weiyong case. Li Qi, who was spared from capital punishment due to his status as the emperor's son-in-law, was instead exiled to Jiangpu (present-day Pukou, Nanjing). Princess Lin'an accompanied him into exile, and Li Qi eventually died in Jiangpu.^[c] Their sons were granted immunity from punishment.^[1]

On 30 July 1421, Princess Lin'an died at the age of 60. Her older brother, the Yongle Emperor, suspended court audiences for four days in mourning.^[8] Her tomb was discovered in May 2018 in Tiexinqiao Subdistrict, Yuhuatai District, Nanjing,^[2] and was listed as a municipal-level cultural heritage protection unit in Nanjing in September 2023.^[9]

Notes

1. "Epitaph of Princess Lin'an" recorded that Princess Lin'an was born on the 7th day of the 10th month in the Gengzi year. This date corresponds to 15 December 1360 on the Julian calendar.
2. "Epitaph of Princess Lin'an" records the princess's personal name as Zhu Jingjing.^[2]
3. The History of Ming contains conflicting accounts regarding the death of Li Qi. The "Biography of Princess Lin'an" states that Li Qi died before his father, Li Shanchang, was executed in the Hu Weiyong case. However, the "Biography of Li Shanchang" records that Li Qi was still alive when his father was executed for his involvement in the case, subsequently moving with Princess Lin'an to Jiangpu, where he died years later.^[7][1]