King Zhao of Zhou
Encyclopedia
King Zhao of Zhou or King Chao of Chou was the fourth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 995-977 BC or 977/75-957 (Cambridge History of Ancient China).
Zhao's reign occurred at a point when the Zhou Dynasty had expanded across the central plains of China and turned its attention to South China
. Zhao was killed and his campaigning army were wiped out south of the Han River, establishing the limit of direct control of the south during the Western Zhou Dynasty.
According to the traditional, moralistic rendition of Zhao's life, he loved pleasure and disregarded politics. As a result, the Zhou Dynasty began to falter under his inept rule. King Zhao especially liked rare plants and animals, and decided to go on a trip to the State of Chu
, after an emissary claimed that Chu had caught a rare bird. After crossing the Han River, King Zhao realized that this was a trick. After several inconclusive battles with Chu forces, he began to retreat, looting and raiding the countryside as he went. Whilst on a boat on the Han River, the boat sprung a leak and King Zhao drowned thus marking the end of his reign.
Born 1020
Zhao's reign occurred at a point when the Zhou Dynasty had expanded across the central plains of China and turned its attention to South China
Northern and southern China
Northern China and southern China are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined...
. Zhao was killed and his campaigning army were wiped out south of the Han River, establishing the limit of direct control of the south during the Western Zhou Dynasty.
According to the traditional, moralistic rendition of Zhao's life, he loved pleasure and disregarded politics. As a result, the Zhou Dynasty began to falter under his inept rule. King Zhao especially liked rare plants and animals, and decided to go on a trip to the 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...
, after an emissary claimed that Chu had caught a rare bird. After crossing the Han River, King Zhao realized that this was a trick. After several inconclusive battles with Chu forces, he began to retreat, looting and raiding the countryside as he went. Whilst on a boat on the Han River, the boat sprung a leak and King Zhao drowned thus marking the end of his reign.
Personal information
| Family name | Ji Ji (surname) 姬=Ji is the family name of the family in control of the Zhou Dynasty , which followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty in China.Thirty-nine members of the family ruled over China during this period.Ji has... (姬 jī) in Chinese Chinese language The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages... |
| Given name Chinese name Personal names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Most noticeably, a Chinese name is written with the family name first and the given name next, therefore "John-Paul Smith" as a Chinese name would be "Smith John-Paul"... | Xia (瑕 xía) in Chinese Chinese language The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages... |
| Era name | none |
| Father | King Kang of Zhou King Kang of Zhou King Kang of Zhou or King K'ang of Chou was the third sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1020-996 BC or 1005-978 BC .... |
| Mother | unknown |
| Wife | unknown |
| Children | King Mu of Zhou King Mu of Zhou King Mu of Zhou or King Mu of Chou or Mu Wang or Mu Wang was the fifth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 976-922 BC or 956-918 BC.-Life:... |
| Approximate duration of reign | 996-977 BC |
| Tomb | unknown |
| Temple name Temple name Temple names are commonly used when naming most Chinese, Korean , and Vietnamese royalty. They should not be confused with era names. Compared to posthumous names, the use of temple names is more exclusive... | unknown |
| Courtesy name | unknown |
| Posthumous name Posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life... | Zhao 昭 (pinyin Pinyin Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into... zhāo), literary meaning: "shining" |
Personal information
- Father
- King Kang of ZhouKing Kang of ZhouKing Kang of Zhou or King K'ang of Chou was the third sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1020-996 BC or 1005-978 BC ....
- King Kang of Zhou
- Mother
- ?
- Wife
- ?
- Children
- ManKing Mu of ZhouKing Mu of Zhou or King Mu of Chou or Mu Wang or Mu Wang was the fifth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 976-922 BC or 956-918 BC.-Life:...
(滿), later King Mu of ZhouKing Mu of ZhouKing Mu of Zhou or King Mu of Chou or Mu Wang or Mu Wang was the fifth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 976-922 BC or 956-918 BC.-Life:...
- Man
Born 1020