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Houji (Ji Qi)
Traditional ancestor of the Zhou named Qi; the Shiji says his mother Jiang Yuan conceived him after stepping in a giant's footprint, that Yao made him master of agriculture and that Shun enfeoffed him at Tai as Houji
In lantern light and drifting smoke, a row of painted theatrical masks stands on a wooden rail beneath a glowing paper dragon lantern and hanging red lanterns; a folding screen painted with a river, a bridge and hills stands at the right, with a bronze burner and small lamps on the floor.
Also known as Ji Qi · Ji Shen · Tian Zu
- Roles
- Cultural Persona
Houji is a traditional founding ancestor of the Zhou people, named Qi. The Basic Annals of Zhou in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) says his mother Jiang Yuan of the Youtai clan, a principal consort of Di Ku, conceived after stepping in a giant's footprint, and that after he was born she abandoned him in a lane, in a forest and on the ice of a channel; horses and oxen would not tread on him and birds covered him with their wings, so she took him to be divine, took him back and named him Qi. It adds that he loved farming, that Yao made him master of agriculture, and that Shun enfeoffed him at Tai with the title Houji and the clan name Ji. The ode Shengmin in the Book of Songs tells the same story, and the Zuozhuan says that Qi of Zhou was also made Ji and received sacrifice from the Shang on.
Life and times
Dates Dates unknown; a traditional ancestor of the Zhou