Royals › Monarch / Emperor
Wu Ding
Shang king who, according to the Shiji, revived the dynasty with Fu Yue as his minister; the largest body of oracle-bone inscriptions dates from his reign
Mural of the event “Oracle Bone Inscriptions”, which this person took part in.
In the mid and late Shang, the royal court's demand for divine consultation grew increasingly frequent, requiring elaborate divinations before any major political or military decision. Orally transmitted divination results were difficult to preserve or audit.
Also known as Zi Wuding · Shang Gaozong
- Roles
- Monarch / Emperor
Wu Ding, of the royal Zi clan, was the son of King Xiao Yi. The Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) say that on coming to the throne he wished to restore the dynasty but had no able minister, so for three years he left decisions to his chief steward and did not speak. He is said to have dreamt of a sage named Yue, found a convict of that name building walls at Fuxian and made him minister. The same annals tell of a pheasant crowing on a sacrificial cauldron, which the counsellor Zu Ji took as a call to virtuous government. The Book of Changes speaks of Gaozong attacking the Guifang and subduing them in three years, and the Book of Documents gives him a reign of fifty-nine years. His son Zu Geng founded a temple for him as Gaozong. More oracle-bone inscriptions from Yinxu date to his reign than to any other, and the tomb of his consort Fu Hao was excavated there in 1976.
Life and times
- UnknownBorn
Shanglate Shang king (r. c. 1250–1192 BCE) - 1300 BCEApex of Shang Bronze Metallurgy
Took partThe late-Shang Houmuwu Ding is a monumental bronze ritual vessel made for royal sacrifice, demonstrating the scale and courtly function of Shang bronze production. - 1250 BCEWu Ding's Golden Age
Took partWu Ding promoted Fu Yue and led campaigns beyond Shang's borders, bringing Shang power and bronze culture to their zenith.- Wu Ding Reign and Fu Haoc. 1250 BCEDuring Wu Ding's revival, Queen Fu Hao led military campaigns and served as a ritual specialist; her unlooted tomb preserves an exceptional late-Shang royal assemblage.
- Wu Ding Reign and Fu Hao
- 1250 BCEOracle Bone Inscriptions
Took partOracle-bone inscriptions recorded Shang royal divination in a mature script, preserving the earliest extensive corpus of Chinese writing. - 1200 BCELady Fu Hao's Campaigns
Took partFu Hao led Shang armies against the Qiang and other rivals, leaving early evidence of a woman commanding major campaigns.- Fu Hao Campaigning Against QiangfangQueen Fu Hao commanded thirteen thousand troops against Qiangfang, leading late Shang's largest military expedition.
- Fu Hao Campaigning Against Qiangfang
- UnknownDied
Family tree
- Direct kin
Wu DingWife
Connections
- Shared events1
