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that flourished under the patronage of the Yongle 永樂 royal family members have also been made in Wuchang,
emperor (r. 1403–24) in the early Ming. Huangmei 黃梅 is a Jingzhou, Xiangyang and Qichun.
sacred Chan Buddhist site that has been the focus of
pilgrimage since the Tang dynasty (618–907). Yuquansi 玉泉寺 Religious elements in the Ming royal tombs in Hubei
(Monastery of Jade Spring) at Dangyang 當陽, the Duobao province
fota 多寶佛塔 (Buddhist Pagoda of Many Treasures) of The excavated Ming royal tombs in Hubei show distinct
Guangdesi 廣德寺 (Monastery of Spreading Virtue) at religious elements. Analysis of tomb settings and burial
Xiangyang 襄陽 and the Daoist temple complex at Mount objects can reveal the different beliefs of Ming princes and
Wudang are all classified as major historical and cultural sites their family members. This chapter will consider
protected at national level. archaeological finds from the tombs of Prince Zhao of Chu,
Prince Xian of Xiang, Prince Jing of Ying and Lady Guo 郭
The spread of Ming royal family members in Hubei (d. 1414), Prince Zhuang of Liang and Lady Wei 魏 (d. 1451),
province Lady Liu 劉氏 (d. 1560), the secondary consort of one of the
Thirteen princely lineages were established in Hubei during princes of Jing, and other family members of the Prince of
the Ming dynasty. Among the royal descendants who were Jing lineage at Qichun, in order to discuss their religious
enfeoffed there, 45 were princes of the first rank (qinwang characteristics and influences.
親王) and 50 were commandery princes (junwang 郡王).
Together with princesses and lower-ranked princes with Daoist features in the tomb of Prince Zhao of Chu
titles such as Defender-General of the State (Zhenguo jiangjun Prince Zhao of Chu, Zhu Zhen, was the sixth son of Zhu
鎮國將軍), Bulwark-General of the State (Fuguo jiangjun 輔國 Yuanzhang. He became the Prince of Chu in 1370, and was
將軍) and Supporter-General of the State (Fengguo jiangjun enfeoffed in Wuchang in 1381. In 1424, he died of illness and
奉國將軍), an extensive royal clan was established. was buried at Mount Lingquan 靈泉山 with the posthumous
1
Four of the Ming founder’s sons were given titles and title zhao 昭. The Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural
subsequently enfeoffed in Hubei. Three of them established Relics and Archaeology led the excavation of the tomb in
royal courts in the region during their father’s reign (1368– 1991. The form of the tomb, its burial objects and the burial
2
98). They were Zhu Zhen 朱楨 (1364–1424), Prince Zhao of practice it reveals are unique among Ming royal tombs
Chu 楚昭王, in Wuchang; Zhu Bo 朱柏 (1371–99), Prince excavated to date.
Xian of Xiang 湘獻王, in Jingzhou; and Zhu Dong 朱棟 The tomb complex of Prince Zhao of Chu is monumental
(1388–1414), Prince Jing of Ying 郢靖王, in Zhongxiang. A in scale, with majestic above-ground architecture, which
fourth prince, Zhu Zhi 朱植 (1378–1424), Prince Jian of Liao corresponds to Ming regulations. However, the underground
遼簡王, was relocated to Jingzhou during the Yongle period. site itself is very small and consists of a single chamber. It is
The Hongxi 洪熙 emperor (r. 1425), the fourth emperor of the only example of its kind among the excavated tombs of
the Ming dynasty, had three sons who were enfeoffed in contemporary first-rank princes, which are normally
Hubei: Zhu Zhanshan 朱瞻墡 (1406–78), Prince Xian of arranged in the shape of the Chinese character ya 亞.
Xiang 襄憲王, in Xiangyang; Zhu Zhan’gang 朱瞻堈 Moreover, the tomb of Prince Zhao of Chu contains the
(1406–53), Prince Xian of Jing 荊憲王, in Qichun 蘄春; and smallest number of burial objects so far found in tombs of
Zhu Zhanji 朱瞻垍 (1411–41), Prince Zhuang of Liang 梁莊 first-rank princes from that time. The only objects indicating
王, in Zhongxiang. his rank are a conferring tablet and a royal seal. He was not
The Chenghua 成化 emperor (r. 1465–87), the eighth buried with any ceremonial headdresses; his belt is made of
emperor of the Ming dynasty, also had three sons who were gold mounts with wooden plaques (instead of plaques made
enfeoffed in Hubei: Zhu Youyuan 朱祐杬 (1476–1519), Prince of precious stones), and there is no evidence of human
Xian of Xing 興獻王, in Zhongxiang; Zhu Youlun 朱祐棆 sacrifices or wooden figurines in the tomb. On the whole,
(1478–1501), Prince Hui of Qi 岐惠王, in Anlu; and Zhu Youzhi this can be considered a ‘simple burial’ (bozang 薄葬).
朱祐榰 (1481–1545), Prince Ding of Shou 壽定王, in Anlu. In addition to being modest in terms of size and burial
The Jiajing 嘉靖 emperor (r. 1522–66), the 11th emperor objects, the interior setting of Prince Zhao of Chu’s tomb is
of the Ming dynasty, had one son enfeoffed in Hubei: Zhu notable as five talismans or ‘numinous tablets’ (lingpai 靈牌)
Zaizhen 朱載圳 (1537–65), Prince Gong of Jing 景恭王, in have been placed at the east, south, west, north and central
Anlu. The emperor also posthumously enfeoffed his elder parts of the burial chamber. Furthermore, in front of the coffin
brother Zhu Houxi 朱厚熙 (1500) as Prince Huai of Yue platform is a stone altar table (Pl. 18.1), on top of which are five
岳懷王 in Zhongxiang. Likewise, the Wanli emperor bronze ceremonial offering objects (wugong 五供), consisting of
(r. 1573–1620), the 13th emperor of the Ming dynasty, had an incense burner, two candlesticks and two vases. The form of
one son enfeoffed in Hubei: Zhu Changrun 朱常潤 (1594– the stone altar table bears a close resemblance to a bronze altar
1647), Prince of Hui 惠王, in Jingzhou. table found in the Golden Hall (Jindian 金殿) at the peak of
A significant number of tombs belonging to individual Mount Wudang (Pl. 18.2). This suggests that the setting inside
princes, consorts and royal couples have been excavated in the tomb of Prince Zhao of Chu may have been emulating the
Hubei province. They include those of Prince Jian of Liao Daoist features of the Golden Hall.
(Jingzhou), Prince Zhao of Chu (Wuchang), Prince Xian of There are clearly distinct Daoist elements in the tomb of
Xiang (Jingzhou), Prince Zhuang of Liang (Zhongxiang) Prince Zhao of Chu, which may help to explain the simple
and Prince Jing of Ying (Zhongxiang). Important burial that was afforded the prince. Instead of emphasising
archaeological discoveries of tombs belonging to other Ming lavish burials, Daoists believe in seeking to attain

164 | Ming China: Courts and Contacts 1400–1450