Dynasties of ChinaXia dynastyXia dynasty lineage
Reign —
The son of Yu, his stepfather became the king and created the "family world" situation. He also pacified the Youhu clan with the Battle of Gan and consolidated the hereditary kingship.
Qi is the son of Yu and Tu Shanshi. In his later years, Yu left political affairs to Bo Yi. According to "Historical Records", after Yu died three years after his death, Bo Yi gave way to Qi and took refuge in the south of Jishan. The princes all left Yi to pay homage to Qi, saying "I am the son of Emperor Yu", and Qi then became the emperor; "Bamboo Chronicles" says "Yi Qian ascended the throne and Qi killed him". No matter which version is said, the throne was passed from father to son, and the abdication system gave way to the hereditary system.
After Qi ascended the throne, he held a banquet for the princes in Juntai to declare his status as co-lord. The Youhu family refused to accept it, so Qiqin led a large army to attack them. They fought in Gan, and the Youhu family was destroyed, and "the Xian Dynasty in the world" began. According to the "Bamboo Book Annals", his youngest son Wu Guan once rebelled in Xihe and was put down by Peng Boshou. After Qi's death, the throne was passed to his son Taikang.
Qi inherited the throne of Yu and completed the transformation from abdication to hereditary rule. Later generations regarded him as the founder of "family world". Confucian literature emphasizes the return of princes and Bo Yi's initiative to give up his throne, while "Bamboo Chronicles" and "Han Fei Zi" record the power struggle. The two narratives reflect people's different understandings of the abdication system during the Warring States period. Qi used alliances and force to establish the co-ownership of the Xiahou clan, but his deeds also lacked evidence from contemporary texts.
PeopleTu Shanshi Shengqi
According to "Shang Shu·Yi Ji", Yu married Tu Shanshi's daughter and left home to control floods on the fourth day after the marriage. After Qi was born, she "croaked and cried."
PoliticsBo Yi gives way
According to "Historical Records", three years after Yu's death, Bo Yi gave up the throne to Qi and took refuge in the south of Jishan Mountain. The princes all left Yi and went to see Qi, saying, "My emperor is the son of Emperor Yu." Qi then became the emperor.
PoliticsTalk about killing to gain the throne
"Bamboo Chronicles" records "Yiqian ascended the throne, Qi killed him", "Han Fei Zi" also said that Yu was nominally located in Yi, but in fact he allowed Qi's party members to gain real power and eventually attacked Yi to seize the throne. This is completely different from the Confucian theory of "yi rang qi".
PoliticsThe enjoyment of Juntai
"Zuo Zhuan" records that "Xia Qi has the enjoyment of Juntai". After Qi ascended the throne, he held a banquet for the princes at Juntai, establishing his status as the co-lord of the world. It is also known as Jing Bo's order of Shang Tang and Meng Jin's oath of Zhou Wuwang.
Lasting legacyAccording to legend, Juntai was located in Yuzhou, Henan Province today. In the Jin Dynasty, this place was renamed Junzhou, and in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, it was renamed Yuzhou to avoid taboos. The famous kiln Jun Kiln in the Song Dynasty was named after Junzhou.
MilitaryBattle of Gan
The Youhu family refused to accept Qi's succession, so Qi personally led a large army to attack him. Before the war, he summoned six ministers to swear an oath, declaring that the Youhu family "intimidated the five elements and neglected the three righteousnesses." The Youhu clan was defeated and destroyed.
Lasting legacyThis oath is the "Shang Shu·Gan Oath", which is included in the modern "Shang Shu" and has been passed down to this day. It is an important document for the study of early military oaths.
Culture"Nine Debates" and "Nine Songs"
According to legend, Qi Zeng visited heaven three times and was brought back to earth by Tianle's "Nine Bian" and "Nine Songs", which are recorded in "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" and "Chu Ci·Li Sao". Qu Yuan later borrowed the name of the ancient music "Nine Songs" to compose a song dedicated to gods.
PoliticsWu Guan Rebellion
According to the Chronicles of the Bamboo Book, Qi exiled his youngest son Wu Guan to Xihe. Wu Guan later rebelled in Xihe. Qi ordered Peng Boshou to lead an army to conquer, and Wu Guan surrendered. This reflects the internal disputes within the royal family when the hereditary system was established.
Also known as Da Fei, he once assisted Yu in controlling floods. In his later years, Yu handed over political affairs to him. After Yu's death, the princes allied themselves to Qi, and Yi gave up the throne. The "Bamboo Book Annals" states that he was killed by Qi because of his attempt on the throne.
Also known as the Five Views. According to the "Bamboo Book Annals", he was exiled to Xihe by Qi. He later rebelled in Xihe and surrendered after being put down by Peng Boshou's army.
The princes of Xia. According to the "Bamboo Book Annals", Qi's youngest son Wu Guan rebelled in Xihe. Qi ordered Peng Boshou to lead an army to conquer, forcing Wu Guan to surrender.