Prince of Yi (Ming dynasty)

Prince of Yi, was a first-rank princely peerage used during Ming dynasty, it was created by the Chenghua Emperor for his sixth son, Zhu Youbin.

Generation name / poem

As members of this peerage were descentants of Yongle Emperor, their generation poem was:-
The main line of this peerage used the poem until Yi generation.

Princedom of Yi

- Prince of Qin
- Hereditary Prince of Qin
Zhu Youbin, sixth son of Chenghua Emperor. He was made Prince of Yi in 1487, took his princedom which was located at Jianchang in 1495, and died in 1539. His posthumous name was Prince Duan of Yi
*Zhu Houye, first son of Zhu Youbin. He succeeded the principality from 1541 to 1556. His second brother succeeded him as he was sonless. His posthumous name was Prince Zhuang of Yi
*Zhu Houxuan, second son of Zhu Youbin. He was made a commandery prince, under the title of Prince of Chongren Comm. from 1506 to 1556. He succeeded the principality from 1557 to 1577 from his brother. His posthumous name was Prince Gong of Yi
**Zhu Zaizeng, the first son of Zhu Houxuan. He was initially designated heir apparent for the Princedom of Chongren Comm. in 1529 when his father was made Prince of Chongren. He died before his father and was posthumously bestowed the posthumous name "Prince Zhao of Yi".
***Zhu Yiyin, first son of Zhu Zaizhen. He was designated the hereditary prince. He succeeded the princedom from 1580 to 1603. His posthumous name was Prince Xuan of Yi
****Zhu Changqian, second son of Zhu Yiyin. He was designated the hereditary prince along with his father who was also designated the hereditary prince. He succeeded the princedom from 1605 - 1615. Full posthumous name: Prince Jing of Yi
*****Zhu Youmu, third son of Prince Jing. He was ordered to change his birth name as he shared the same name with Tianqi Emperor. He was promoted to a commandery prince under the title of Prince of Jiashan Comm. from the title of a defender general in 1588. He succeeded the principality from 1617 to 1634. His posthumous name was Prince Ding of Yi
******Zhu Ciyi, first son of Zhu Youmu. he succeeded the princedom in 1636. He escaped to Guangdong in 1645 and died after a year in Guangzhou. His posthumous name was Prince Xian of Yi or Prince Su of Yi
*******Zhu Hexi, the first son of Zhu Ciyi. he succeeded the principality after 1662.
********Zhu Yihao, he succeeded the princedom and escaped to Taiwan, but later was located at Qi County, Kaifeng by Qing court.
******Zhu Cizhu, he succeeded the princedom from 1651 to 1662.
****Zhu Changhu, 13th son of Zhu Cizhu. He was made a commandery prince, under the title Comm. Prince of Yunxi from 1595 to 1648. He was posthumously bestowed the title of "Prince of Min" by Zhu Yihai.
*****Zhu Youzhen, he was made Prince of Yi and regent by Koxinga at Fuzhou, Jiangxi and was killed by Qing forces.

Non-inherited cadet peerages

Heirless peerage

Comm. Prince of Yushan, held by Zhu Houjuan, fourth son of Zhu Youbin, from 1518 to 1552. Full posthumous name: Comm. Prince Gong'an of Yushan
Comm. Prince of Liqiu, held by Zhu Changqin, third son of Zhu Yiyin in 1581. Full posthumous name: Comm. Prince Zhuangyi of Liqiu
Comm. Prince of Xunxi, held by Zhu Changhu, 13th son of Zhu Yiyin and father of Zhu Youzhen, from 1595 - 1648. He was posthumously bestowed under the posthumous title of "Prince of Min"
Comm. Prince of Fengxin, held by Zhu Changlian, 19th son of Zhu Yiyin, from 1606 - 1646.
Comm. Prince of Xing'an, held by Zhu Youtong, fifth son of 5th Prince of Yi, from 1607 - 1644. He was promoted from a title of defender general.
Comm. Prince of Yanning, held by Zhu Youlian, fifth son of 9th Prince of Yi
Comm. Prince of Yongning, held by Zhu Youde, 10th son of 9th Prince of Yi
Comm. Prince of Dexing, held by Zhu Youyi, 12th son of 9th Prince of Yi
Comm. Prince of Zhongxiang, held by Zhu Cilao, second son of Zhu Youmu
Comm. Prince of Xinghua, held by Zhu Cichao, third son of Zhu Youmu
Comm. Prince of Jinxian, held by Zhu Citan, fourth son of Zhu Youmu
Comm. Prince of Wenchang, held by Zhu Cilian, fifth son of Zhu Youmu
Comm. Prince of Jiancheng, held by Zhu Cican, sixth son of Zhu Youmu, from 1645
Comm. Prince of Zhangde, held by Zhu Cisui, sixth son of Zhu Youmu

Absorbed peerages

Comm. Prince of Chongren, initially held by Zhu Houxuan
Comm. Prince of Jiashan, initially held by Zhu Youmu

Inherited cadet peerages

Comm. Prince of Jinxi

The peerage of Comm. Prince of Jinxi was created in 1517, continued to 1644. The non-inherited cadet peerage, Comm. Prince of Wenchang was a branch of this peerage.

Zhu Houhuang, third son of Zhu Youbin, 1st Prince of Yi. He granted and held the title of Comm. Prince of Jinxi from 1517 to 1550. Full posthumous name: Comm. Prince Zhuanghui of Jinxi
*Zhu Zaixi, first son of Zhu Houhuang. He succeeded and held the title of Comm. Prince of Jinxi from 1554 to 1560. Full posthumous name: Comm. Prince Rongjing of Jinxi
**Zhu Yishuo, first son of Zhu Zaixi. He succeeded and held the title of Comm. Prince of Jinxi from 1571 to 1588. Full posthumous name: Comm. Prince Gongxian of Jinxi
***1st son: Zhu Changchi, first son of Zhu Yishuo. He succeeded and held the title of Comm. Prince of Jinxi from 1591 to before 1621.
****1st son: Zhu Youlei, first son of Zhu Changchi. He was designated as chief son in 1608. He succeeded and held the title of Comm. Prince of Jinxi from 1621 to 1644.
****Name unknown, he granted and held the title of Comm. Prince of Wenchang