Friday, September 19, 2008

Princess Changping

Princess Chángpíng , birth name Zhū Huīchuò , was the second daughter of China's Chongzhen Emperor and the only one who survived to adulthood.

Changping was the last princess of Ming Dynasty. Her father, Emperor Chongzhen, chose Zhou Xian to be her husband. But soon after the throne was taken in a rebellion, Chongzhen ordered his family to commit suicide. She resisted, resulting in the Emperor severing her left arm. In 1645, Changping asked the Shunzhi Emperor of Qing Dynasty for permission to be a nun. The emperor refused and married her with Zhou Xian. She died one year after the marriage.

Popular culture


Changping has had a greater impact on folklore and popular culture than history, such stories revolving around the concept that she somehow survived her early death.

* Changping is the main character in story ''Princess Chang Ping'' .
* Changping is a significant character in Jinyong's wuxia novels:
** A Jiu in ''Sword Stained with Royal Blood''
** Jiunan in ''The Deer and the Cauldron'' , shifu of A Ke and A Qi, and Wei Xiaobao.

Notable actresses who have played Changping


* in 武俠帝女花
* in Sword Stained with Royal Blood and , known in Chinese as
* Bak Sheut Sin Princess Chang Ping
* 梅雪詩
* 張敏
* 趙雅芝
* 李通明 in Sword Stained with Royal Blood
* 陳嘉儀 in The Deer and the Cauldron
* 李芷鱗 in The Deer and the Cauldron
* 毛舜筠 in Sword Stained with Royal Blood
* 馬海倫 in Royal Tramp II
* Lily Li in The Deer and the Cauldron
* 李菲 in Duke of Mount Deer 2000
* He Jiayi in The Deer and the Cauldron
* Sun Feifei in Sword Stained with Royal Blood

Further reading


* History of Ming, volume 121

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