Ancient China · Ruler

King Wen of Zhou 周文王

Zhōu Wén Wáng

Died BC 1050

Passages: 4
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

King Wen of Zhou was a ruler.

Life and dates

Death

BC 1050 及文王崩
Died
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 7

Attested activity

BC 1050 武王同母兄弟十人；母曰太姒；及文王崩而發立
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 1, 3, 6-7

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Bo Yi Kao (伯邑考)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 4
Parent of Ran Ji Zai (冉季載)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 4
Parent of King Wu of Zhou (周武王)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 1, 4
Parent of Guan Shu Xian (管叔鮮)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 1, 4
Parent of Duke of Zhou Dan (周公旦)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 4
Parent of Cai Shu Du (蔡叔度)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 1, 4
Parent of Cao Shu Zhen Duo (曹叔振鐸)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 4
Parent of Cheng Shu Wu (成叔武)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 4
Parent of Huo Shu Chu (霍叔處)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 4
Parent of Kang Shu Feng (康叔封)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 4
Spouse of Tai Si (太姒)
principal consort 正妃 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 3

Kinship Role sons · Count 10
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 2, 4

Origins and identity

Line Zhou royal house · 周
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 1

Places and affiliations

Polity Zhou 周 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 1

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 35Houses of Guan and Cai · 4 passages

管叔鮮、蔡叔度者，周文王子而武王弟也。 Guan Shu Xian and Cai Shu Du were both sons of King Wen of Zhou and younger brothers of King Wu.

母曰太姒，文王正妃也。 Their mother was Tai Si, King Wen’s principal consort.

同母昆弟十人，唯發、旦賢，左右輔文王，故文王舍伯邑考而以發為太子。 Of the ten brothers from the same mother, only Fa and Dan were worthy. They assisted King Wen on left and right, so King Wen passed over Bo Yi Kao and made Fa his crown prince.

及文王崩而發立，是為武王。 When King Wen passed away, Fa ascended the throne and became King Wu.