Five Dynasties · ancient Zhou ruler invoked as an exemplar

King Wu 武

Wu

Attested AD 955

Passages: 1
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

King Wu was an ancient Zhou ruler invoked as an exemplar.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 955 顯德二年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 115, passage 14

Assessments and attributes

praised in the edict as supremely enlightened 詔中稱為至明
AD 955 · Mode narrator
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 115, passage 14

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 115Volume 115 Book of Later Zhou 17: Shizong Annals 2 · 1 passage

雖堯、舜、禹、湯之上聖，文、武、成康之至明，尚猶思逆耳之言，求苦口之藥，何況後人之不逮哉！ Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang were supreme sages; Wen, Wu, Cheng, and Kang were supremely enlightened—yet they still welcomed unwelcome counsel and sought bitter medicine for the state. How much more must lesser rulers do so!