Xióng Yì (dates of birth and death unknown), Family name (姓): 芈, Clan name (氏), was a ruler of the Zhou Dynasty

Zhou Dynasty

The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...

 vassal State of Chu

Chu (state)

The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...

 in 11th Century BCE China. The son of Xiong Kuang (熊狂), he was a descendant of of Mi Jiian (芈季连), sixth son of Zhurong, Chinese God of Fire through his ancestor Yu Xiong (鬻熊).

Biographical sketch

Xiong Yi lived at the time 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...

 (reigned (1042 – 1021 BCE) who wished to honor the most loyal officials of his predecessors 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 King Wen of Zhou

King Wen of Zhou

King Wen of Zhou family name : Ji , Clan name : Zhou Personal name: Chang, known as Zhou Chang or Xibo Chang was the founder of the Zhou Dynasty and the first epic hero of Chinese history....

. The king summoned a meeting with Xiong Yi and the other vassal lords at Qiyang (岐阳/岐陽) (north east of modern day Qishan County

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...

, Shaanxi Province) where Xiong Yi swore allegiance to the King and became keeper of the Maojue (茅蕝) in the order of precedence

Order of precedence

An order of precedence is a sequential hierarchy of nominal importance of items. Most often it is used in the context of people by many organizations and governments...

. Along with the Xianbei

Xianbei

The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...

 clan leader he was also appointed joint guardian of the ritual torch {守燎}. At the same meeting, as a result of his ancestors’ loyal service to the former kings of Zhou, Xiong Yi received a grant of land around Danyang (丹阳) (modern day Xichuan County

Xichuan County

Xichuan County is a county of Nanyang, Henan, China.Xichuan has an area of 2,798 square kilometers and a population of 746,000.Both of the Danjiangkou Reservoir and the Central route of South–North Water Transfer Project's canal head are located in Xichuan...

, Henan Province) where he built the first capital of Chu. He then began the arduous task of clearing the thorny undergrowth from the foothills of the Jingshan Mountains

Jingshan Mountains

The Jingshan Mountains are a chain of mountains in the western part of Nanzhang County, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China. Stretching for around 150 kilometers, their peaks range in height from 1200 to about 1800 meters above sea level with the highest peak, Mount Julong , reaching an...

 so that his people could build Chu and make sacrifices to the Zhou king. King Cheng also gave Xiong Yi the hereditary title of Zĭ (子), roughly equivalent to a Marquess

Marquess

A marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam...

.

At some time during Xiong Yi’s reign, vassal state leaders Duke Ding of Qi (齐丁公), Count Kang of Wei (卫康伯), 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...

 and 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...

’s son Bo Qin (伯禽) met with King Kang of Zhou

King Kang of Zhou

King Kang of Zhou or King K'ang of Chou was the third sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1020-996 BC or 1005-978 BC ....

. The king gave each of the three vassal leaders a precious treasure without involving the Chu ruler. Later on, during the Spring and Autumn Period in 530 BCE, King Ling of Chu

King Ling of Chu

King Ling of Chu was a king of the State of Chu between 540 BC and 529 BC. His birth name was Wei and before ascending the throne he was known as Gongzi Wei .-Taking the throne:...

 would once more raise the issue of Chu’s exclusion.

Xiong Yi was succeeded as ruler of Chu by his son Xiong Ai (熊艾)