Dynasties of China Explore by year Search
Dynasties

Dynasties of ChinaShang dynastyShang dynasty lineage

Prince of ShangTai Jia

Reign —

Tang's eldest grandson did not follow Tang's laws after he came to the throne, and was exiled to Tong Palace by Yi Yin. After three years of repentance, he was restored to the throne and became a promising king.

IBiography

Reign
—
Order of accession
Ruler #4 · Shang dynasty lineage
Life dates
Unknown birth and death
Titles
Temple name Taizong·Oracle bone inscription as Dajia

Tai Jia is the son of Tai Ding and the eldest grandson of Tang. After Zhong Ren's death, Yi Yin supported him as king and taught him through "Yi Xun", "Si Ming" and "Xu Hou". According to "Historical Records", three years after Tai Jia ascended the throne, he was "unclear, violent, disobedient to Tang law, and disorderly in morality", so Yi Yin exiled him to Tong Palace, where he served as regent and accepted court visits from princes.

Tai Jia lived in Tonggong for three years, repented and blamed himself, and Yi Yin welcomed him back to the throne. After that, he practiced virtue and abided by the law, the princes surrendered, and the people were peaceful. Yi Yin wrote three articles of "Tai Jia Xun" to praise him, and the merchants respected him as Taizong. According to the Chronicles of the Bamboo Book, Yi Yin exiled Tai Jia and proclaimed himself king. Seven years later, Tai Jia sneaked out of Tong Palace and killed Yi Yin. However, Yi Yin's sons Yi Zhi and Yi Fen were still allowed to return their fields and houses. The contrast between the two records is so great that it is still difficult to draw a conclusion.

The story of Tai Jia was shaped by Confucianism as a model of "knowing one's faults and being able to correct them." Yi Yin's release of the emperor became a precedent often cited by later generations of powerful ministers when they abolished and established monarchs. When Western Han or Guang deposed the Prince of Changyi, they used "Yi Yin to release Tai Jia" as the basis, and "Yi Huo" was also called Yihuo. The records in "Bamboo Chronicles" suggest that there may be a fierce power struggle behind this exile. In the oracles, both Tai Jia and Yi Yin were solemnly worshiped by their descendants, and both of them had a high status in the eyes of merchants.

IITimeline

During the reign

  1. PoliticsYi Yinli Tai Jia

    After the death of Zhong Ren, Yi Yin made Tai Jia, the son of Tai Ding, king, and wrote "Yi Xun", "Si Ming" and "The Empress" to tell the new king about Tang's virtues and ways of being a king.

  2. PoliticsPlace it in Tong Palace

    Three years after Tai Jia took the throne, he was tyrannical and unruly, and did not follow Tang's laws. Yi Yin exiled him to Tonggong to think about his mistakes. It was said that Tonggong was Tang's burial place. Yi Yin himself took charge of administrative affairs and presided over the court meetings of princes.

  3. Politicsrepentance reset

    Tai Jia lived in Tonggong for three years, repented and blamed himself, and changed his evil ways to do good. Yi Yin then welcomed him back to Bo and returned the power to him. After that, the Tai family cultivated virtues, the princes surrendered, and the people lived in peace.

  4. PoliticsMyths about "The Bamboo Book"

    According to the Chronicles of the Bamboo Book, Yi Yin exiled Tai Jia and proclaimed himself king. Seven years later, Tai Jia sneaked out of Tong Palace and killed Yi Yin, but established his sons Yi Zhi and Yi Fen. They also returned Yi Yin's land and house and divided them equally between them.

  5. Culture"Tai Jia" three articles

    Yi Yin wrote three articles in "Tai Jia Xun" to praise Tai Jia. "Mencius" quotes "Tai Jia" and says, "If Heaven does evil, you can still violate it; if you do evil yourself, you will not live." It emphasizes that man-made disasters are more difficult to escape than natural disasters.

    Lasting legacyThe saying "You will not live if you do evil" comes from "Tai Jia" cited in "Mencius" and is still commonly used today.

  6. CultureDajia in oracles

    In the oracle bone inscriptions, Tai Jia is called "Da Jia", and together with Da Yi (Tang) and Ding, he is listed as the direct ancestor king and was solemnly worshiped. Yi Yin was also repeatedly sacrificed in the oracles, and some scholars questioned the theory that Yi Yin was killed.

  7. PoliticsPass Wo Ding

    After Tai Jia's death, the merchants honored him as Taizong, and his son Wo Ding came to the throne. The throne was passed between brothers Wo Ding and Tai Geng.

IIIPeople of this reign

Yi Yin

Politics

Exiling Tai Jia's assistant ministerShang Chu

Lishi Tang, Wai Bing, Zhong Ren, Tai Jia. Tai Jia lost his virtue, so he banished him to Tong Palace and served as regent for three years. Tai Jia repented and returned power to him. Later generations regarded "Yi Yin Fang Tai Jia" as a model for powerful ministers to correct the monarch.

Yi Zhi

Politics

Yi Yin's sonEarly business period

It is generally believed that he is the son of Yi Yin. According to the "Bamboo Book Annals", after Tai Jia killed Yi Yin, he still established Yi Zhi and Yi Fen and returned his land and house. At the time of Tai Wu, Yi Zhi served as his prime minister and persuaded the king to practice virtue with the saying "Demons cannot defeat virtue".