Tang Shuyu
Encyclopedia
Tang Shuyu surname (姓): Ji(姬) given name (名)：Yu (虞), and Ziyu (子於), was the founder of the State of Tang and the first ruler of the State of Jin during the Western Zhou Dynasty
(1046–771 BCE) in China. The State of Tang would later be known as the State of Jin. He was the son of King Wu of Zhou
and the younger brother of King Cheng of Zhou
.
Shortly after the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty, King Wu of Zhou died. His son, Prince Song, ascended the throne and became King Cheng of Zhou. Since he was very young and too inexperienced to run the newly founded kingdom, his uncle, the Duke of Zhou
, served as regent
and handled all political affairs until King Cheng of Zhou became old enough to rule. In the year that King Cheng of Zhou ascended the throne, the people of a land called Tang (唐) rebelled, so the Duke of Zhou conquered them.
According to the Records of the Grand Historian
, one day, King Cheng of Zhou was playing with his younger brother, Prince Yu. King Cheng of Zhou suddenly picked up a parasol tree
leaf and gave it to Prince Yu. Then he said playfully," Let this be a proof that I will make you a feudal lord." Prince Yu happily got the leaf and he then told this to the Duke of Zhou. The Duke of Zhou thought that whatever the young King Cheng of Zhou said should not be taken lightly since he was the king.
The Duke of Zhou approached the young king and asked him if it were true. The young king said that he was just joking with his brother. Then the Duke of Zhou strictly replied,"A sovereign must not joke about the things he says and do as what he has said." The young king thought it was reasonable and gave the recent conquered called Tang land, west of modern Yicheng County
in Shanxi
, to his brother, Prince Yu.
Tang Shuyu's son and successor, Marquis Xie of Jin
, moved the capital Jiang (绛) nearer to the Jin River whereupon the name of the state became Jin.
Western Zhou
The Western Zhōu period was the first half of the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China. It began when King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty at the Battle of Muye. C.H...
(1046–771 BCE) in China. The State of Tang would later be known as the State of Jin. He was the son of King Wu of Zhou
King Wu of Zhou
King Wu of Zhōu or King Wu of Chou was the first sovereign, or ruler of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1046-1043 BCE or 1049/45-1043. Various sources quoted that he died at the age of 93, 54 or 43. He was considered a just and able leader. Zhou Gong Dan was one of his...
and the younger brother of King Cheng of Zhou
King Cheng of Zhou
King Cheng of Zhou or King Ch'eng of Chou was the second sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1042-1021 BC or 1042/35-1006 BC King Cheng was young when he ascended the throne...
.
Shortly after the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty, King Wu of Zhou died. His son, Prince Song, ascended the throne and became King Cheng of Zhou. Since he was very young and too inexperienced to run the newly founded kingdom, his uncle, the Duke of Zhou
Duke of Zhou
The Duke of Zhou played a major role in consolidating the newly-founded Zhou Dynasty . He was the brother of King Wu of Zhou, the first king of the ancient Chinese Zhou Dynasty...
, served as regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
and handled all political affairs until King Cheng of Zhou became old enough to rule. In the year that King Cheng of Zhou ascended the throne, the people of a land called Tang (唐) rebelled, so the Duke of Zhou conquered them.
According to the Records of the Grand Historian
Records of the Grand Historian
The Records of the Grand Historian, also known in English by the Chinese name Shiji , written from 109 BC to 91 BC, was the Magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the Yellow Emperor until his own time...
, one day, King Cheng of Zhou was playing with his younger brother, Prince Yu. King Cheng of Zhou suddenly picked up a parasol tree
Firmiana simplex
Firmiana simplex, commonly known as the Chinese parasol tree or wutong is an ornamental plant or tree of the cacao, or chocolate, of the family Sterculiaceae of the order Malvales, native to Asia. It grows to a height of 12 m . It has alternate, deciduous leaves up to 30 cm across and small...
leaf and gave it to Prince Yu. Then he said playfully," Let this be a proof that I will make you a feudal lord." Prince Yu happily got the leaf and he then told this to the Duke of Zhou. The Duke of Zhou thought that whatever the young King Cheng of Zhou said should not be taken lightly since he was the king.
The Duke of Zhou approached the young king and asked him if it were true. The young king said that he was just joking with his brother. Then the Duke of Zhou strictly replied,"A sovereign must not joke about the things he says and do as what he has said." The young king thought it was reasonable and gave the recent conquered called Tang land, west of modern Yicheng County
Yicheng County
Yicheng County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Linfen city.-References:*...
in Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
, to his brother, Prince Yu.
Tang Shuyu's son and successor, Marquis Xie of Jin
Marquis Xie of Jin
Marquis Xie of Jin , Ancestral name is Ji, given name is Xie or Xiefu ,was the second ruler of the state of Jin during the Western Zhou Dynasty. Marquis Xie was the son of Tang Shuyu. After his father died, he ascended as the ruler of the State of Tang. During his reign, he changed the name of the...
, moved the capital Jiang (绛) nearer to the Jin River whereupon the name of the state became Jin.