《明史·列传·卷一百一十七》
 祖宗朝，如果不是开国元勋，生前不为公，死后不为王。
祖宗朝，非开国元勋，生不公，死不王。
During the ancestor’s dynasty, if someone was not the founding father, he would not be bestowed the title of duke before death and could not be bestowed the title of king after death.