Wu Ding

Wu Ding
武丁
Portrait of King Wu Ding of Shang from Sancai Tuhui
King of Shang (c. 1600 - 1046 BC)
Reignc. second half of the 13th century BC
PredecessorXiao Yi
SuccessorZu Geng
Chancellors
Bornc. first half of 13th century BC
Shang dynasty
Diedc. 1200 BC
Yin
Spouse
IssueZu Ji
Names
Temple name
Gaozong (高宗)
FatherXiao Yi
ReligionShang state religion

Wu Ding (Chinese: 武丁; died c. 1200 BC); personal name Zi Zhao (子昭), was a king of the Chinese Shang dynasty who ruled the central Yellow River valley c. 1250 BC – c. 1200 BC. He is the earliest figure in Chinese history mentioned in contemporary records. The annals of the Shang dynasty compiled by later historians were once thought to be little more than legends until oracle script inscriptions on bones dating from his reign were unearthed at the ruins of his capital Yin (near modern Anyang) in 1899.[2] Oracle bone inscriptions from his reign have been radiocarbon dated to 1254–1197 BC ±10 years,[3]: 165  closely according with regnal dates derived by modern scholars from received texts, epigraphic evidence, and astronomical calculations.[3]: 172 

Wu Ding's reign is characterized by a prosperous period of the late Shang state, with a wide network of allies and subordinates. The first inscriptions unequivocally recognized as Chinese appeared during his reign, together with new technological innovations. More than a half of Shang inscriptions date to his reign, concerning a wide variety of deities. In classical Chinese historiography, he is often depicted as a meritorious king who appears with worthy officials.

  1. ^ Boileau (2023), p. 314.
  2. ^ Bai Shouyi (白壽彝), ed. (2002). An Outline History of China. Beijing: Foreign Language Press. ISBN 7-119-02347-0.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference radiocarbon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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