King Wu of Chu
Encyclopedia
King Wu of Chu was a ruler of the Zhou Dynasty
vassal State of Chu
during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. He was the second son of Xiao'ao
(霄敖), and brother of former ruler Fenmao (楚蚡冒) whom he is rumored to have murdered in 740 BCE in order to usurp the throne.
called Deng Man (邓曼) and installed Dou Bobi (鬬伯比), son of Xiong Yi (熊儀) as Prime Minister
and his son Quxia (屈瑕) as Mao'Ao.
With the power of Chu growing by the day, King Wu became dissatisfied with the title of Marquess (子) and sought to better himself. In the summer of the thirty-seventh year of his reign, 704 BCE, at the time of King Huan of Zhou
, he invited the leaders of the other vassal states to a meeting at Shenlu (沈鹿). The states of Ba
, Pu (濮), Deng
, Jiao (绞/絞), Luo (罗/羅), Zhen (轸/軫), Shen
, Er (贰/貳), Yun (鄖) and Jiang (江) all sent representatives with only the States of Huang
(黃) and Sui
(随/隨) not in attendance. King Wu’s minister Wei Zhang (蒍章) was dispatched to Huang to criticize their non-attendance whilst the King and Qu Xia led an army to attack the State of Sui. Sui was overthrown at the Battle of Suqi (速杞之战). The state's leader fled whilst Chu Minister Dou Dan (鬬丹) captured the Marquess of Sui’s chariot along with the chariot division military commander. Thereafter Sui did not act rashly again. Xiong Tong declared himself “King Wu”, marking Chu’s formal independence from the Zhou Dynasty. Subsequent rulers of Chu would all style themselves “King”, heralding the start of the vassal kingdoms’ usurpation of Zhou supremacy and the decline of the House of Zhou.
In 700 BCE, the forty-first year of his reign, the Chu army defeated the State of Jiao which subsequently became a vassal of Chu. The following year King Wu sent his son Qu Xia to attack the State of Luo. Qu Xiao underestimated the enemy and became trapped between Lu Nomads (卢戎) and the Luo army on the borders of the state. Qu Xia suffered a major defeat and fled with his remaining troops to Huangyu (荒谷) where he hanged himself. King Wu took responsibility for the defeat and pardoned all remaining soldiers who had taken part in the battle although he already ordered the amputation of their right feet. In 690 BCE King Wu led his troops on a punitive expedition into the State of Sui. After crossing the Han River and arriving on the eastern bank he was suddenly taken ill. He sat down under a tree and died not long afterwards. The Chu Prime Minister Dou Qi (鬬祁), son of Dou Dan did not hold a funeral but instead led the Chu army on the advance westward as originally planned. When the Chu army arrived at the capital of the State of Sui its rulers capitulated and swore allegiance to Chu. The Chu army withdrew across the Han River where they held a funeral for the late king. Thereafter his son Xiong Zi (熊貲/熊赀）ascended the throne as King Wen of Chu.
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
vassal State of Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. He was the second son of Xiao'ao
Xiao'ao
Xiāo’áo was a ruler of the Zhou Dynasty vassal State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. The eldest son of Ruo’ao , after a six year reign he was succeeded on the throne by his son Fenmao ....
(霄敖), and brother of former ruler Fenmao (楚蚡冒) whom he is rumored to have murdered in 740 BCE in order to usurp the throne.
Biographical sketch
King Wu married a daughter of the Marquess of DengDeng (state)
The State of Deng was a Chinese vassal state during the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and the Spring and Autumn Period ruled by the Màn family .-Territory:...
called Deng Man (邓曼) and installed Dou Bobi (鬬伯比), son of Xiong Yi (熊儀) as Prime Minister
Prime minister (Chu State)
The post of Prime Minister of Chu was an official government position established in the vassal State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history ....
and his son Quxia (屈瑕) as Mao'Ao.
With the power of Chu growing by the day, King Wu became dissatisfied with the title of Marquess (子) and sought to better himself. In the summer of the thirty-seventh year of his reign, 704 BCE, at the time of King Huan of Zhou
King Huan of Zhou
King Huan of Zhou was the fourteenth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty and the second of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.-Personal information: Family name Jī Given name Lín Era name none Grandfather...
, he invited the leaders of the other vassal states to a meeting at Shenlu (沈鹿). The states of Ba
Ba (state)
Ba was an ancient state in eastern Sichuan, China. Its original capital was Yicheng , Hubei. Ba was conquered by Qin in 316 BC. The modern ethnic minority Tujia people trace some of their origins back to the Ba people....
, Pu (濮), Deng
Deng (state)
The State of Deng was a Chinese vassal state during the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and the Spring and Autumn Period ruled by the Màn family .-Territory:...
, Jiao (绞/絞), Luo (罗/羅), Zhen (轸/軫), Shen
Shen (state)
The State of Shen was a Chinese vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty ruled by the Jiāng family as an earldom. At the beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period the State of Shen was annexed by the State of Chu and became one of its counties.-Territory:Located around the states of Chén and Zhèng,...
, Er (贰/貳), Yun (鄖) and Jiang (江) all sent representatives with only the States of Huang
Huang (state)
The State of Huang is a minor Zhou vassal state existed during the Zhou dynasty until Middle Spring and Autumn period, when it was annexed by the state of Chu. There were 12 Marquis of Huang in total....
(黃) and Sui
Sui (state)
The State of Suí was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state located in Hubei Province, China during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods located in the Han River Basin...
(随/隨) not in attendance. King Wu’s minister Wei Zhang (蒍章) was dispatched to Huang to criticize their non-attendance whilst the King and Qu Xia led an army to attack the State of Sui. Sui was overthrown at the Battle of Suqi (速杞之战). The state's leader fled whilst Chu Minister Dou Dan (鬬丹) captured the Marquess of Sui’s chariot along with the chariot division military commander. Thereafter Sui did not act rashly again. Xiong Tong declared himself “King Wu”, marking Chu’s formal independence from the Zhou Dynasty. Subsequent rulers of Chu would all style themselves “King”, heralding the start of the vassal kingdoms’ usurpation of Zhou supremacy and the decline of the House of Zhou.
In 700 BCE, the forty-first year of his reign, the Chu army defeated the State of Jiao which subsequently became a vassal of Chu. The following year King Wu sent his son Qu Xia to attack the State of Luo. Qu Xiao underestimated the enemy and became trapped between Lu Nomads (卢戎) and the Luo army on the borders of the state. Qu Xia suffered a major defeat and fled with his remaining troops to Huangyu (荒谷) where he hanged himself. King Wu took responsibility for the defeat and pardoned all remaining soldiers who had taken part in the battle although he already ordered the amputation of their right feet. In 690 BCE King Wu led his troops on a punitive expedition into the State of Sui. After crossing the Han River and arriving on the eastern bank he was suddenly taken ill. He sat down under a tree and died not long afterwards. The Chu Prime Minister Dou Qi (鬬祁), son of Dou Dan did not hold a funeral but instead led the Chu army on the advance westward as originally planned. When the Chu army arrived at the capital of the State of Sui its rulers capitulated and swore allegiance to Chu. The Chu army withdrew across the Han River where they held a funeral for the late king. Thereafter his son Xiong Zi (熊貲/熊赀）ascended the throne as King Wen of Chu.
Issue
- Qu Xia (屈瑕)
- King Wen of Chu 楚文王熊貲
- The honorable Xiong Yuan of Chu (楚公子熊元)