Duan Zhengchun

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Duan.

Duan Zhengchun
Family name:	Duan (段)
Given name:	Zhengchun (正淳)
Dates of reign:	1096–1108
Dynasty:	Dali
Temple name:	Zhongzong (中宗)
Posthumous name (short):	Wen'an Emperor (文安帝)

Duan Zhengchun
Chinese	段正淳
Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Duàn Zhèngchún

Duan Zhengchun (temple name Zhongzong, posthumous name Wen'an) was the 15th^[1] emperor of the Kingdom of Dali. He reigned from 1096 to 1108. He was the younger brother of Duan Zhengming, and the first ruler of the Later Dali Kingdom.

In 1094, Duan Zhengming was forced by Gao Shengtai to abdicate and become a monk. Gao then crowned himself emperor. However, after two years of reign, Gao Shengtai died in 1096 and made a will to return the throne to the Duan family. Duan Zhengchun ascended to the throne in 1096.

Duan Zhengchun abdicated and became a monk in 1108. He was succeeded by his son Duan Yu.

In fiction

Duan Zhengchun
Created by	Jin Yong
Novel appearances	Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
Information
Nickname(s)	Prince Duan (段王爺)
Alias(es)	Zhennan Prince (鎮南王)
Gender	Male
Family	Duan Zhengming (older brother)
Spouse(s)	Dao Baifeng, Illegitimate lovers: Qin Hongmian, Ruan Xingzhu, Li Qingluo, Gan Baobao, Kang Min
Children	Duan Yu (foster son) Daughters: Mu Wanqing, A'zhu, A'zi, Wang Yuyan, Zhong Ling
Affliations
Sects and organizations	Kingdom of Dali, Heaven Dragon Monastery
Skills and abilities
Unarmed combat skills	Yiyang Finger

Duan Zhengchun is featured as a character in Jin Yong's wuxia novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. In the story, he is the younger brother of Duan Zhengming (ruler of Dali) and holds the title of "Zhennan Prince". He is next in line to succession to the throne as his older brother is going to retire soon and become a monk at Heavenly Dragon Monastery, as part of the royal family's tradition.

In his younger days, Duan Zhengchun is notorious for his womanizing behavior and has fathered five daughters with four of his five illegitimate lovers. His legal spouse, the Princess-consort Dao Baifeng, bears him a son, Duan Yu. However, ironically, Duan Yu turns out not to be Duan Zhengchun's biological son. In fact, Dao was furious with Duan Zhengchun's promiscuous extramarital love life, and she deliberately had a "one night stand" with a beggar and gave birth to Duan Yu later. The beggar is actually the exiled former crown prince, Duan Yanqing, who would become Duan Zhengchun's nemesis in future.

Family tree

Royal Duan Family

Dali Prince

Duan Lianyi

Dali Prince

Duan Shouhui

Duan Yanqing

Dao Baifeng

Duan Zhengchun

Love Interests

Duan Zhengming

Xiao Yuanshan

Duan Yu

Wang Yuyan Mu Wanqing Zhong Ling

A'Zi

A'Zhu

Xiao Feng

Duan Zhengxing

Duan Zhixing

References

1. ^ If Gao Shengtai's reign is taken into consideration, Duan Zhengchun would have been the 16th emperor. See [1].

• 段正淳：分段忠实的爱情 (Chinese) - extract about Duan Zhengchun from Rankings of Characters in Jin Yong's Works (金庸人物排行榜) by Tan Xianmao (覃贤茂)