Dynasties of ChinaWestern ZhouWestern Zhou lineage
Reign 1046–1043 BCE
Inheriting King Wen's foundation and allying with Mengjin, Muye destroyed the Shang Dynasty in one battle and created the Zhou Dynasty that lasted for about 800 years.
Ji Fa is the second son of Zhou Wenwang, Ji Chang and Tai Si. His eldest brother Boyikao died early (some say he was killed by King Zhou), and he inherited his father's throne. In his later years, King Wen conquered Chong and built Fengyi, and the Zhou clan had the tendency of "two out of three parts of the world". After the death of King Wen, Ji Fa respected Tai Gongwang as his teacher, assisted by his younger brother Duke of Zhou (Ji Dan), and was surrounded by Zhao Gongshi, Bi Gonggao and others. He continued to accumulate strength and waited for the opportunity to destroy Shang.
According to "Historical Records", he once marched eastward to observe the troops in Mengjin. Eight hundred people from the princes met unexpectedly, but he thought that destiny had not yet arrived and returned to the army. Two years later, King Zhou killed Bi Gan and imprisoned Ji Zi. The people of Shang Dynasty were separated. King Wu then united with Yong, Shu, Qiang and other Fang Kingdoms to march eastward. On Jiazi Day in 1046 BC, they defeated the merchant army in Muye. King Zhou set himself on fire, and Shang Dynasty, which had been a country for more than 500 years, perished.
After the destruction of the Shang Dynasty, King Wu granted the title of Wu Geng, the son of King Zhou, to continue the sacrifices of the Yin Dynasty. He ordered Uncle Guan, Uncle Cai, etc. to monitor him nearby. He also enfeoffed the heroes of the clan and planned to build the Eastern Capital in Yiluo area to control the east. However, before Yin Yi surrendered and the world was initially settled, he became ill due to overwork and died shortly after conquering Shang. The young Crown Prince Ji Song succeeded to the throne as King Cheng.
King Wu inherited his father's legacy and overthrew the "Dayi Shang" in one fell swoop with the "small state of Zhou". He also enfeoffed the heroes of the clan and Huairou Yin Shang survivors, laying the 800-year foundation of the Zhou Dynasty. Together with King Wen, he was called "Civil and Military" and was regarded by Confucianism as a model of a holy king. However, his reign was short-lived, and the hidden dangers of Yin Yi and the three supervisors were not eliminated. A rebellion broke out immediately after his death. The real consolidation of order in the early Zhou Dynasty would not be completed until Duke Zhou's Eastern Expedition and the rule of King Cheng.
PeopleSuccession to the throne as leader of the Zhou clan
After King Wen passed away, Ji Fa succeeded to the throne of Xibo. He respected Taigong Wang as his teacher, assisted Duke of Zhou (Ji Dan), and was surrounded by Zhao Gong, Bi Gong and others. He "cultivated King Wenxu industry" and continued to contact the princes and isolate King Shang Dynasty.
MilitaryMeng Jin observes troops
According to "Historical Records", King Wu carried King Wen's wooden master eastward to meet the princes at Mengjin Ferry. "Eight hundred princes unexpectedly met to join Jin." The princes all said that they could attack Zhou, but King Wu thought that the time had not come yet and ordered the army to return.
Lasting legacyThe name Mengjin is still used today, and today it is Mengjin District, Luoyang City, Henan Province.
PeopleBoyi Shuqi kowtows his horse
During King Wu's eastward expedition, Boyi and Shuqi, sons of Lord Guzhu, stopped the horse's head to dissuade him. They believed that it was unbenevolent and filial to not bury his father after his death, and to use his ministers to attack the king. The left and right wanted to kill them, but the Grand Duke called them righteous and ordered people to help them away.
PoliticsMakino swears
The army arrived at Muye, a suburb of Shang Dynasty, and King Wu swore an oath. He listed the crimes of King Zhou of listening to women's advice, abandoning sacrifices, and appointing escaped sinners from all directions, and declared the discipline of war. The oath is now preserved in "Shang Shu Mu Oath", and those participating in the war include Yong, Shu, Qiang, Yao, Wei, Lu, Peng, Pu and other countries.
MilitaryBattle of Makino
In the early morning of Jiazi Day, the two armies fought for a decisive battle. Taigong Wang led a hundred warriors to challenge first. King Wu attacked with the main force, and the Shang army's vanguard switched sides. King Zhou fled back to Chaoge, climbed to Lutai and burned himself to death. Shang Dynasty was destroyed.
CultureLi Gui Ji Jiazi
On Xinwei day, the seventh day after the war, King Wu rewarded him with Si Li copper material and made a Gui to commemorate it. The first sentence of the inscription is "King Wu went to business, only Jiazi Dynasty", which is consistent with the Jiazi day recorded in the literature. It is the earliest bronze ware in Western Zhou with an exact date range.
Lasting legacyLi Gui was unearthed in Lintong, Shaanxi Province in 1976 and is now in the National Museum of China. It is among the first batch of cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad.
PoliticsAppease the Yin people
King Wu granted Wu Geng, the son of King Zhou, to continue the Yin sacrifice, and sent his younger brothers Guan Shu and Cai Shu (some say there was also Huo Shu) to monitor nearby, and they were named "Three Supervisors". He also released Ji Zi, repaired Bi Gan's tomb, scattered the wealth from Lutai, and distributed grain from Juqiao to help the people.
Politicsenfeoffment clan hero
He was granted the title of Taigong Wang in Yingqiu as Qi, Duke of Zhou (Ji Dan) in Qufu as Lu, Zhao Gongshi in Yan, his younger brother Xian in Guan, and his uncle Du in Cai; Duke of Zhou and Duke Zhao stayed in the court to assist the government. The descendants of Shennong, Huangdi, Yao, Shun and Yu were also named to show the continuity of their ancestors.
Lasting legacyThe country names of Qi, Lu and Yan are still used as local names today: Shandong is abbreviated as "Lu" and is known as "the land of Qi and Lu", and Beijing was formerly known as "Yanjing".
CultureInterview with Ji Zi and Hong Fan
King Wu came to ask Ji Zi for advice on how to govern the country. Ji Zi stated the "Nine Categories of Hong Fan", including the five elements, five things, and eight political categories. This can be found in "Shang Shu·Hong Fan". According to "Historical Records", King Wu granted the title of emperor to North Korea and did not treat him as a vassal.
DiplomacySu Shen Gong Zhu Ya
According to "Guoyu·Luyu", after King Wu conquered the Shang Dynasty, he "passed through the nine barbarians and hundreds of barbarians" and ordered all ethnic groups to donate square objects. The Sushen family in the northeast presented wood arrow shafts and stone arrowheads. During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius used this to identify the arrows that fell in the court of Chen State.
PoliticsPlanning the Eastern Capital
King Wu believed that Yishui and Luoshui areas were among the best in the world, and planned to build a capital here to control the east. An inscription written by He Zun during the reign of King Cheng recounts that he offered sacrifices to heaven: "The rest of his family came to China, and he came from the Yi people."
PoliticsZhou Gong made gold sticks
According to "Shang Shu·Jin Rui", King Wu was seriously ill in the second year of Keshang Dynasty. Duke Zhou prayed to Tai Wang, Wang Ji and King Wen, willing to die on King Wu's behalf, and sealed the prayer in the Jin Rui Chamber. Soon King Wu's condition improved.
PoliticsKing Wu passed away
King Wu was worried that the Yin people were not convinced and the East was unstable. According to records, he stayed up all night and died of illness soon after. Crown Prince ascended the throne at a young age and served as regent for King Cheng and Duke of Zhou (Ji Dan). Uncle Guan and others became dissatisfied and led to the Three Prisons Rebellion.
Jiang's surname was Lu, his given name was Shang, and his name was Taigongwang. King Wu respected him as "Master Shangfu". In the battle of Makino, he led hundreds of soldiers to attack the army. After being granted the title of Qi State in Yingqiu, "due to its customs and simplifying its etiquette", Qi became a great oriental country through trade, industry, fish and salt.
King Wu has the same mother and brother. When he conquered Shang Dynasty, he held a big ax to protect King Wu. He was granted the title of Lu and stayed in the court to assist the government. When King Wu was seriously ill, he wrote a prayer book and wished to take his place. After King Wu died, he became regent and assisted the young King Cheng.
An important minister of the same clan as the Zhou Dynasty assisted King Wu in destroying the Shang Dynasty. He was granted the title of Yan by his eldest son. He stayed in the court and assisted the Duke of Zhou.
Zhou Zhi has the same surname (some say he is the son of King Wen). When he conquered Shang Dynasty, he held a small ax and held it with Zhou Gong to protect King Wu, and was granted the title of Yu Bi. King Cheng was ordered by Gu when he was dying, and King Kang was ordered to govern the eastern suburbs of Zhou Dynasty.
King Zhou's uncle (someone said he was a concubine) was imprisoned for admonishing him, and he pretended to be a slave. After King Wu conquered Shang, he released him and visited him for advice. Ji Zi stated the great law of governing the country "Hongfan Jiuchu".
The third son of King Wen and the younger brother of King Wu. After conquering Shang, he was granted the title of Guan, and he and Uncle Cai jointly monitored Wu Geng. After King Wu's death, he was dissatisfied with Zhou Gong's regency, spread rumors, and united with Wu Geng to rebel, but was defeated and killed.
Ming Lufu, the son of King Zhou of Shang Dynasty. After the Zhou Dynasty destroyed the Shang Dynasty, he was granted the title of worshiper of the Yin Dynasty and was placed under the supervision of the three supervisors. After King Wu's death, he united with Uncle Guan, Uncle Cai and other eastern countries to rebel against Zhou, and was ordered to be executed by Zhou Ping.