The Beggar Prince: A Journey from Imperial Chains to Buddha's Light

This article records an interview with the spirit of Zhu Changrong, a descendant of the Ming Dynasty royal family. He sought deliverance during Practitioner Su’s nationwide Chao Du mission in China. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on February 27, 2026.

Zhu Changrong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Zhu Changrong. I lived at the very bottom of the Ming Dynasty royal hierarchy. Though I carried the blood of the imperial family in my veins, it was a shackle that bound me for my entire life. It was the twilight of the Ming Dynasty. The Prince of Fu, well-known to history, was a distant relative of mine. Due to the imperial system established by the founding Emperor Taizu, Zhu Yuanzhang, which mandated a hereditary descent in rank, by my generation, my status had been reduced to the absolute lowest level. More critically, the imperial court could not even afford to pay the military, let alone provide for us royal descendants who were supposed to be supported by the state.

The Life of a 'Royal Beggar'

Because Emperor Taizu decreed that royal descendants were forbidden from holding office, farming, working, or engaging in trade, I had no means of support. I was left with only two paths: to secretly trade for money or to beg. Though I was not well-read and had seen little of the world, I understood the importance of being law-abiding. As a low-ranking royal, I contributed nothing to the country; I was merely a burden. Bound by my ancestors' rules, I had no choice but to accept this fate. However, the one thing I could do was remain upright. I refused to break the law to earn money, so I ultimately chose to become a beggar. My royal identity was no secret to others, so people often mocked men like me as 'royal beggars.'

I never married in my entire life. The imperial system stipulated that royal personnel required the Emperor's and the court's permission to marry, along with state-funded wedding expenses. Since the court could not even pay my meager stipend, let alone wedding costs, most of us low-ranking Ming royals remained unmarried.

Finding Solace in the Dharma

The inconveniences brought by my royal status caused deep damage to my character. We lived like pigs kept in a pen—unable to work, receiving no money, and constantly mocked and looked down upon. The blow to my self-esteem was immense; I often despised myself.

In the city of Lin'an, there were temples where one could pay respects to the Buddha. I often went there to offer incense. The masters in the temple would teach the Dharma, and I would listen from time to time. Slowly, I discovered that life could have a different meaning. It was not always about gaining; one had to learn to lose, to learn the beauty of letting go.

I began to actively serve the temple. At first, I was afraid they would look at me differently because of my royal background, but when I found that the masters and lay practitioners treated me with equality, my heart was truly stirred. It was the first time in my life I felt this way. I developed a strong curiosity about the Buddha and began to actively learn what it meant to be a 'Buddha.'

A Value Found in Service

I scrubbed floors, cooked for the masters, carried water—I did every kind of chore. For the first time, I felt that my life had value. The masters in the temple were so compassionate; they even provided me with vegetarian meals, which moved me deeply. Because of this, my life finally had a foundation.

After listening to the sutras for a long time, I gradually began to understand the Dharma. I was deeply shaken by the laws of karma and cause and effect. Thinking of the limitations of my status in this life, I realised it must have been the result of causes created in the past. Thus, I slowly learned to face my circumstances with an open and calm heart.

At that time, many other low-ranking royals were living by begging, just like me. I shared my experiences with them, hoping they too could come to serve at the temple and understand the laws of karma. Since the temple was large and needed many hands, I consulted the abbot. With his compassionate permission, I called upon many of my royal kin to come and serve the public together.

A Sacrifice for the Sacred

Everyone was pleasantly surprised and deeply grateful. Many of them had not been able to afford a single meal a day, but after serving at the temple, they could eat their fill. I shared the concept of cause and effect with many of my relatives, hoping they would accept their fate and learn to repent. After hearing the teachings of the Buddha, many wept bitterly in repentance before the Buddha and began coming to the temple every day to help. There were about twenty of us low-ranking royals who came to help. Since this was our only opportunity to contribute, we all gave our utmost effort.

Unfortunately, good times do not last forever. Later, the peasant uprising armies led by Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong invaded the city. At that time, the uprising army hated the Ming royal family to the bone. Anyone with the surname 'Zhu' was to be slaughtered without exception.

We gathered before the Buddha, begging the compassionate Buddha to help us, a group of suffering and helpless people. I do not know how the uprising army discovered that we were hiding in the temple, but they disregarded the sanctity of the Buddha's gate and stormed in, intending to massacre us. We were all filled with repentance, kowtowing to them continuously. I did not want them to defile the pure land of the Buddha, so I made a request: I asked them not to disturb the place of quiet retreat and offered to go with them willingly, offering my neck to the sword. Perhaps it was the Buddha's blessings; after listening, the soldiers were silent for a long time and actually agreed to take my life alone in exchange for the survival of the others and the purity of the temple. I was very joyful. I walked out of the temple with them with a clear conscience and died under their blades. I was very satisfied with this ending, as I considered it a repentance for my past sins.

Reunion with the True Buddha

After death, my spirit remained in the space of the temple, serving the public. Four hundred years passed. When Practitioner Su conducted the nationwide Chao Du in China, he opened the space where I was trapped. Only then was I finally able to leave that space and follow the golden light.

Now, I am at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, on the Western Dharma-Nature Land. I am happily chanting 'Namo Amituofo,' enjoying the illumination of the Buddha-light, and my heart is filled with Dharma joy. I never imagined that after serving in a temple for so long without ever seeing the Buddha, I would be able to meet the true Buddha after death. I can see Namo Amituofo, so grand and majestic, radiating great light upon the temple grounds. I could not help but shout aloud: 'Buddha! Changrong is here! Thank you for saving me!' I saw Namo Amituofo smile at me gently, as if saying: 'Child, you have returned!'

On the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I see that there are still so many spaces throughout China, and in those spaces, countless spirits have been saved because of Practitioner Su. The scene is truly magnificent. I am deeply moved. I hope that in the future, I too can be like Practitioner Su, saving immeasurable and boundless beings. Now, I chant 'Namo Amituofo' every day and listen to the sutras and the Dharma, hoping to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and then return to the world to save beings.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Zhu Changrong