Dynasties of ChinaShang dynastyShang dynasty lineage
Reign 1101–1076 BCE
The son of Wen Ding, the Yin Dynasty declined during his reign; the youngest son Xin, born after he became the emperor, was his heir, who later became King Zhou.
Di Yi was the son of Wen Ding, and the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project estimated that he lived from 1101 BC to 1076 BC. "Historical Records" only says that "Di Yi stood up and Yin gradually declined." Inscriptions and bronze inscriptions show that there were large-scale expeditions against people in the southeast during the Di Yi and Di Xin periods. Di Yi's eldest son, Wei Ziqi, could not be established because of his biological mother's low status. The younger son Xin's biological mother was the queen, so he was an adopted child. There is a saying in the Book of Changes that "Di Yi returns to his sister". One theory refers to Di Yi marrying his daughter to Zhou Wenwang to win over the Zhou people.
DiplomacyDi Yi returns to her sister
In the Book of Changes, both the Tai and Guimei hexagrams have the words "Di Yi Guimei". It is said that Di Yi married his daughter or sister to Zhou Wenwang. The "Book of Songs: Ming Dynasty" said that King Wen "welcome to Wei personally" refers to this event, in order to win over the increasingly powerful Zhou people.
Militaryconquering people
In late Shang inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, there are records of King Shang's long-distance expeditions against people before and after the tenth sacrifice of a certain king. The round trip lasted several months. There is still debate in the academic circles whether these records belong to the Di Yi or Di Xin period.
PoliticsMake Xin his heir
Di Yi's eldest son Wei Ziqi's biological mother had a low status and was not allowed to inherit; the youngest son Xin was born to the queen and was designated as an adopted child. "Lu's Spring and Autumn Period" says that the three of them had the same mother. When Ziqi was born, her mother was still a concubine, and it was only after she became his wife that Xin was born.
Due to the low status of his biological mother, he was unable to succeed to the throne. After King Zhou came to the throne, he refused to listen to his repeated advice and left the Shang capital. At the beginning of Zhou Dynasty, he was granted the title of Song Dynasty and worshiped the Shang Dynasty clan.