Chen Li (emperor)

Chen Li was born in Mianyang (沔阳 now Xiantao, Hubei) as the second son of Chen Youliang, the first emperor of the Chen Han during the Yuan-Ming transition. His brother, Chen Shan (陈善), was a crown prince who joined the Ming army.

In 1363, his father, Chen Youliang, was shot by an arrow in the Battle of Poyang Lake. His brother, Chen Shan, fled to the Ming. Later, Zhang Dingbian (张定边) and other top generals protected Chen Li and his descendants, escorting Chen to Wuchang, where Chen succeeded the throne and changed era name to Deshou (德寿).[3][4] In the winter of the same year, Zhu Yuanzhang personally visited Wuchang.[5]

Chen Youliang's father, Chen Pucai, was named Cheng En Hou (承恩侯),[lower-alpha 1] his eldest brother, Chen Youfu (陈友富), was named Guirenbo (归仁伯), and his second brother, Chen Youzhi, was named Huai Enbo (怀恩伯). He posthumously presented his fourth brother, Chen Youren (陈友仁), as King of Kangshan (康山王), and ordered the relevant officials to set up a temple to offer sacrifices, and his fifth brother, Chen Yougui (陈友贵), was in charge of sacrifices.[6]

In 1364, he surrendered to Zhu Yuanzhang of the rising Ming dynasty. Zhu then appointed him Marquis of Guide (归德侯 Guide Hou). Chen was later sent to Korea, where he became known as King Chen. In Korea, Chen settled down and had children, starting the Yangsan Jin Clan (see below).

Some of Chen Li's descendants after the Chen Han and Ming have the surname Cheng (程).

[To be translated]

太祖高皇帝討平蜀漢。僞主明玉珍之子昇。陳友諒之子理。皆流于我國。詔曰。不做官不做民。我國給茅舍臧獲。俾安接之。昇承玉珍之後稱帝。年九歲。見擒到我國。昇母曾爲皇太后者。每夜祝手向天曰。天乎天乎。使我播遷。專是蜀大臣之罪。大臣與大明相通。我兵專務拒東。而引兵從西南而入。故遂至於亡耳。太崇朝王妃冠服。自大明而來。宮中不知被荷之術。昇母入宮指敎。然後乃得知之。昇之孫有屬錄事者。庸劣莫甚。斯文正公時爲左相。謂錄事曰。子之祖父。爲大蜀皇帝。不幸而亡。假令其時不亡。至於子之身當亡矣。至今明氏苗裔。有居開城者。余嘗見明主之像。容皃端正。鬚髥如畫。爪指不翦而長。陳理無子。只有外孫。余嘗從外孫曹公。見所藏刺繡文錦。想其時豪猾之遺物也。

— 成俔之慵齋叢話

• Yangsan Jin clan (Chen's descendants in Korea)
• Ming Yuzhen
• Yeonan Myeong clan
• Seochok Myeong clan

• The Cambridge History of China Volume 7, pp. 65-89