Zu Ji (Chinese: 祖己) was the eldest son of King Wu Ding but despite his kingly title he never succeeded his father as a Shang dynasty King of China. In later texts he is known as Xiao Ji (Chinese: 孝己), while contemporary inscriptions record his name as Jie (Chinese: ).[1]

Zu Ji (祖己)
Prince of Shang dynasty
Full name
Posthumous name
Zu Ji (祖己)

In the Records of the Grand Historian he was said by Sima Qian to have died in distant exile during the twenty-fifth year of his father's reign.[2]

Oracle script inscriptions on bones unearthed at Yinxu confirm his lineage and his failure to succeed to the throne.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ Keightley, David N. (1999). "The Shang: China's First Historical Dynasty". In Loewe, Michael; Shaughnessy, Edward L. (eds.). The Cambridge History of Ancient China: From the Origins of Civilization to 221 B.C. Cambridge University Press. p. 275. ISBN 0-521-47030-7.
  2. ^ Bai, Shouyi (2002). An Outline History of China. Beijing: Foreign Language Press. ISBN 7-119-02347-0.
  3. ^ "The Shang Dynasty Rulers". China Knowledge. Retrieved August 7, 2007.
  4. ^ "Shang Kingship And Shang Kinship" (PDF). Indiana University. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2007.