Zhou2

周

ZHOU GENEALOGY

(Western Zhou Dynasty)

 

Zhōu Wǔ-wáng Jī Fā, First Emperor of Zhou. Ten years after succeeding his father in the west, he revolted against the corrupt Emperor Zhòu of Shang, finally defeating him at Mùyě. He became Emperor, but despaired that his new regime might one day become as corrupt as the Shang. He ruled for only a few years before he died. He had issue:

Zhōu Chéng-wáng Jī Sòng, Second Emperor of Zhou. He was only young when he succeeded to the throne and so his uncle, Dàn, Duke of Zhou governed on his behalf until he reached adulthood. He established Luò (Modern Luoyang) to serve as an eastern and ceremonial capital, but the de facto capital remained Fēng. He conquered the Yen of Shandong. He had issue:

Zhōu Kāng-wáng Jī Zhāo, Third Emperor of Zhou. He had the suburbs of Luoyang laid out and ruled wisely. He had issue:

Zhōu Zhāo-wáng Jī Xiá, Fourth Emperor of Zhou. He was less capable than his predecessors. He died, mysteriously, while touring the southern part of his realm. He had issue:

Zhōu Mù-wáng Jī Mǎn, Fifth Emperor of Zhou. He was already fifty years old when he succeeded to the throne. He mercilessly attacked the nomadic Quǎnróng for a minor infraction, even though they were loyal and thus Zhou lost control over the nomadic peoples. He laid down a criminal code. In legend he travelled west and visited Xi Wang Mu, the Goddess of the Western Paradise. He died after fifty-five years of rule, at the age of one hundred and five. He had issue:

Zhōu Gòng-wáng Jī Yīhù, Sixth Emperor of Zhou. He destroyed his vassal, the Duke of Mi, for taking three beautiful girls as concubines rather than presenting them to the Emperor. He had issue:

Zhōu Yì-wáng Jī Jiān, Seventh Emperor of Zhou. He was a poor ruler, and the poets criticised him. He had issue:

Zhōu Xiào-wáng Jī Pìfāng, Eighth Emperor of Zhou.

Zhōu Yí-wáng Jī Xiè, Ninth Emperor of Zhou.  He had issue:

Zhōu Lì-wáng Jī Hú, Tenth Emperor of Zhou. He ruled well for thirty years, but then he became tyrannical, favouring corrupt greedy men. He ran a police state, preventing all criticism of his rule, with the help of a powerful shaman. Most damningly of all, he ceased to listen to the people. In 842 BC the people revolted and he fled the country. He died in exile in 828, but left issue:

[842 – 827] Gònghé Regency. After the Tenth Emperor fled into exile, the Empire was ruled by his two Prime Ministers, the Dukes of Zhào and Zhōu until he was dead. The beginning of this regency is the first generally accepted date in Chinese history.

827 – 782 Zhōu Xuān-wáng Jī Jìng, Eleventh Emperor of Zhou. He was raised by the Regent, Duke of Zhào, and the Regents placed him on the throne once his father had died. He was a model king, but neglected to maintain the royal demesne. In 789, his forces were defeated in battle by the Jiāng Clan in the demesne and he lost the southern provinces. He died in 782, but had issue:

782 - 771 Zhōu Yōu-wáng  Jī Gōngshēng, Twelfth Emperor of Zhou. At the beginning of his reign, the Empire was struck by a massive earthquake and the three rivers dried up, leading the people to say the Zhou had lost the divine mandate to rule. He married (first) a daughter of the Marquis of Shēn, she was made queen, but in 779 she was removed in favour of Bāo Sì. In 779 he married (second) Bāo Sì, the daughter of a court-lady and dragon saliva which had escaped from an ancient casket; he fell for her and wished to raise her to his primary wife. He used to light the war-beacons to amuse her, until the nobles and soldiers no longer paid attention to them. In 771 the Marquis of Shēn, with an army of western nomads attacked the capital. Yōu lit the war-beacons, but no soldiers came, the capital stood defenceless and he was killed.