Zhou Wen Wang

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12/7/2014 King Zhou of Shang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Zhou_of_Shang

King Zhou

Left: Wen Zhong and Bi Gan right: Zhou and Daj

King of Shang dynasty

Reign 10751046 BC (29 years)

Predecessor Di Yi

Spouse Consort Daji

Issue Wu Geng

Full name

Family name: Zi ()

Given name: Shou () or Shoude ()

Posthumous name

Di Xin ()

Father Di Yi

Born 1105 BC

Died 1046 BC (aged 59)

King Zhou of ShangFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

King Zhou (Chinese: pinyin:Zhu Wng) was the

pejorative posthumous name given to Di Xin(Chinese:

pinyin:D Xn), the last king of the Shang dynasty

of ancient China.[1]He is also called Zhou Xin(

Zhu Xn). He may also be referred to by adding "Shang"

(Shng) in front of any of his names. In Chinese,

also refers to a horse crupper,[2]the part of a saddle or

harness that is most likely to be soiled by the horse.

Contents

1 Early reign

2 Late reign

3 Fall

4 Mentions in literature and legend

5 As God of Sodomy

6 Notes

7 References

Early reign

In theRecords of the GrandHistorian, Sima Qian wrote

that Di Xin, in the early part of his reign, had abilities

which surpassed those of the ordinary man, and was

quick-witted and quick-tempered. According to legend,

he was intelligent enough towin all of hisarguments,

and he was strong enough to hunt wild beasts with his bare hands.[3]He was the younger brother of Wei Z

and Wei Zhong[4]and father of Wu Geng. His father Di Yi had two brothers, Ji Zi and Bi Gan. Di Xin

added to the territory of Shang by battling the tribes surrounding it, including the Dongyi to the east.

Late reign

In his later years, Di Xin gave himself over to drinking, women, sex and abandoned morals, preferring the

to the proper governance of the country, and ignored almost all affairs of state. According to Sima Qian, he

even hosted festive orgies where many people engaged in sex at the same time with his concubines and

created songs with crude (erotic) lyrics and poor rhythm. In legends, he is depicted as having come under
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the influence of his wicked wife Daji, and committing all manner of evil and cruel deeds with her. In

fictionalizations, including the novelFengshen Yanyi, she was said to be possessed by a malevolent fox

spirit.

One of the most famous forms of entertainment Zhou enjoyed was the "Wine Pool and Meat Forest" (

). A large pool, big enough for several canoes, was constructed on the Palace grounds, with inner

linings of polished oval shaped stones from the sea shores. This allowed for the entire pool to be filled with

alcohol. A small island was constructed in the middle of the pool, where trees were planted, which had

branches made of roasted meat skewers hanging over the pool. This allowed Zhou and his friends andconcubines to drift on canoes in the pool. When they thirsted, they reached down into the pool with their

hands and drank the wine. When they hungered, they reached up with their hands to eat the roasted meat.

This was considered one of the most famous examples of decadence and corruption of a ruler in Chinese

history.

In order to please Daji, he created the "Cannon Burning Punishment" (). One large hollow bronz

cylinder was stuffed with burning charcoal and allowed to burn until red-hot, then prisoners were made to

literally hug the cylinder, which resulted in a painful and unsightly death.

Zhou and Daji were known to get highly aroused after watching such torture. Victims ranged from ordinarpeople and prisoners to high government officials, such as Mei Bo.[5]

In order to fund Zhou's heavy daily expenses, extremely heavy taxes were implemented. The people

suffered greatly, and lost all hope for the Shang dynasty. Zhou's brother Wei Zi tried to persuade him to

change, but was rebuked. His uncle Bi Gan similarly remonstrated with him, but Di Xin had his heart

ripped out so he could see what the heart of a sage looked like. When his other uncle Ji Zi heard this, he

went to remonstrate with the kingly nephew and, feigning madness, was imprisoned.

Fall

When Zhou dynasty's army, led by the famous Jiang Ziya, defeated the Shang dynasty at the Battle of Muy

in 1046 BC, Di Xin gathered all his treasures around himself in the Palace, and then set fire to his palace

and committed suicide.

The name "Zhou" actually appeared after the death of King Zhou, a posthumous name (although perhaps

used furtively by his contemporaries). This name was a representation of his actions, both dishonorable an

cold-hearted. King Zhou would go down in history as one of the worst examples of a corrupted king in

China.

Mentions in literature and legend

Zhou is mentioned in the Confucian Analects (19"")[6]and also in the Three Character Classic.[7]

Zhou is also one of the main subjects ofFengshen Yanyiand its various derivations in popular media. Thu

Di Xin, also known as Zhou, has served as a (negative) exemplar of Confucian principles (presented as the

wicked ruler who justifies regime change according to the Mandate of Heaven), as well as becoming an

icon of popular culture. This makes for a biographically interesting figure, but one challenging a clear

distinction between history, legend, and philosophical point-making.
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InFengshen Yanyi, Zhou visited the Goddess Nwa's temple and offended the Goddess with his lustful

comments towards her beauty. In response, Nwa decided that the Shang dynasty should end and sent her

three subordinates to become three beautiful women (including Daji) to bewitch Zhou. Under the influence

of these women, Zhou becomes a ruthless king, losing the support of people and triggering his downfall.

As God of Sodomy

According to folklore, after his death, King Zhou begged the gods and goddesses for mercy. The godsdecide to deify him, but since there was nothing suitable, they created a post specially for him: God of

Sodomy.[8]A temple was built for him in Weihui, Henan.[9]

Notes

1. ^Wu, 220.

2. ^U+7D02 (http://www.unicode.org/cgi-bin/GetUnihanData.pl?codepoint=7D02)

3. ^Wu, 220-221, referencing Sima Qian's Yin Benji chapter ().

4. ^ Lshi Chunqiu ()

5. ^See, for example, Qu Yuan, Tian Wen(). "".

6. ^http://ctext.org/analects/zi-zhang#n1593

7. ^ http://ctext.org/three-character-classic#n90610

8. ^ Brian Griffith (18 October 2013).A Galaxy of Immortal Women: The Yin Side of Chinese Civilization

(http://books.google.com/books?id=JrNc4-pjoQcC&pg=PA143). Exterminating Angel Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-

1-935259-15-2.

9. ^http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/chinese-mythology.php?deity=ZHOU-WANG

References

Wu, K. C. (1982). The Chinese Heritage. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN 0-517-54475-X.

King Zhou of Shang

Shang dynasty

Regnal titles

Preceded by

Di Yi

King of China

1075 BC 1046BC

Succeeded by

Wu of Zhou

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King_Zhou_of_Shang&oldid=626963654"

Categories: Shang dynasty kings Chinese royalty who committed suicide Suicides by self-immolation

1046 BC deaths Fengshen Yanyi characters
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