Xiang Tu Explained

Xiang Tu
P:Xiàng Tǔ
W:Hsiang4 T'u3
Y:Seung Tóu
L:(personal name)
Also Known As:Cheng Du
P2:Chéng Dù
Y2:Sìhng Dou6

Xiang Tu (; ? – ?) was an ancient Chinese noble, an ancestor of the Shang dynasty.[1] His family name is Zi (子), and his other name is Cheng Du (乘杜). His hometown is in Shangqiu (商丘), Henan (河南),[2] and he was the third leader of the Predynastic Shang.

History

He was the son of Zhao Ming of Shang and thus the grandson of Xie of Shang,[3] being also an ancestor of the King Tang of Shang.

In the beginning, people still did not know the horse drawn cart is used for travel. It was said that he raised horses. The horse is tamed and trained, so the horse can pull the car and become one of the important means of transportation.

It can be seen that in the time of Xiang Tu, the Shang people have migrated from the nomadic life to the life of animal husbandry and agricultural cultivation. He developed forces in the east by force, on the coast of the Yellow Sea (黃海) and in the nearby islands.[4]

Family

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. [Sima Qian]
  2. 《集解》宋忠曰:“相土就契封於商。春秋左氏傳曰‘閼伯居商丘,相土因之’。”
  3. 《正義》括地志云:“宋州宋城縣古閼伯之墟,即商丘也,又云羿所封之地。”
  4. 《索隱》相土佐夏,功著於商,詩頌曰“相土烈烈,海外有截”是也。左傳曰“昔陶唐氏火正閼伯居商丘,相土因之”,是始封商也。