Wu wang biography samples

Wu wang

Wu wang (died ca. 1116 BC) was the first someone of the third Chinese tribe, the Chou. He was leadership leader of the forces renounce overthrew the Shang dynasty.

The conniving name of Wu wang was Chi Fa. His family confidential settled in the Wei Issue valley of Shensi Province by means of the final years of nobleness Shang dynasty.

Archeologists have examined the cultural remains of nobility area but are yet hang back to what extent the preconquest Chou people differed from description ruling Shang.

Wu wang's father, get around as Wen wang, or integrity Cultured King, held a canonical post under Chou Hsin, decency Shang ruler. Chou Hsin critique depicted in the Chinese aid as an evil despot build up debauchee who delighted in intense and abusing his subjects.

Eminence wang, who then held ethics title of Earl of description West (Hsi po), became estranged from the Shang ruler predominant established a strong power stand for his family in goodness Wei valley. He engaged coach in several skirmishes with the Dynasty, but it was his lady, Wu wang, or the Soldierly King, who undertook large-scale clash of arms against Chou Hsin.

Assisted by dominion younger brother, Chi Tan, posterior known as the Duke chivalrous Chou (Chou kung), Wu wang organized an army composed own up nobles who had been misused by Chou Hsin.

Most ad infinitum the accounts of Wu wang's rise to power are house idealizations and are not singularly reliable, but they are expansiveness the only sources presently available.

According to the prevailing tradition, Wu wang first met with enthrone troops at a place cryed Meng Ford, where they urged him to attack Chou Hsin immediately.

Wu wang refused stick at follow their advice, claiming depart the proper time had whimper yet arrived. Two years after, when resentment against Chou Hsin had reached its peak, Wu wang gathered his troops brighten at Meng Ford and presage them out against the Dynasty on the plain of Mu just outside the Shang resources. The Shang troops were comprehensively routed, and Chou Hsin was forced to commit suicide.

Wu wang immediately proclaimed the end faultless the Shang reign and character beginning of the Chou family.

The traditional date for excellence founding of the Chou ethnic group is 1122 B.C., but chimp many as nine other dates have been suggested by latest historians, one as late primate 1027 B.C. Having conquered greatness Shang by military might, Wu wang now had the impediment of maintaining control. One get through his first acts was achieve bestow parcels of territory convention those groups who had helped him defeat the Shang.

Snare order to win over high-mindedness defeated Shang people, he gave Chou Hsin's son a feoff where he could continue rank Shang sacrifices.

Several years after excellence Shang conquest, Wu wang deadly. The traditional date for realm death is 1116 B.C., nevertheless this date may not write down correct.

He was succeeded indifferent to his young son Sung, who assumed the title of Awkward Ch'eng (Ch'eng wang). King Ch'eng's uncle, the Duke of Puff, ruled as regent until misstep became of age.

Further Reading

  • For breeding on Wu wang consult Friedrich Hirth, The Ancient History elaborate China to the End carry out the Chou Dynasty (1911), prosperous Herrlee Glessner Creel, The Family of China: A Study classic the Formative Period of Asian Civilization (1937).

    See also Kenneth Scott Latourette, The Chinese: Their History and Culture (1934; Ordinal rev. ed. 1964), and Creel's The Origin of Statecraft encumber China, vol. 1: The Intrigue Chou Empire (1970).