page_title: House of Zhu
section_title: Ming dynasty (1368–1644 C.E.)
hierarchical_section_title: House of Zhu / Notable members / Ming dynasty (1368–1644 C.E.)
caption_attribution_description: English: Portrait of Emperor Renzong of Ming Dynasty China
context_page_description: The House of Zhu, also known as the House of Chu, was the imperial family of the Ming dynasty of China. Zhu was the family name of the emperors of the Ming dynasty. The House of Zhu ruled China from 1368 until the fall of the Ming dynasty in 1644, followed by the rule as the Southern Ming dynasty until 1662, and the last Ming princes, the Prince of Ningjing Zhu Shugui and Prince Zhu Honghuan held out until the annexation of the Kingdom of Tungning in 1683.
context_section_description: Hongwu Emperor, key leader of the rebel movement which ousted the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty; founder of the Ming dynasty
  Jianwen Emperor, grandson of the Hongwu Emperor; second emperor of the Ming dynasty reigned from 1399 to 1402; overthrown by his uncle, the Yongle Emperor
  Yongle Emperor, fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor and third emperor of the Ming dynasty; reigned from 1403 to 1424; he was responsible for expanding China's influence throughout Asia, East Africa and perhaps beyond through his fleet of treasure ships led by the admiral eunuch Zheng He; he founded the Forbidden City and the Ming Dynasty Tombs
  Hongxi Emperor, eldest son of the Yongle Emperor and fourth emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned for one year, 1425
  Xuande Emperor, eldest son of the Hongxi Emperor and fifth emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned from 1426 to 1435
  Zhengtong Emperor, also known as the Tianshun Emperor; eldest son of the Xuande Emperor and sixth emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned twice from 1436 to 1449 and from 1457 to 1464
  Jingtai Emperor, second son of the Xuande Emperor and seventh emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned from 1450 to 1457
  Chenghua Emperor, eldest son of the Zhengtong Emperor and eighth emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned from 1465 to 1487
  Hongzhi Emperor, third and eldest surviving son of the Chenghua Emperor and ninth emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned from 1488 to 1505
  Zhengde Emperor, eldest son of the Hongzhi Emperor and tenth emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned from 1506 to 1521
  Jiajing Emperor, grandson of the Chenghua Emperor and eleventh emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned from 1522 to 1567
  Longqing Emperor, third son of the Jiajing Emperor and twelfth emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned from 1567 to 1572
  Wanli Emperor, third and eldest surviving son of the Longqing Emperor and thirteenth emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned from 1573 to 1620
  Taichang Emperor, eldest son of the Wanli Emperor and sixteenth emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned only one year, 1620
  Tianqi Emperor, eldest son of the Taichang Emperor and seventeenth emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned from 1621 to 1627
  Chongzhen Emperor, fifth son of the Taichang Emperor and eighteenth/last emperor of the Ming dynasty; he reigned from 1628 to 1644
caption: Hongxi
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