King Tai of Zhou
Encyclopedia
King Tai of Zhou or Gugong Danfu , also, especially in older English translations, as Old (or Ancient) Duke Tan-fu, was a semi-legendary-to-historical person of ancient China
, credited with being behind the shaping of the Zhou clan up into what would become the longest-tenured dynasty in the History of China
.
Gugong seems to be a title of respect meaning Ancient Duke. Thus, Gugong Danfu, or Ancient Duke Danfu, seems, historically, to have led the Zhou clan and their associated people out of their former homeland of Bin and into a new land, in the Wei River Valley. From this fertile plateau, at the foot of Mount Qishan, located in the upper part of this valley, the Zhou would mount their eventually successful take-over of the Yin/Shang Dynasty
.
; however, in legend, Di Ku was claimed to be the grandson of Shaohao
, the son of the Yellow Emperor
and his principal wife Leizu
. The lineage proceeds with the son of Di Ku,Qi (better known as Houji, Buku, Ju, and then Gongliu, Qingjie, Huangpu, Chafu, Huiyu, Gongfei, Yayu, Gongshu Zulei, and then Gugong Danfu. However, there are some questions remaining concerning the historical completeness and/or authenticity of this list.
).
According to the Book of History (Shiji), by the Grand Historian Sima Qian
, the increasing prosperity of Zhou attracted attacks by the "Xunyu
" peoples. After attempts to buy them off failed, the Zhou and their associated population wished Gugong to lead them in fight. However, Gugong, seeing no benefit to this course of action, with its consequent slaughter of his people; instead, with only his immediate and extended family, relocated himself to the foot of Mount Qishan
. Then, all the people who lived in Bin followed him, together with various neighboring peoples, and settled under his reputedly benevolent rule, in the homeland from which the Dynasty of Zhou would eventually arise. Poem #237 of the Shijing tells the story of this:
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, credited with being behind the shaping of the Zhou clan up into what would become the longest-tenured dynasty in the History of China
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
Gugong seems to be a title of respect meaning Ancient Duke. Thus, Gugong Danfu, or Ancient Duke Danfu, seems, historically, to have led the Zhou clan and their associated people out of their former homeland of Bin and into a new land, in the Wei River Valley. From this fertile plateau, at the foot of Mount Qishan, located in the upper part of this valley, the Zhou would mount their eventually successful take-over of the Yin/Shang Dynasty
Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty was, according to traditional sources, the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the area known as "China proper" in the Yellow River valley...
.
Ancestry
The Zhou lineage traditionally begins with Di KuEmperor Ku
Kù , or Dì Kù , also known as Gāoxīn Shì , was a mythical Emperor of China during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period. He was the son of Jiăo Jí , the grandson of Shăohào and the great grandson of Huáng-dì , the Yellow Emperor. According to speculative dates he is supposed to have ruled...
; however, in legend, Di Ku was claimed to be the grandson of Shaohao
Shaohao
Shaohao , also known as Shao Hao, Jin Tian or Xuanxiao, was a Chinese emperor in 2600 BC. According to some traditions , he was, in some versions, one of the Five Emperors....
, the son of the Yellow Emperor
Yellow Emperor
The Yellow Emperor or Huangdi1 is a legendary Chinese sovereign and culture hero, included among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Tradition holds that he reigned from 2697–2597 or 2696–2598 BC...
and his principal wife Leizu
Leizu
Leizu was a legendary Chinese empress and wife of the Yellow Emperor. According to tradition, she discovered silk and invented the silk loom in the 27th century BC.Leizu discovered silkworms while having a midday tea, and a cocoon fell in her tea....
. The lineage proceeds with the son of Di Ku,Qi (better known as Houji, Buku, Ju, and then Gongliu, Qingjie, Huangpu, Chafu, Huiyu, Gongfei, Yayu, Gongshu Zulei, and then Gugong Danfu. However, there are some questions remaining concerning the historical completeness and/or authenticity of this list.
Achievements
Gugong Danfu is intimately associated with the rise of the Zhou Dynasty. In fact, until the discovery and analysis of the oracle bones, the name Zhou was traditionally held to have been first used by Gugong Danfu; however, the truth of the matter appears to be more that Gugong Danfu was responsible for a second settlement of the Zhou, from their homeland in Bin (to which they had been led by GongliuGongliu of Zhou
Gongliu was a semi-legendary person of ancient China. Before the founding of the Zhou Dynasty, in BCE 1046, the Zhou clan already had a long history...
).
According to the Book of History (Shiji), by the Grand Historian Sima Qian
Sima Qian
Sima Qian was a Prefect of the Grand Scribes of the Han Dynasty. He is regarded as the father of Chinese historiography for his highly praised work, Records of the Grand Historian , a "Jizhuanti"-style general history of China, covering more than two thousand years from the Yellow Emperor to...
, the increasing prosperity of Zhou attracted attacks by the "Xunyu
Xunyu
The Xunyu is the name of an ancient nomadic tribe which invaded China during legenary times. They are often identified as the Xiongnu.-Identification:...
" peoples. After attempts to buy them off failed, the Zhou and their associated population wished Gugong to lead them in fight. However, Gugong, seeing no benefit to this course of action, with its consequent slaughter of his people; instead, with only his immediate and extended family, relocated himself to the foot of Mount Qishan
Qishan County
Qishan County is a county of Baoji, Shaanxi, China. It was the site of Zhouyuan , the first capital of the Zhou Dynasty . Historically, the site was also known as Qiyi or Qishan . It is located in Fengchu township on the Weishui River to the south of Mt. Qi...
. Then, all the people who lived in Bin followed him, together with various neighboring peoples, and settled under his reputedly benevolent rule, in the homeland from which the Dynasty of Zhou would eventually arise. Poem #237 of the Shijing tells the story of this:
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- The ancient duke Tan-fu,
- Came in the morning, galloping his horses,
- Along the banks of the western rivers,
- To the foot of [mount] Qi ;
- And there, he and the lady Jiang,
- Came, and together looked out for a site on which to settle.
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- The plain of Zhou looked beautiful and rich,
- With its violets and sowthistles [sweet] as dumplings.
- There he began with consulting [his followers] ;
- There he singed the tortoise-shell, [and divined].
- The responses were – there to stay, and then ;
- And they proceeded there to build their houses.
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- He encouraged the people and settled them....
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- (As translated by James LeggeJames LeggeJames Legge was a noted Scottish sinologist, a Scottish Congregationalist, representative of the London Missionary Society in Malacca and Hong Kong , and first professor of Chinese at Oxford University...
.)
- (As translated by James Legge
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