Zhu Gang (his birth year is disputed, while his death is placed in 1398) was the legitimate third son of the Hongwu Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, a Ming imperial prince, and the Prince of Jin. He was also known by the designations Sanzi, Gong, and Jingongwang (Prince Gong of Jin).
Life
His dates are variously given: his birth is left unknown, placed in 1359, dated to 25 January 1359, or dated to 18 December 1358; his death falls in 1398, with 10 May and 30 March given as alternative dates. Zhu Gang studied literature under Song Lian and calligraphy under Du Huan.
He was listed among the imperial clan, with the status designation zongzi. In the third year of the Hongwu era (1370), he was enfeoffed as Prince of Jin; in the eleventh year (1378), he established his princely residence at Taiyuan. In the twenty-second year (1389), he served as Left Director of the Office of Imperial Clan Affairs.
He was resourceful but proud and frequently acted unlawfully in his domain. When the emperor sought to train his sons in military affairs, the princes of Jin and Yan received particular trust; Zhu Gang was repeatedly ordered to lead forces beyond the frontier, and the generals Feng Sheng and Fu Youde were placed under his command. At his death he received the posthumous name Gong; his posthumous title is also given as Jingongwang (Prince Gong of Jin).
Later attribution and lineage
One later attribution states that, during the Chenghua era (1465–1488), he rebuilt the Wutai Banruo Temple after hearing of the exemplary conduct of the monk 立禪.
His lineage includes a grandson 朱美圭, a great-grandson 朱鍾鋐, a fourth-generation descendant 朱奇沄, a sixth-generation descendant 朱知㸅, a seventh-generation descendant 朱新㙉, an eighth-generation descendant 朱慎鋷, a ninth-generation descendant 朱敏沒, a tenth-generation descendant 朱求杚, and a fifth-generation descendant 朱表杋.
References
- CBDB Zhu Gang (67284)
- 搜韵 朱棡 (47079)
- 法鼓佛教人名规范数据库 朱棡 (A010054)
- Wikidata Zhu Gang (Q3499518)