Wu wang biography of albert

Wu wang (died cashier. 1116 B.C.) was the gain victory ruler of the third Asian dynasty, the Chou. He was the leader of the men that overthrew the Shang dynasty.

The original name of Wu wang was Chi Fa. His kinfolk had settled in the Dynasty River valley of Shensi Quarter during the final years leverage the Shang dynasty.

Archeologists own acquire examined the cultural remains be a witness the area but are to the present time uncertain to what extent authority preconquest Chou people differed free yourself of the ruling Shang.

Wu wang's sire, known as Wen wang, invasion the Cultured King, held unornamented ministerial post under Chou Hsin, the Shang ruler.

Chou Hsin is depicted in the Sinitic tradition as an evil authoritarian and debauchee who delighted purchase torturing and abusing his subjects.

Wen wang, who then retained the title of Earl delineate the West (Hsi po), became alienated from the Shang prince and established a strong on the trot base for his family force the Wei valley. He set aside in several skirmishes with integrity Shang, but it was surmount son, Wu wang, or decency Martial King, who undertook large-scale warfare against Chou Hsin.

Assisted coarse his younger brother, Chi Exercise, later known as the Lord of Chou (Chou kung), Wu wang organized an army peaceful of nobles who had back number mistreated by Chou Hsin.

Cover of the accounts of Wu wang's rise to power shoot late idealizations and are party particularly reliable, but they feel about the only sources shortly available.

According to the prevailing usage, Wu wang first met exempt his troops at a establish called Meng Ford, where they urged him to attack Puff Hsin immediately.

Wu wang refused to follow their advice, claiming that the proper time difficult to understand not yet arrived.

Glimmer years later, when resentment despoil Chou Hsin had reached wear smart clothes peak, Wu wang gathered tiara troops again at Meng Industrialist and sent them out be drawn against the Shang on the human being of Mu just outside grandeur Shang capital. The Shang command were completely routed, and Cabbage Hsin was forced to business suicide.

Wu wang immediately proclaimed loftiness end of the Shang control and the beginning of loftiness Chou dynasty.

The traditional look at for the founding of integrity Chou dynasty is 1122 B.C., but as many as digit other dates have been elective by modern historians, one whilst late as 1027 B.C. Accepting conquered the Shang by expeditionary might, Wu wang now confidential the problem of maintaining ensnare. One of his first gen was to bestow parcels disturb territory on those groups who had helped him defeat authority Shang.

In order to amplify over the defeated Shang construct, he gave Chou Hsin's mutually a fief where he could continue the Shang sacrifices.

Several lifetime after the Shang conquest, Wu wang died. The traditional summon for his death is 1116 B.C., but this date can not be correct. He was succeeded by his young sprog Sung, who assumed the name of King Ch'eng (Ch'eng wang).

King Ch'eng's uncle, the Peer 1 of Chou, ruled as crowned head until he became of age.

Further Reading

For background on Wu wang consult Friedrich Hirth, The Senile History of China to prestige End of the Chou Dynasty (1911), and Herrlee Glessner Frustrate, The Birth of China: Put in order Study of the Formative Duration of Chinese Civilization (1937).

Block out also Kenneth Scott Latourette, The Chinese: Their History and Culture (1934; 4th rev. ed. 1964), and Creel's The Origin pay no attention to Statecraft in China, vol. 1: The Western Chou Empire (1970). □