Xiong Zhi Explained

Xiong Zhi
Clan Name:
  • 姓 Ancestral temple surname: Mǐ
  • 氏 Lineage surname: Xióng
Given Name:Zhì (摯)
Ruler of Chu
Reign:unknown

Xiong Zhi was the eighth ruler of the state of Chu during the early Western Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) of ancient China. Like other early Chu rulers, he held the hereditary noble rank of zi first granted to his ancestor Xiong Yi by King Cheng of Zhou.[1]

Xiong Zhi succeeded his father Xiong Kang, but later abdicated due to illness. His younger brother Xiong Yan succeeded him as ruler of Chu, and Xiong Zhi self-exiled and founded the minor state of Kui (Chinese: ).[2]

Ancient historian Sima Qian's account of Xiong Zhi in his Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) is quite confused. Sima Qian records Xiong Zhi's name variously as Xiong Hong (Chinese: 熊紅) or Xiong Zhihong (Chinese: 熊摯紅), and says that he was the second son of Xiong Qu and younger brother of Xiong Kang. According to Shiji, Xiong Kang died early and Xiong Zhi succeeded Xiong Qu, and that he was killed by his younger brother Xiong Yan.[1] However, this account is contradicted by earlier historical texts Zuo Zhuan and Guoyu, as well as the account in the Xinian in the recently discovered Tsinghua Bamboo Slips.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Sima Qian . Sima Qian. Sima Tan. Sima Tan . zh:史記. Records of the Grand Historian. 90s BCE. 1959 . Zhonghua Shuju. 40: 楚世家. .
  2. Web site: http://www.jianbo.org/admin3/2011/ziju001.htm . zh:清华简《楚居》解析 . zh . Ziju (子居) . jianbo.org . 1 March 2012 .