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King Wu of Zhou

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King Wu of Zhou
周武王
King Wu
Depiction of King Wu by Ma Lin
Elder of the Predynastic Zhou
Reign1050–1046 BCE
PredecessorKing Wen of Zhou
SuccessorHimself as King of the Zhou dynasty
King of the Zhou dynasty
Reign1046–1043 BCE
SuccessorKing Cheng of Zhou
BornJi Fa (姬發)
Died1043 BCE
Haojing, Western Zhou dynasty
SpouseYi Jiang
Issue
Posthumous name
King Wu (武王)
HouseJi
DynastyPredynastic Zhou (1050–1046 BC)
Zhou (Western Zhou) (1046–1043 BC)
FatherKing Wen of Zhou
MotherTai Si
Chinese name
Chinese
Literal meaningMartial King of Zhou
Personal name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese姬发

King Wu of Zhou (Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhōu Wǔ Wáng), personal name Ji Fa, was the founding king of the Chinese Zhou dynasty. He became king around 1046 BCE. He died three years later.[1]

Battle of Muye

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The Battle of Muye (or Mu, or Muh; c. 1046 BC)[a][b] took place in ancient China between the rebel Zhou state and the Shang dynasty (that were in power). The Zhou army, led by Wu of Zhou, beat (or defeated) the defending army of king Di Xin of Shang at Muye and captured the Shang capital Yin. That ended the Shang dynasty.

  1. 1046 BC is the year endorsed by the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project, though doubts persist on this dating. See § Dating.
  2. literally, "Battle of the Wild Pasture"
  1. These dates are those of the People's Republic of China's official Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project, although they remain controversial.