Zhu Youyuan

Zhu Youyuan (22 July 1476 – 13 July 1519), was a prince of the Ming dynasty of China. He was the fourth son of the Chenghua Emperor and father of the Jiajing Emperor.

Zhu Youyuan was the fourth son of the Chenghua Emperor, the ninth emperor of the Chinese Ming dynasty, and one of his concubines, Lady Shao. The emperor's two eldest sons died early, and his third son Zhu Youcheng (the Hongzhi Emperor) succeeded him. Upon the Hongzhi Emperor's accession to the throne in 1487, Zhu Youyuan was given the title Prince of Xing (興王). In 1492, he married Lady Jiang, the daughter of an officer of the imperial guard. From 1494, he resided in his estate in Anlu near Zhongxiang, which is now part of Jingmen in Hubei Province. He was known for his education and cultural refinement.

Zhu Youyuan died on 13 July 1519. He had two sons and four daughters. His elder son died at the young age of five days in July 1500. As a result, his younger son, Zhu Houcong, inherited his father's position.

In 1521, the Zhengde Emperor, son and successor of the Hongzhi Emperor, died without any heirs. This led to the selection of Zhu Houcong, the closest male relative, as the new emperor, known as the Jiajing Emperor. After facing several years of disputes with the grand secretaries and officials, the Jiajing Emperor finally asserted the imperial title for his father, mother, and grandmother.

Following Zhu Youyuan's death, he was given the posthumous name of Prince Xian of Xing (興獻王). Upon his son's ascension to the imperial throne, he was posthumously elevated to the position of emperor, and in 1538, he was given the posthumous name Emperor Zhitian Shoudao Hongde Yuanren Kuanmu Chunsheng Gongjian Jinwen Xian (知天守道洪德淵仁寬穆純聖恭簡敬文獻皇帝).