Zhu Yousi: The Life and Times of a Prince in 16th Century Ming China

The Ming Dynasty imposed all-encompassing restrictions upon its princely population. Princes were effectively barred from participation in dynastic politics, from entering the civil service examinations in pursuit of office, and from undertaking common livelihoods. Many princes thus turned to alternative means of fulfilment or drifted toward dissolution; Zhu Yousi, an ambitious prince in Huguang Province, strove to function beyond these constraints. This article recounts his life and relationship with the Ming princely institution. It first studies his engagement with the Jiajing Emperor during the Great Ritual Controversy in 1521 and his advocacy for princes’ socio-economic freedom. It then examines his downfall in 1525 as well as the events which occasioned his redemption in 1539. Overall, this article situates Zhu Yousi’s story not only within narratives concerning Ming princes and their political activities, but also within an expanding corpus of scholarship which challenges traditional caricatures of princely debauchery.