Weizi of Song
Weizi of Song 宋微子 | |||||
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Duke of Song | |||||
Reign | c. 1038–1025 BC | ||||
Predecessor | New title | ||||
Successor | |||||
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Father | Di Yi of Shang |
Weizi (Chinese: 微子) also spelled Wei Tsze, was the first ruler of Song. He was the subject of Chapter 18 of the Analects of Confucius.
Weizi was the eldest son of Di Yi. He was also a half-brother of the last Shang king, Di Xin (better known as King Zhou of Shang).[1] Di Xin gave himself over to drinking, women and abandoned morals. Weizi tried to persuade him not to do, but Di Xin ignored. Subsequently, Weizi resigned and withdrew from the court.[2]
When Zhou dynasty conquered the Shang kingdom, Weizi submitted and presented the ritual utensils to King Wu of Zhou. He was pardoned by King Wu.[2][3]
After Rebellion of the Three Guards was put down, Weizi was enfeoffed as Duke of Song and granted land at Shangqiu (商邱 'the hill of Shang'), where the capital of the new State of Song was built. After his death, he was succeeded by his younger brother Yan (衍), historically known as (微仲).[4]
Weizi was honored by Confucius as one of the "three men of virtue" (三仁) of the Shang, together with Jizi and Bigan.[5]
Name[]
His personal name is Qi (啓), ancestral name Zi (子) of the Shang kings and lineage name Song (宋) which later was passed down to the Song lords. Weizi (微子) is his posthumous name, with zi (子) meaning either "master" (educated man) or "viscount" and wei (微) meaning "humble." Hence, his title can be fully interpreted as either "Viscount Wei of Song" or "Humble Master of Song."
His younger brother inherited the part wei (微) of his posthumous name as (微仲), with zhong (仲) meaning the "second-born (of the family,)" indicating the former being a younger brother to the latter.
References[]
- ^ Yag-yong Chŏng (2016). The Analects of Dasan: A Korean Syncretic Reading. p. 173. ISBN 9780190624996.
- ^ a b Records of the Grand Historian. Vol. 38.
- ^ Weizi 微子
- ^ Yong Huang (2012). Confucius: A Guide for the Perplexed. ISBN 9781441180520.
- ^ Analects, Book XVIII. Wei-tsze., Chapter I
- 11th-century BC Chinese people
- Shang dynasty politicians
- Zhou dynasty nobility
- Monarchs of Song (state)
- Founding monarchs