Ancient China · Shang Prince and Elder Brother of King Zhou

Weizi 微子

Wēizǐ

Attested BC 1100 - BC 1040

Passages: 5
Chapters: 4
Histories: 4

Overview

Weizi was a Shang Prince and Elder Brother of King Zhou.

Life and dates

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Sui 43, passage 44
BC 1100 商末
Directly stated · Book of Liang 16, passage 111
BC 1075 to BC 1040 微子先出
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 100
BC 1046 武王伐紂
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 45, passage 182

Family

Sibling of King Zhou of Shang (紂)
elder brother 元兄 · Full siblings
Weizi 微子 · Paternal half siblings
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Sui 43, passage 44; Book of Southern Qi 45, passage 182
Kin of King Zhou of Shang (紂)
Weizi 微子
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 100

Key source chapters

References in the histories

Book of Liang, Chapter 16Volume 16: Wang Liang; Zhang Ji; Wang Ying · 2 passages

今獨夫自絕于天，四海已歸聖主，斯實微子去殷之時，項伯歸漢之日，可不勉哉！」 Now the tyrant has cut himself off from Heaven; the four seas already belong to the sage lord—this is Weizi leaving Yin, Xiang Bo returning to Han. You must exert yourselves!"

陳吏部尚書姚察曰：孔子稱「殷有三仁：微子去之，箕子爲之奴，比干諫而死。」 Chen Minister of Personnel Yao Cha said: Confucius said, "Yin had three worthies: Weizi left; Jizi became a slave; Bigan remonstrated and died."

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 45Volume 45 Biographies 26: The Imperial Clan · 1 passage

若爾，何以不言『武王伐紂，何意不立微子而輔之，苟貪天下？』」 If so, why not say, 'When King Wu attacked King Zhou, why did he not establish Weizi and assist him, but greedily seize the realm under Heaven?'"

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 62Volume 62: Book of Wu 17: Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong · 1 passage

上書曰：“臣聞紂為無道，微子先出。 He presented a memorial: "I have heard that when Zhou was cruel, Weizi left the court first.

Book of Sui, Chapter 43Volume 43 Biographies 8: He Jian Wanghong, Yang Chugang, Yang Zichong, Guang De, Wang Xiong · 1 passage

夫微子紂之元兄，族實為重，項伯籍之季父，戚乃非疏，然猶去朝歌而入周，背西楚而歸漢。 Wei Zi was King Zhou of Shang's own elder brother—the tie of blood could scarcely have been closer; Xiang Bo was Xiang Ji of Western Chu's uncle—hardly a distant kinsman—yet both men left Chaoge to join King Wu of Zhou, and turned from Western Chu to serve the Han.