Ancient China · Ruler

King Cheng of Zhou 周成王

Zhōu Chéng Wáng

Attested BC 1042

Passages: 5
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

King Cheng of Zhou was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 1042 武王既崩，成王少，周公旦專王室
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 14-16, 20, 24

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of King Wu of Zhou (周武王)
father 父 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 14

Kinship Role uncles · Count 5
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 25

Origins and identity

Line Zhou royal house · 周
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 14

Career and standing

young when King Wu died
Minor
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 14
King Cheng 成王
BC 1042 武王既崩，成王少
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 14

Places and affiliations

Polity Zhou 周 · Relation Member of
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 14

Events and relationships

Commanded the campaign against the rebels
BC 1042 周公旦承成王命 · Political · Authorizing king
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 16

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 35Houses of Guan and Cai · 5 passages

武王既崩，成王少，周公旦專王室。 After King Wu passed away, King Cheng was young, and the Duke of Zhou Dan took charge of the royal house.

管叔、蔡叔疑周公之為不利於成王，乃挾武庚以作亂。 Guan Shu and Cai Shu suspected that the Duke of Zhou's actions were not in King Cheng's interest, so they joined with Wu Geng and raised a rebellion.

周公旦承成王命伐誅武庚，殺管叔，而放蔡叔，遷之，與車十乘，徒七十人從。 The Duke of Zhou Dan received King Cheng's command, attacked and executed Wu Geng, killed Guan Shu, and banished Cai Shu. He relocated Cai Shu with ten chariots and seventy followers.

冉季、康叔皆有馴行，於是周公舉康叔為周司寇，冉季為周司空，以佐成王治，皆有令名於天下。 Ran Ji and Kang Shu were both disciplined and mild in conduct. Therefore, the Duke of Zhou promoted Kang Shu to be Zhou's Minister of Crime and Ran Ji to be Zhou's Minister of Works, assisting King Cheng in government. Both had good reputations throughout the realm.

於是周公言於成王，復封胡於蔡，以奉蔡叔之祀，是為蔡仲。 The Duke of Zhou therefore spoke to King Cheng, who again enfeoffed Hu at Cai so that he could continue Cai Shu's sacrifices. This was Cai Zhong.