Dynasties of China Western Zhou Western Zhou lineage

King YiJi Jian

Reign 899–892 BCE

In the year of his accession to the throne, there was a solar eclipse recorded on "Tian Zaidan". During his reign, the royal family began to decline and the Rong and Di invaded.

IBiography

Reign: 7 years
Order of accession: Ruler #7 · Western Zhou lineage
Life dates: ?–892 BCE
Titles: Posthumous title: King Yi

Ji Jian is the son of King Gong. The "Bamboo Book Annals" records that "in the first year of King Yi, the sky returned to Zheng". The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project interpreted this as a total solar eclipse that occurred at sunrise, and based on this, it was deduced that the first year of King Yi was 899 BC. "Historical Records" states that "at the time of King Yi, the royal family declined and the poets made assassinations." The Rong and Di from the north continued to invade. The "Hanshu" said that he once made Quanqiu his capital. After his death, the throne was not passed to Crown Prince Xie, but was succeeded by his uncle Bi Fang, who was King Xiao.

IITimeline

During the reign · 899–892 BCE

899 BCE
Science & technologyThe next day
In the first year of King Yi, the sky turned dark when it first dawned, and then brightened again. The "Bamboo Book Annals" recorded it as "It dawned again in Zheng". According to astronomical calculations by the dating project, it was believed that this was a total solar eclipse that occurred at sunrise. Based on this, the first year of King Yi was determined to be 899 BC.
899–892 BCE
SocietyThe royal family declined
"Historical Records" states that "at the time of King Yi, the royal family declined and poets made assassinations." "Book of Han: Biography of the Xiongnu" says that at this time the Rong and the Di invaded, and the poet wrote "The reason for the extravagance of the house and the family is due to the harem", which is the "Book of Songs, Xiaoya, Picking Wei" (one theory is that it was written earlier).
Lasting legacyIn "Plucking Wei", "I went there in the past, and the willows lingered; now I come to think about it, and the rain and snow are falling." It is still recited to this day.
899–892 BCE
PoliticsAll in Inuqiu
According to "Hanshu Geography", Huaili County of Youfeng "Zhou said that Quanqiu was the capital of King Yi". King Yi once left Haojing and made Quanqiu his capital. The reason is unknown in history. Quanqiu is Huaili of Qin and Han, located southeast of Xingping, Shaanxi today.