Ancient China · Ruler

King Wen 文王

Wen Wang

Attested BC 1099

Passages: 1
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

King Wen was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 1099 文王作豐
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 105

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of King Ji (王季)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 105
Parent of King Wu (武王)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 105

Places and affiliations

At Feng 豐 · Relation Founded
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 105

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 129Biographies of Money-Makers · 1 passage

關中自汧、雍以東至河、華，膏壤沃野千里，自虞夏之貢以為上田，而公劉適邠，大王、王季在岐，文王作豐，武王治鎬，故其民猶有先王之遺風，好稼穡，殖五穀，地重，重為邪。 Within the passes, from Qian and Yong eastward to the Yellow River and Mount Hua, there stretches a thousand li of rich soil and fertile plains — land rated as top grade since the tribute system of Yu and Xia. Gongliu settled at Bin, the Great King and King Ji at Qi, King Wen established Feng, and King Wu governed from Hao. The people of this region still preserve the legacy of those former kings: they love farming, cultivate the five grains, prize the land, and are loath to stray from the right path.