King Tai of Zhou

King Tai of Zhou (Chinese: 周太王; pinyin: Zhōu Tài Wáng), or Gugong Danfu (Chinese: 古公亶父; pinyin: Gǔ​gōng​ Dǎnfù), 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,^[1] the Zhou would mount their eventually successful take-over of the Yin/Shang Dynasty.

Ancestry

The Zhou lineage traditionally begins with Di Ku;^[2] however, in legend, Di Ku was claimed to be the grandson of Shaohao, the son of the Yellow Emperor and his principal wife Leizu.^[3] 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.^[4] 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;^[5] 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 Gongliu).

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.^[6] Poem #237 of the Shijing tells the story of this:

....

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.

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.

He encouraged the people and settled them....

(As translated by James Legge.)

Posterity

Gugong Danfu was an ancestor of the Zhou Dynasty emperors.

See also

• Zhou Dynasty

Notes

1. ^ Wu, 239
2. ^ Wu, 235
3. ^ Wu, 60-64
4. ^ Wu, 235
5. ^ Wu, 328, says, "it is known for certain that Zhou as a state existed even in the time of Wuding, more than a century earlier."
6. ^ Wu, 239, quoting/translating Shiji

References

• Wu, K. C. (1982). The Chinese Heritage. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN 0-517-54475-X.

External links

• John Thompson on Gugong Danfu and the Guqin