Duke of Zhou

Biography

Predynastic Zhou

The Duke of Zhou was born with the personal name Dan (旦) of the Ji clan (姬), during a time in which the Shang dynasty was in a perceived period of decline, having a series of rulers that the Chinese classics record as being corrupt, incompetent, or otherwise immoral. Chief amongst these was Di Xin, who was an alcoholic. Ji Dan was the fourth son of Ji Chang, King Wen of Zhou and Queen Tai Si. Ji Dan was noted for his filial conduct and moral aptitude compared to his other brothers from a young age. He would assist King Wen, but to what extent is unclear.

At first, Ji Chang, King Wen of Zhou would refuse to act, as the Predynastic Zhou maintained a good relationship by serving as their western vanguard. The Lost Book of Zhou claims that Ji Chang consulted Ji Dan regarding what to do should the situation in Shang continue to decline. Ji Dan was ordered to deliberate on the situation whilst Ji Chang attended to other matters. However, this account is debated, as the chapters written here appear to have been written later than other chunks of the book.

Eventually, Ji Chang expressed dissatisfaction with the Shang state, which Marquess Hu of Chong picked up on. He told Di Xin and Ji Chang was imprisoned, but was later released. Following a major astrological event, King Wen would devise a plan to sack the Shang capital of Yin, and execute it by coercing, invading, and annexing Shang allies over time, but died before this could be complete. This was the Mandate of Heaven doctrine, which influenced Ji Dan considerably. Ji Fa, King Wu of Zhou would take up the mantle of sacking Yin, and Ji Dan would join, taking a much larger role in government.

Battle of Muye

During the ninth year of Ji Fa's reign, Ji Fa gathered 800 feudal lords and went on an expedition to Mengjin (盟津), along with Ji Dan as an active assistant. However, despite the lords pleading for an attack on Yin, Ji Fa denied the request for the will of Heaven, in his eyes, decreed against it. The Lost Book of Zhou writes that Ji Fa continually consulted Ji Dan during this period, continuing his deliberations from under Ji Chang's rule. Two years later, he surmised that the time was right, wherein the Oath at Muye was written, recorded in the Book of Documents.

While Ji Dan certainly participated in the Battle of Muye, his role is unclear, with later accounts deeming him a strategist who participated in ceremonial rites. However, the earliest materials either depict him as a soldier, or not at all. The Lost Book of Zhou writes of Ji Dan holding a ceremonial axe and the Duke of Shao holding a smaller one, flanking Ji Fa as they finish the battle together. However, earlier segments of the book that are said to be from Western Zhou, or even contemporary with the events, do not mention him at all.

Political career

Under King Wen and King Wu

Ji Dan, being a royal son, was heavily involved in government from a young age. Activity increased considerably after the Battle of Muye, where he was a chief advisor to the newly-enthroned Ji Fa, King Wu of Zhou. King Wu distributed many fiefs to his relatives and followers. Ji Dan was offered a fief in Qufu, Lu, and while he did accept it, he did not relocate to Lu to continue assisting in government.

The Metal-Bound Coffer anecdote in the Book of Documents records King Wu falling ill, to which the Duke of Zhou prayed for his safety.

The Duke of Zhou was credited with elaborating the doctrine of the Mandate of Heaven, which countered Shang propaganda that as descendants of the god Shangdi they should be restored to power. According to this doctrine, Shang injustice and decadence had so grossly offended Heaven that Heaven had removed their authority and commanded the reluctant Zhou to replace the Shang and restore order, as Heaven itself follows the will of the people. Therefore upholding virtue and ruling with justice and clemency, showing pity to the orphans and widows, and ensure respectful treatment to everyone corresponds to the will of Heaven and the people, as Duke Zhou expresses and emphasized to the young king Cheng and his courtiers.

Regency of King Cheng

Only three years after assuming power, King Wu died and left the kingdom to his young son King Cheng. The Duke of Zhou successfully attained the regency and administered the kingdom himself, teaching the burgeoning king the ins and outs of government.

During his rule, Duke of Zhou expanded and codified King Wu's system of territorial administration, granting titles to loyal Shang clansmen and even establishing a new capital city at Chengzhou around 1038 BC. Laid out according to exact geomantic principles, Chengzhou was the home of King Cheng, the Shang nobility, and the nine tripod cauldrons symbolic of royal authority, while the Duke continued to administer the kingdom from the former capital of Haojing. Once Cheng came of age, according to traditional narrative, the Duke of Zhou dutifully gave up the throne without trouble. At some point, the new king became ill, to which the Duke of Zhou prayed for his safety. The Duke would also write numerous treatises for the young king.

However, the regency was not unquestioned. People from the recently-expunged Late Shang would question whether the Duke of Zhou was a legitimate ruler: As King Wu had died, some theorised that Wu Geng, the late Di Xin's heir apparent, should rule. This would lead to the Rebellion of the Three Guards, led by Wu Geng and three of the Duke of Zhou's siblings. Within five years, the Duke of Zhou had managed to defeat the Three Guards and other rebellions and his armies pushed east, bringing more land under Zhou control.

After the Rebellion of the Three Guards, Ji Feng (姬封, also known as Kang Shu 康叔), was to be stationed around Yin. The Duke of Zhou educated him on how to govern. Three treatises, recorded in the Book of Documents, are thought to be from this time, supported by the excavated Xinian (繫年). The first was him ordering Ji Feng to govern the conquered Shang people carefully, as they were politically dangerous due to their rebellion. He tells him to learn from the fall of Yin and use it as a mirror from which Zhou can learn. The second was a treatise against drunkenness, in which the duke posited that Di Xin's fall from grace and loss of the will of Heaven was due to his alcoholism, continuing a policy from King Wen's days. The order was to be published in Meibang (妹邦). Execution involved rehabilitating alcoholics and relocating them to Zhou, and punishing repeat offenders or those arranging gatherings involving alcohol. Alcoholic Ex-Shang ministers would also be rehabilitated and treated more leniently. The final treatise was a tutorial about government expressed through craftsmanship metaphor: Governing a state means linking ruler, minister, family, and the everyman together, and ruling successfully means not killing people and granting clemency where possible. The end details a disoriented Shang populace, which Ji Feng was tasked with managing.