Prince of Zhou was a princely peerage used in China during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The dynasty, founded by the Hongwu Emperor after his successful rebellion against the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty, established a distinctive system of princely enfeoffment that became one of the most important political institutions governing the imperial clan. To consolidate imperial rule, the Hongwu Emperor adopted a system modeled on that of the Han dynasty, granting his sons hereditary princely domains (fiefs) in major cities and strategic frontier strongholds throughout the empire. These fiefs were intended to extend imperial authority across the country and provide military support to the throne. By the reign of the Chongzhen Emperor (1627–1644), more than eighty princely investitures had been made, and the imperial clan had grown to over one million members.

In May 1370, the Hongwu Emperor granted the titles of princes () to nine of his sons, including his fifth son Zhu Su, who was named the Prince of Wu () with his fief at Hangzhou, a major city in the Jiangnan region. In 1374, however, the Hongwu Emperor refused to allow Zhu Su to take up residence in Hangzhou, arguing that the revenues of Jiangnan were vital to the central government and should remain under its direct control. Four years later, Zhu Su's title was changed to Prince of Zhou, and his fief was established in Kaifeng, the capital of Henan. In 1398, Zhu Su was stripped of his title by his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, as part of a policy of reducing the power of the princely feudatories. After the Jianwen Emperor was overthrown by Zhu Su's brother, Zhu Di, who ascended the throne as the Yongle Emperor in 1402, Zhu Su was restored to his title. From 1381, when Zhu Su took up residence in his fief, until the fall of the Ming dynasty in 1644, the Zhou Princedom was inherited by thirteen successive princes, including those who received the title posthumously. Over the generations, the princely house produced a large number of descendants. According to the Veritable Records of Shenzong, "among the current imperial clans throughout the empire, none outnumbers that of the Zhou Princedom". The number of clan members grew steadily from the early Ming period, exceeding 4,000 by the beginning of the Longqing era (1567–1572), and reaching 32,897 during the Wanli era (1572–1620).

The Zhou Princedom of Kaifeng and the Jin Princedom of Taiyuan were the two most populous branches of the imperial family among all the Ming princedoms. Unlike most other princely houses, however, the Zhou Princedom developed a strong tradition of cultural and literary learning. Beginning with Zhu Su, this scholarly ethos was passed down through successive generations, fostering a lasting literary culture within the princely house and producing numerous scholars and literati.

The Prince Zhou Palace was built on the foundations of the Song dynasty imperial palace, located north of the Kaifeng city center. Its scale was unmatched among the princely palaces of the Ming dynasty, making it both the most representative and one of the most distinctive examples of Ming princely architecture. Compared with other princely palaces, it is particularly well documented through surviving historical records and archaeological remains. The planning and layout of the palace were influenced by the Rites of Zhou and principles of fengshui, while also drawing upon architectural traditions and regulations inherited from the Song and Yuan imperial palaces. Nevertheless, it remained distinct from both other Ming princely palaces and the imperial palace in the capital.

List of princes

+ Prince of Zhou () Personal name Posthumous name Tenure Succession Life details Zhu Su Ding 1378–1425 Son of the Hongwu Emperor 8 October 1361 – 2 September 1425 Authored the herbal treatise Jiuhuang bencao ("Famine Relief Herbal"), a pioneering work on edible wild plants, and compiled more than 60,000 medical prescriptions. Also a skilled calligrapher. Died of natural causes. Zhu Youdun Xian 1426–1439 Son of Zhu Su 7 February 1379 – 8 July 1439 A renowned poet, writer, and playwright, particularly in the zaju genre. Died of natural causes and had no children. Zhu Youjue Jian 1439–1452 Son of Zhu Su, younger brother of Zhu Youdun ?–1452 Initially named Prince of Xiangfu (). Died of natural causes. Zhu Zihou Jing 1455–1456 Son of Zhu Youjue ?–1456 Died of natural causes and had no children Zhu Zifang Yi 1457–1485 Son of Zhu Youjue, younger brother of Zhu Zihou ?–1485 Initially named Prince of Tongxu (). Died of natural causes. Zhu Tong'ao Hui 1487–1498 Son of Zhu Zifang ?–1498 Initially named Prince of Suiyang (). Died of natural causes. Zhu Anheng Dao Son of Zhu Tong'ao ?–1489 Named heir apparent in 1487, but predeceased his father. Died of natural causes. Zhu Mushen Gong 1501–1528 Son of Anheng, grandson of Zhu Tong'ao ?–1528 Initially named Defender-General of the State (). Died of natural causes. Zhu Qinxi Kang Son of Zhu Mushen ?–1530 Named heir apparent in 1516, but predeceased his father. Died of natural causes. Zhu Chaogang Zhuang 1540–1551 Son of Qinxi, grandson of Zhu Mushen ?–1551 Died of natural causes Zhu Zaiting Jing 1552–1583 Son of Zhu Chaogang ?–1583 Died of natural causes Zhu Suqin Duan 1586–1635 Son of Zhu Zaiting ?–1635 Named heir apparent in 1572. Died of natural causes. Zhu Gongxiao Xiao Possibly 1635–1644 Son of Zhu Suqin ?–? Named heir apparent in 1589. Participated in the defense of Kaifeng against the rebel forces of Li Zicheng in 1641. According to historian Fang Chao-ying in the Dictionary of Ming Biography, 1368–1644, after the fall of the Ming, he fled south and served at the court of the Ming pretender Zhu Yihai. Other sources state that following the fall of Kaifeng in 1642, he fled to Zhangde (present-day Anyang, Henan) and died there in 1644. He was later granted the posthumous name "Xiao" by the Hongguang Emperor.

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