Huang Fangdu 黃芳度

HUANG Fang-tu 黃芳度 (T. 壽巖), d. Nov. 22, 1675 age 25 (sui), eldest son of Huang Wu [q.v.], Ch'ing general, was a native of Pring-ho, Fukien. When his father died (1674) Huang Fang-tu outwardly accepted Kêng Ching-chung's [q.v.] invitation to join in the rebellion but secretly recruited 6,000 volunteers to defend Chang-chou, and at the same time reported his decision to Peking. The Emperor authorized his succession to the dukedom of Hai-ch'êng (see under Huang Wu) and charged him to join the government forces in the defense of Fukien. He attempted to resist Kêng Ching-chung and to conciliate Chêng Ching [q.v.], but when the two rebels joined forces his dual policy collapsed. He made a brilliant defense of Chang-chou, and sent his cousin Huang Fang-t'ai [q.v.] to meet a relieving force from Kwangtung. Unable to hold out until relief came, he drowned himself in the well of K'ai-yüan monastery 開元寺, November 22, 1675, at the age of twenty-five (sui). More than thirty of his relatives, including his mother, wife, and two younger brothers also committed suicide, as did several of his officers. The Emperor conferred on him the posthumous rank of prince, the name Chung-yung 忠勇, and burial with the rites of a Chün-wang or a prince of the second degree.

[4/118/24a; see bibliography for Huang Wu.]

Earl Swisher