Father and Son Princes of Lu in Weihui Prefecture during the Late Ming

This paper examines the nature of the princes of Lu, Zhu Yiliu and his son Zhu Changfang, of the Ming dynasty. Until now, the father and son have been described as worthy princes. Zhu Changfang, in particular, was said to have exceptional qualities suitable for an emperor of the Southern Ming. However, on examination, this paper reveals that Zhu Yiliu had a fondness for pleasure and was even reproached for it by his elder brother, the Wanli Emperor, while Zhu Changfang was not a particularly good person either.