King Zhou of Shang (紂)

Overview

King Zhou of Shang was a Last king of Shang, remembered in later histories as a tyrant.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Zhou of Yin	殷紂	Yīn Zhòu
Temple name	Emperor Xin	帝辛

Life and dates

Death

BC 1046 武王滅紂
Overthrown · Agent Person Id King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 13
BC 1046 周武王克殷紂
Dynastic conquest
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 155
Assassinated
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 439
Self immolation · At Deer Terrace 鹿臺
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 224

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 22; Book of Northern Qi 50, passage 51; Book of Han 20, passage 14; Book of Han 22, passage 15; Book of Han 25, passage 87; Book of Han 51, passage 42; Book of Han 65, passages 258, 272; Book of Han 68, passage 59; Book of Han 101, passage 152; Book of Later Han 38, passage 21; History of Jin 46, passage 51; Book of Jin 128, passage 269; Book of Liang 16, passage 110; History of Liao 78, passage 64; Book of Southern Qi 8, passage 57; Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passages 89, 222, 241; Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 99; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 22; Records of the Grand Historian 65, passage 111; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 89; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 38; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 15; Book of Sui 43, passage 44; New Book of Tang 172, passage 211; New History of the Five Dynasties 2, passage 144; Book of Zhou 9, passage 18
BC 1075 to BC 1046 BC 1075-1046
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 32, passage 104
BC 1046 Cited in banquet remonstrance
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 78
c. BC 1046 fall of Shang
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 115
BC 1050 to BC 1040 伐紂
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 40
BC 1046 周武王之滅紂
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 2

Show 29 more source-backed claims

BC 1046 周武王克殷紂
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 155
BC 1050 商末
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 3, passage 83
BC 1100 to BC 1046 商末紂王
Strongly inferred · History of Song 436, passage 67
BC 1075 to BC 1046 商紂之世
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passages 43-44
BC 1046 商紂約BC1046
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 23
BC 1046 夏桀、殷紂
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 25, passage 15
BC 1075 to BC 1046 帝辛，是為紂
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 439
BC 1075 to BC 1046 帝辛
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 173
BC 1046 曰紂可伐
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 6, passage 141
BC 1075 to BC 1046 桀、紂 (Zhou Xin's own late-Shang reign, not the Han rescript)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 65, passage 213
BC 1075 to BC 1046 桀、紂
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passages 169, 184
BC 1046 桀紂
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 98, 102
BC 1046 武王伐紂
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 45, passage 182
BC 1046 武王伐紂
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 25, passage 3
BC 1046 武王伐紂
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 113, 132
BC 1046 武王將伐紂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 34, passage 41
BC 1046 武王滅紂
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 13
c. BC 1046 武王誅紂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 28, passage 48
BC 1046 殷紂亡
Directly stated · Book of Song 7, passage 197
BC 1046 殷紂墨墨以亡
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 68, passage 140
BC 1046 殷辛
Directly stated · Book of Song 7, passage 149
BC 1050 沙丘紂淫地
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 127
BC 1075 to BC 1046 紂
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 65, passage 64
BC 1050 紂
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passages 61-62
BC 1100 to BC 1046 紂之時
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 70, passage 10
BC 1046 紂之時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 95
BC 1046 紂剖比干
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 78
BC 1075 to BC 1046 紂為無道
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 100
BC 1075 to BC 1046 至於殷紂
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 153, 159

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Daji (妲己)
Concubinage
consort 妲己 · Concubinage
Sources vary in certainty · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 179; Book of Han 117, passage 43
Sibling of Weizi Qi (微子啟)
elder brother by a concubine 庶兄 · Paternal half siblings
younger brother 少子 · Paternal half siblings
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 111; Records of the Grand Historian 3, passages 171-172
Sibling of Weizi (微子)
elder brother 元兄 · Full siblings
Weizi 微子 · Paternal half siblings
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Sui 43, passage 44; Book of Southern Qi 45, passage 182
Child of Emperor Yi (帝乙)
father 父
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passages 172-173
Child of Mother of Xin (辛母)
mother 母
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 172
Parent of Wugeng (武庚)
son 子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 228
Kin of Weizi (微子)
Weizi of Shang 微子 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 48
Kin of Weizi (微子)
Weizi 微子
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 100
Spouse of Daughter of the Marquis of Jiu (九侯女)
Uncertain · Ended
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 188

Kinship Role heirs · Count 0 · Negated true
Directly stated · History of Song 436, passage 67
Kinship Role descendants · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 113, 132

Key source chapters

Career and standing

tyrant-king 紂
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 272

Places and affiliations

Shang-Yin 殷
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passages 22, 28
Shang 商
Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 78
Polity Shang 商 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 65, passages 64, 213; Book of Liang 6, passage 141; Records of the Grand Historian 25, passages 3, 15; History of Song 436, passage 67
Polity Shang 商 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 13; Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passages 169, 184; Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 2; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 89
Polity Shang 殷 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 153, 156; Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 113, 136
Polity Yin-Shang 殷 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passages 222, 241

Show 1 more source-backed claim

At Shaqiu 沙丘 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 127

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passages 207, 217

Events and relationships

Accepted evil counsel
Political · Ruler · With Yuxin (于莘), Marquis of Chong (崇侯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 15
Advanced slanderers hid the worthy state fell
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 272
Attacked by King Wu
Military · Defeated · With King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 40
Attacked by
Military · Defeated ruler · With King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 22
Attacked by
Military · Target · With King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 25, passage 3
Captured by Tang and King Wu
Military · Defeated ruler · With King Tang (湯), King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 87

Show 19 more source-backed claims

Cited as a negative ancient ruler
Political · Exemplum
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 213
Conquered by
Military · Defeated ruler · With King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 155
Destroyed by
Military · Defeated ruler · With King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 13
Dried into jerky
Legal · Authority · With Marquis of E (鄂侯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 63
Enjoyed the state more than ten years then perished gradually
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 273
Executed good counselors followed evil
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 14
Executed
Legal · Ruler · With Bi Gan (比干) · Outcome Good counsel rejected
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 15
Imprisoned at Youli
Legal · Authority · With King Wen (文王) · At Youli 牖里
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 64
Invoked as a comparison for damaged royal majesty
Literary allusion · Tyrannical exemplar · Mode quotation Speaker Lu Kai (陸凱)
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 89
Invoked in rebuke
Allusion · Tyrant compared · Mode speech Speaker Zhou Chang (周昌)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 38
Minced
Legal · Authority · With Marquis of Jiu (九侯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 62
Opposed Heaven and slaughtered the worthy
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 153
Overthrown by
Military · Defeated ruler · With King Wu (武王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 113, 132
Practiced cruelty
Political · Ruler · Outcome the people turned coarse and died young 民鄙夭 · With Jie (桀)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 64
Shown drunk with Daji
Literary depiction · Subject of painting
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 43
Still occupied the throne while Wen toiled
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 159
Tortured and killed innocent
Legal · Perpetrator · With Bi Gan (比干)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 78
Was slain by King Wu
Historical exemplum · Defeated ruler · With King Wu (武王)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 28, passage 48
Wrestled beasts and chased horses
Military · Participant
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 25, passage 15

Assessments and attributes

Assessment brave-but-authority-failed · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 25, passages 15-16, 19
Assessment caused-fall-of-Shang-Yin · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 8, passage 57
Assessment cited as a tyrant who could be punished · Mode direct-quotation Speaker High Ancestor (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 6, passage 141
Assessment cited as tyrannical model matched to Murong Chao · Mode named-source-report Speaker Feng Fu (封孚)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 128, passage 269
Assessment clever, strong, and self-regarding · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passages 174, 177
Assessment cruel and tyrannical · Mode quotation Speaker Yuan Gu (轅固)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 98

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Assessment grieved over as a fading and perishing model · Mode quotation Speaker Son of Heaven (天子)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 213
Assessment Hated by ten thousand ages without needing demotion from kingship · Mode historian-judgment Speaker yu (予)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 2, passage 144
Assessment insufficient comparison for Ziye's cruelty · Mode quotation Speaker Grand Empress Dowager (太皇太后)
Directly stated · Book of Song 7, passage 149
Assessment lost his state and is cursed by later generations · Mode quotation Speaker Lu Kai (陸凱)
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 222
Assessment perished through flattering silence · Mode named-source-report Speaker Zhao Liang (趙良)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 68, passage 140
Assessment practiced cruelty · Mode quoted-speech
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 64
Assessment practiced evil and received Heaven's punishment · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Gongsun Hong (公孫弘)
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 59
Assessment site of debauchery · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 127
Assessment to be mourned and feared as a warning · Mode quotation Speaker Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 258, 270
Assessment tyrannical like Jie · Mode quoted-speech Speaker King Xi of Yan (燕王喜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 98
Assessment utter folly: can join in evil but not in good · Mode named-source-report Source Work the Tradition 傳
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passages 15-16
Assessment violent, contrary, inhumane, lost the Way · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 272-273
Assessment won many battles yet left no heir · Mode quotation Speaker Luan Shu (欒書)
Directly stated · History of Song 436, passage 67
Item jade terraces 瑤臺 · Relation Possessed
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 241
Item Lutai treasury 鹿台 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · History of Jin 46, passage 51

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 64, 213; Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 113; History of Song 436, passage 67; Book of Song 7, passages 149, 197
Historicity legendary
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 22; Book of Later Han 38, passage 21; History of Jin 46, passage 51; Book of Jin 128, passage 269; Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passages 89, 222, 241; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 22; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 89; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 38; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 15; New Book of Tang 172, passage 211
Historicity legendary
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 65, passage 258; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 98
Value historical
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 13
Value legendary
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 20
twenty-nine generations from Tang to Zhou; forty-six from Yellow Emperor to Zhou
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 440

References in the histories

Search passages

History

112 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 3Volume 3 Annals 3: Emperor Wenxiang · 1 passage

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然億兆夷人，卒降十亂，紂之百克，終自無後，潁川之戰，即是殷監。 Yet when the hundred millions of the Yi people submitted, Zhou's ten capable ministers prevailed; King Zhou's hundred victories in the end left him without heirs—the battle at Yingchuan is the warning of Yin.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 31Volume 31 Biographies 23: Wang Xin; Wang Xi · 2 passages

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昕曰：「商辛沈湎，其亡也忽諸，府主自忽，微僚敢任其咎。」 Xin said, "King Zhou of Shang sank in debauchery; his fall came in an instant. The house master slighted himself; may a petty officer bear the blame?"

子默遂以昕言啟顯祖，仍曰：「王元景比陛下於殷紂。」 Zimo then reported Xin's words to Gao Yang, adding, "Wang Yuanjing compares Your Majesty to King Zhou of Shang."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 50Volume 50 Biographies 42: Favored by Nobles · 1 passage

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至說世祖云：「自古帝王，盡為灰燼，堯、舜、桀、紂，竟復何異？ He even told Shizu, "Every emperor since antiquity ends as ashes—what difference between Yao, Shun, Jie, and Zhou?

Book of Han, Chapter 20Table of Ancient and Modern Persons · 1 passage

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桀紂，龍逢、比干欲與之為善則誅，于莘、崇侯與之為惡則行。 By contrast, with Jie and Zhou, Long Feng and Bi Gan were executed for trying to do what was right with them, while Yu Xin and the Marquis of Chong were followed when they proposed evil.

Book of Han, Chapter 22Volume 20: Prominent People from the Past Until the Present · 1 passage

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桀紂，龍逢、比干欲與之為善則誅，于莘、崇侯與之為惡則行。 By contrast, with Jie and Zhou, Long Feng and Bi Gan were executed for trying to do what was right with them, while Yuxin and the Marquis of Chong were followed when they proposed evil.

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 1 passage

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湯、武征伐，陳師誓眾，而放禽桀、紂，所謂善陳不戰者也。 Tang and Wu's legitimacy made victory decisive once forces were arrayed, minimizing prolonged combat.

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 1 passage

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相國為民請吾苑不許，我不過為桀紂主，而相國為賢相。 Had I refused your plea for the people, I would have ranked with Jie and Zhou, while you stood as the good minister.

Book of Han, Chapter 51Volume 42: Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu · 1 passage

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昌仰曰：「陛下即桀、紂之主也。」 Zhou Chang looked him in the eye and said, "You are a sovereign in the mold of Jie or Zhou—the last kings of Xia and Shang."

Book of Han, Chapter 65Volume 56: Dong Zhongshu · 8 passages

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故堯、舜行德則民仁壽，桀、紂行暴則民鄙夭。 Under Yao and Shun’s virtue the people grew humane and long-lived; under Jie and Zhou Xin’s cruelty they turned coarse and died young.

至於殷紂，逆天暴物，殺戮賢知，殘賊百姓。 Zhou Xin of Shang defied Heaven, ravaged the world, butchered wise men, and tortured the people.

當此之時，紂尚在上，尊卑昏亂，百姓散亡，故文王悼痛而欲安之，是以日昃而不暇食民。 At that time Zhou Xin still occupied the throne, high and low were thrown into confusion, and the people were scattered and lost. King Wen grieved over them and sought to bring them peace, working until the sun slanted west without leisure even to eat.

故朕垂問乎天人之應，上嘉唐虞，下悼桀、紂，浸微浸滅浸明浸昌之道，虛心以改。 So I ask how Heaven answers man, praising Yao and Shun above, mourning Jie and Zhou below, tracing how states fade or flourish—hoping to mend my ways with an open heart.

冊曰：「上嘉唐、虞，下悼桀、紂，浸微浸滅浸明浸昌之道，虛心以改。」 Your rescript asked me to praise Yao and Shun, mourn Jie and Zhou Xin, and trace how kingdoms wither or wax—so you may reform with an open heart.

此唐、虞之所以得令名，而桀、紂之可為悼懼者也。 That is how Yao and Shun won praise, and how Jie and Zhou became warnings.

故桀、紂暴謾，讒賊並進，賢知隱伏，惡日顯，國日亂，晏然自以如日在天，終陵夷而大壞。 Jie and Zhou grew cruel and slack; flatterers swarmed while sages hid; evil mounted, the realm rotted, yet they lolled as if the sun would never set—then came the crash.

夫暴逆不仁者，非一日而亡也，亦以漸至，故桀、紂雖亡道，然猶享國十餘年，此其浸微浸滅之道也。 Tyrants do not fall overnight; Jie and Zhou clung to the throne years after the Way was gone—such is the slow slide to ruin.

Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 1 passage

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桀、紂行惡，受天之罰； Jie and Zhou did wickedness and bore Heaven's stroke;

Book of Han, Chapter 76Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo · 2 passages

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夫殷作九市之宮而諸侯畔，靈王起章華之台而楚民散，秦興阿房之殿而天下亂。 King Zhou of Yin built his pleasure tower and the lords turned against him; King Ling of Chu raised Zhanghua and his people fled; Qin built Epang and the empire fell apart.

先生對曰：「昔者關龍逢深諫於桀，而王子比干直言於紂，此二臣者，皆極慮盡忠，閔王澤不下流，而萬民騷動，故直言其失，切諫其邪者，將以為君之榮，除主之禍也。 The gentleman replied, saying: "Formerly Guan Longpeng remonstrated deeply with Jie, and Prince Bigan spoke straight with Zhou—these two ministers both exhausted thought and fulfilled loyalty, pitied that the king's grace did not flow downward while the myriad people were restless; therefore they spoke straight of his faults and cut remonstrance of his wickedness, intending thereby to be the lord's glory and remove the ruler's disaster.

Book of Han, Chapter 101Volume 89: Upright Officials · 1 passage

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曰：「臣聞膠西王有諛臣侯得，王所為擬於桀、紂也，得以為堯、舜也。 Gong Sui explained: "He kept a flatterer named Hou De who masked conduct worthy of Jie and Zhou with praise fit for Yao and Shun.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 2 passages

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時乘輿幄坐張畫屏風，畫紂醉踞妲己作長夜之樂。 Beside the imperial couch stood painted screens of King Zhou drunk and draped over Daji in the revels of the endless night.

上以伯新起，數目禮之，因顧指畫而問伯：「紂為無道，至於是虖？」 Noting that Ban Bo had lately returned to favor, the emperor kept glancing at him politely, then jerked his chin at the scene and asked Ban Bo, "Was wicked King Zhou really as bad as this?"

Book of Later Han, Chapter 28Volume 25: Biography of Zhuo, Lu, Wei, Liu · 1 passage

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夫名冠天下，當受天下重賞，故武王誅紂，封比幹之墓，表商容之閭。 A reputation that towers over the empire deserves the empire's richest honors—King Wu slew Zhou yet honored Bi Gan's grave and marked Shang Rong's gate.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 1 passage

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吊夏桀於南巢兮，哭殷紂於牧野。 I mourn Jie of Xia besieged at Southern Nest and Zhou of Yin defeated at Muye.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 34Volume 30a: Biographies of Su Jing; Yang Hou · 1 passage

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畢為天網，主網羅無道之君，故武王將伐紂，上祭於畢，求助天也。 Bi is the celestial net that snares wicked rulers. King Wu therefore sacrificed at Bi before marching against Shang, invoking Heaven’s aid.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 38Volume 33: Biographies of Zhu, Feng, Yu, Zheng, Zhou · 1 passage

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惜乎棄休令之嘉名，造梟鴟之逆謀，捐傳世之慶祚，招破敗之重災，高論堯、舜之道，不忍桀、紂之性，生為世笑，死為愚鬼，不亦哀乎！ What a waste—to trade a good name for treason fit for birds of prey, to throw away lasting fortune and court ruin, to preach Yao and Shun while indulging a temper worthy of Jie and Zhou: mocked in life, a fool in death—is that not tragedy?

Book of Later Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Treatise on the Dongyi · 1 passage

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及武王滅紂，肅慎來獻石砮、楛矢。 After King Wu overthrew the last Shang king, envoys from Sushen brought gifts of stone arrowheads and hornwood shafts.

History of Jin, Chapter 46Volume 46 Treatises 27: Finance and Economics 1: Thorough Examination and Organization of Registered Residences · 1 passage

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曆觀自古財聚民散，以至亡國，若鹿台、钜橋之類，不足論也。 History shows states ruined by amassing wealth while dispersing the people—think of King Zhou's Lutai or the Juqiao hoard—cases too familiar to rehearse.

Book of Jin, Chapter 128Volume 128 Records 28: Murong Chao · 1 passage

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孚對曰：「桀紂之主。」 Fu answered: “Lords Jie and Zhou.”

Book of Liang, Chapter 6Volume 6: Emperor Jing · 1 passage

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曰紂可伐，不其而會，龍躍樊、漢，電擊湘、郢，剪離德如振槁，取獨夫如拾遺。 He said Zhou could be punished; allies assembled unlooked-for; he leapt like a dragon at Fan and Han and struck like lightning at Xiang and Ying; cutting down those of alienated virtue was like shaking dry stalks; taking the lone tyrant was like picking up what was lost.

Book of Liang, Chapter 16Volume 16: Wang Liang; Zhang Ji; Wang Ying · 1 passage

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商紂暴虐，鼎遷于周。 Shang's Zhou was violent and cruel, and the tripod moved to Zhou.

History of Liao, Chapter 78Volume 78 Biographies 8: Yelu Yilage, Xiao Haili, Xiao Husi, Xiao Siwen, Xiao Jixian · 1 passage

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武王之伐紂也，數其罪曰「無辜籲天」； when Wu attacked Zhou, he recited his crimes: "The innocent cry to Heaven";

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 8Volume 8 Annals 8: Emperor He of Southern Qi · 1 passage

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史臣曰：夏以桀亡，殷隨紂滅，郊天改朔，理無延世。 The historian says: Xia perished through Jie; Yin fell with Zhou of Shang; when sacrifices to Heaven were changed and the calendar revised, dynastic rule could not be prolonged.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 45Volume 45 Biographies 26: The Imperial Clan · 1 passage

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若爾，何以不言『武王伐紂，何意不立微子而輔之，苟貪天下？』」 If so, why not say, 'When King Wu attacked King Zhou, why did he not establish Weizi and assist him, but greedily seize the realm under Heaven?'"

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 33Volume 33: Book of Shu 3: Biography of the Later Lord · 1 passage

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是以湯、武脩德而王，桀、紂極暴而亡。 Tang of Shang and King Wu won the throne by moral cultivation; Jie and Zhou lost it through brutality pushed to the limit.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 37Volume 37: Book of Shu 7: Biographies of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng · 1 passage

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先主醉，怒曰：「武王伐紂，前歌后舞，非仁者邪？ Drunk, Liu Bei flared: “King Wu punished Zhou while soldiers sang in front and danced behind—was that inhumane?

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 61Volume 61: Book of Wu 16: Biographies of Pan Jun and Lu Kai · 5 passages

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君威傷於桀、紂，君明暗於奸雄，君惠閉於群孽。 your majesty's authority has been battered like that of Jie and Zhou, your judgment clouded by schemers, and your benevolence smothered by a swarm of villains.

昔桀、紂滅由妖婦，幽、厲亂在嬖妾，先帝鑒之，以為身戒。 Jie and Zhou fell to sorceresses, You and Li to favorite concubines; the late emperor took warning.

夫酒以成札，過則敗德，此無異商辛長夜之飲也，是不遵先帝九也； Wine should seal courtesy; excess destroys virtue—no better than King Zhou of Shang drinking the long night away. This is the ninth fault;

臣常忿亡国之人夏桀、殷纣，亦不可使后人复忿陛下也。 I have always hated how men curse Jie and Zhou of the lost dynasties—I cannot bear to hear posterity curse you in the same breath.

陛下不务脩德，而务筑宫室，若德之不脩，行之不贵，虽殷辛之瑶台，秦皇之阿房，何止而不丧身覆国，宗庙作墟乎？ You labor at brick and mortar instead of virtue; without moral rule, not even King Zhou's jade towers or Qin Shihuang's Epang could save you from death, ruin, and a temple in ashes.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 62Volume 62: Book of Wu 17: Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong · 1 passage

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上書曰：“臣聞紂為無道，微子先出。 He presented a memorial: "I have heard that when Zhou was cruel, Weizi left the court first.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 3Annals of Yin · 29 passages

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少子辛，辛母正后，辛為嗣。 The younger son Xin had a queen mother and became heir.

帝乙崩，子辛立，是為帝辛，天下謂之紂。 When Yi died, Xin ruled as Emperor Xin, the man the world calls Zhou.

帝紂資辨捷疾，聞見甚敏； Zhou was quick-witted and sharp of hearing and sight;

百姓怨望而諸侯有畔者，於是紂乃重刑辟，有炮格之法。 The people muttered and lords rebelled; Zhou answered with crueller laws and the heated-pillar torture.

九侯有好女，入之紂。 The Nine Marquises offered a beautiful daughter to the court.

九侯女不喜淫，紂怒，殺之，而醢九侯。 She disliked debauchery; Zhou killed her in fury and had the Nine Marquises ground to paste.

鄂侯爭之彊，辨之疾，并脯鄂侯。 The Marquis of E remonstrated fiercely; Zhou had him pickled as well.

崇侯虎知之，以告紂，紂囚西伯羑里。 Chonghou Hu informed on him, and Zhou jailed the Western Earl at Youli.

西伯之臣閎夭之徒，求美女奇物善馬以獻紂，紂乃赦西伯。 His men Hongyao and the rest ransomed him with beauties, treasures, and horses, and Zhou set him free.

紂乃許之，賜弓矢斧鉞，使得征伐，為西伯。 Zhou agreed and gave him bow, axe, and halberd with authority to wage war as Western Earl.

紂又用惡來。 Zhou also employed E Lai.

西伯歸，乃陰修德行善，諸侯多叛紂而往歸西伯。 The Western Earl went home and quietly built virtue; many lords forsook Zhou for him.

西伯滋大，紂由是稍失權重。 As the Western Earl grew mighty, Zhou's grip slackened.

王子比干諫，弗聽。 Prince Bigan remonstrated; Zhou would not hear him.

商容賢者，百姓愛之，紂廢之。 Shang Rong was worthy and beloved; Zhou dismissed him.

及西伯伐饑國，滅之，紂之臣祖伊聞之而咎周，恐，奔告紂曰：「天既訖我殷命，假人元龜，無敢知吉，非先王不相我後人，維王淫虐用自絕，故天棄我，不有安食，不虞知天性，不迪率典。 When the Western Earl destroyed Ji, Zuyi, a minister of Zhou, heard of it, was alarmed by the Zhou state's rise, and rushed in fear to warn King Zhou, saying, "Heaven has ended Yin's mandate; even the great tortoise cannot show good fortune. It is not that the former kings have forsaken us, but that the king's cruelty has cut us off from Heaven, so we lack peace, ignore Heaven's will, and spurn the statutes.

紂曰：「我生不有命在天乎！」 Zhou said, "Was I not born with Heaven’s mandate?"

祖伊反，曰：「紂不可諫矣。」 Zu Yi returned and said, "Zhou can no longer be remonstrated with."

諸侯皆曰：「紂可伐矣。」 The feudal lords all said, "Zhou can be attacked now."

紂愈淫亂不止。 Zhou sank deeper into vice without end.

乃彊諫紂。 He then rebuked Zhou bluntly.

紂怒曰：「吾聞聖人心有七竅。」 Zhou raged, "I hear a sage's heart has seven chambers."

箕子懼，乃詳狂為奴，紂又囚之。 Jizi feigned madness as a slave in terror; Zhou jailed him too.

周武王於是遂率諸侯伐紂。 King Wu then led the host against Zhou.

紂亦發兵距之牧野。 Zhou sent an army to meet him at Muye.

甲子日，紂兵敗。 On the jiazi day, Zhou’s army was defeated.

紂走入，登鹿臺，衣其寶玉衣，赴火而死。 Zhou fled inside, climbed the Deer Terrace, put on his robe of precious jades, and threw himself into the flames.

周武王遂斬紂頭，縣之［大］白旗。 King Wu of Zhou then cut off Zhou’s head and hung it from the great white banner.

封紂子武庚、祿父，以續殷祀，令修行盤庚之政。 He enfeoffed Zhou's son Wugeng—Lufu—to keep Yin sacrifices and follow Pangeng's rule.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 13Genealogical Tables of the Three Dynasties · 4 passages

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帝辛，是為紂。弒。 Emperor Xin was Zhou. He was assassinated.

從湯至紂二十九世，從黃帝至紂四十六世。 Twenty-nine generations from Tang to Zhou; forty-six generations from the Yellow Emperor to Zhou.

秦惡來，助紂。父飛廉，有力。 Qin: E Lai, assisted King Zhou. Father Fei Lian, who was strong.

宋微子啟，紂庶兄。初封。 Song: Wei Zi Qi, elder brother of King Zhou by a concubine. First enfeoffment.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 23Treatise on Ritual · 1 passage

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紂剖比干，囚箕子，為炮格，刑殺無辜，時臣下懔然，莫必其命。 Zhou disemboweled Bi Gan, imprisoned Jizi, devised the heated-pillar torture, and punished and killed the innocent. At that time, the ministers below were terrified, and none were certain of their fate.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 25Treatise on the Pitch-Pipes · 2 passages

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武王伐紂，吹律聽聲，推孟春以至于季冬，殺氣相并，而音尚宮。 When King Wu campaigned against Zhou, he blew the pitch-pipes and listened to the sounds, extending this from the first month of spring to the last month of winter. The killing qi joined together, but the sound still favored gong.

夏桀、殷紂手搏豺狼，足追四馬，勇非微也； Xia Jie and Yin Zhou wrestled the jackals and wolves with their hands, chased the four horses with their feet—their bravery was not small.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 34House of Yan Shaogong · 1 passage

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周武王之滅紂，封召公於北燕。 When King Wu of Zhou destroyed King Zhou, he enfeoffed the Duke of Shao in Northern Yan.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 36Houses of Chen and Qi · 1 passage

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周武王克殷紂，求禹之後，得東樓公，封之於杞，以奉夏后氏祀。 King Wu of Zhou conquered Yin Zhou and sought Yu's descendants. He obtained Duke Dong Lou and enfeoffed him at Qi to continue the Xiahou clan's sacrifices.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 53House of Chancellor Xiao · 1 passage

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相國為民請苑，吾不許，我不過為桀紂主，而相國為賢相。 You petitioned for the park on behalf of the people, and I refused. That only makes me a tyrant like Jie or Zhou, while you are a worthy minister.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 2 passages

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武王伐紂，封其後於宋。 When King Wu overthrew Zhou, he enfeoffed Zhou's descendants in Song.

武王伐紂封其後於宋者，度能得紂之頭也。 King Wu overthrew the tyrant Zhou and granted his descendants a fief at Song only because he was certain he could take Zhou's head.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 61Biographies: Biography of Bo Yi · 1 passage

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及至，西伯卒，武王載木主，號為文王，東伐紂。 When they arrived, the Earl of the West had died. King Wu carried the wooden spirit tablet, styled him King Wen, and marched east to attack King Zhou.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 65Biographies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi · 1 passage

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殷紂之國，左孟門，右太行，常山在其北，大河經其南，修政不德，武王殺之。 King Zhou of Yin had Mengmen Pass on the left and the Taihang Mountains on the right, Changshan to the north and the great river flowing south. He practiced unvirtuous government, so King Wu killed him.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 68Biography of Lord Shang · 1 passage

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武王諤諤以昌，殷紂墨墨以亡。 King Wu prospered through frankness, while Yin Zhou perished through flattery.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 74Biographies of Mengzi and Xun Qing · 1 passage

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笔武王以仁義伐紂而王，伯夷餓不食周粟； Formerly King Wu used benevolence and righteousness to attack Zhou and became king, but Bo Yi starved rather than eat Zhou grain;

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80Biography of Yue Yi · 4 passages

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燕王恨不用樂閒，樂閒既在趙，乃遺樂閒書曰：「紂之時，箕子不用，犯諫不怠，以冀其聽； The king of Yan regretted not having listened to Yue Xian. Since Yue Xian was now in Zhao, he sent him a letter: "In the time of Zhou, Jizi was not used, yet he kept remonstrating at personal risk, hoping Zhou would listen;

商容不達，身祇辱焉，以冀其變。 Shang Rong was ignored, yet he endured humiliation in hope that Zhou would change.

故紂負桀暴之累，二子不失忠聖之名。 Thus, Zhou carried the infamy of Jie's tyranny, while those two men kept their reputations as loyal sages.

今寡人雖愚，不若紂之暴也； Now though I am foolish, not like Zhou's tyranny;

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 5 passages

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昔者九侯、鄂侯、文王，紂之三公也。 In ancient times, the Marquis of Jiu, the Marquis of E, and King Wen were the three high ministers of the tyrant Zhou.

九侯有子而好，獻之於紂，紂以為惡，醢九侯。 The Marquis of Jiu had a beautiful daughter whom he presented to Zhou, but Zhou found her displeasing and had the Marquis made into mincemeat.

鄂侯爭之彊，辯之疾，故脯鄂侯。 The Marquis of E protested vigorously and argued heatedly on his behalf, so Zhou had the Marquis of E dried into jerky.

文王聞之，喟然而嘆，故拘之牖里之庫百日，欲令之死。 When King Wen heard of this, he heaved a deep sigh—and for that, Zhou imprisoned him at Youli for a hundred days, intending to let him die there.

曷為與人俱稱王，卒就脯醢之地？ Why was it that men who shared the title of king with the tyrant Zhou ended up as jerky and mincemeat?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 88Biography of Meng Tian · 1 passage

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桀殺關龍逢，紂殺王子比干而不悔，身死則國亡。 The tyrant Jie killed the loyal Guan Longfeng, and the tyrant Zhou killed Prince Bigan without remorse. Both perished, and their kingdoms fell with them.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 96Biography of Chancellor Zhang · 1 passage

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昌仰曰：「陛下即桀紂之主也。」 Chang looked up and said, "Your Majesty is just the sort of ruler Jie and Zhou were."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 99Biographies of Liu Jing and Shusun Tong · 1 passage

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武王伐紂，不期而會孟津之上八百諸侯，皆曰紂可伐矣，遂滅殷。 When King Wu marched against Zhou, eight hundred lords gathered unbidden at Mengjin. All said, 'Zhou can be attacked,' and he then destroyed the Yin dynasty.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 121Biographies of Confucian Scholars · 2 passages

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夫桀紂虐亂，天下之心皆歸湯武，湯武與天下之心而誅桀紂，桀紂之民不為之使而歸湯武，湯武不得已而立，非受命為何？」 Jie and Zhou were cruel and tyrannical, and the hearts of all under Heaven turned to Tang and Wu. Tang and Wu, acting in accord with the will of the people, punished Jie and Zhou. The people under Jie and Zhou refused to serve their rulers and turned to Tang and Wu instead. Tang and Wu had no choice but to take the throne. If this is not receiving the Mandate of Heaven, then what is?"

今桀紂雖失道，然君上也； Jie and Zhou, though they lost the Way, were still the sovereign above;

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 129Biographies of Money-Makers · 1 passage

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中山地薄人眾，猶有沙丘紂淫地餘民，民俗懁急，仰機利而食。 Zhongshan has thin soil and a dense population, and still harbors remnant populations from Shaqiu, the site of Zhou of Shang's debaucheries. The customs are crafty and impetuous, and the people depend on cunning and profit-seeking for their livelihood.

History of Song, Chapter 436Volume 436 Biographies 195: Confucian Scholars 6: Chen Liang, Zheng Qiaolinting, Li Daochuan · 1 passage

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勝之不可保，紂之百克而卒無後。』」 Victory is not sure; Zhou won a hundred fights yet had no heir.'"

Book of Song, Chapter 7Volume 7 Annals 7: Emperor Fei I · 2 passages

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苛罰酷令，終無紀極，夏桀、殷辛，未足以譬。 Harsh punishments and cruel ordinances knew no limit; even Jie of Xia and Xin of Yin would not suffice for comparison.

若夫武王數殷紂之釁，不能絓其萬一； When King Wu of Zhou counted the crimes of King Zhou of Yin, he could not exhaust one part in ten thousand;

Book of Sui, Chapter 43Volume 43 Biographies 8: He Jian Wanghong, Yang Chugang, Yang Zichong, Guang De, Wang Xiong · 1 passage

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夫微子紂之元兄，族實為重，項伯籍之季父，戚乃非疏，然猶去朝歌而入周，背西楚而歸漢。 Wei Zi was King Zhou of Shang's own elder brother—the tie of blood could scarcely have been closer; Xiang Bo was Xiang Ji of Western Chu's uncle—hardly a distant kinsman—yet both men left Chaoge to join King Wu of Zhou, and turned from Western Chu to serve the Han.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 70Volume 70 Tables 10A: Imperial Clan Lineages 1A · 1 passage

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至紂之時，理徵字德靈，為翼隸中吳伯，以直道不容於紂，得罪而死。 Under King Zhou of Shang, Li Zheng, styled Deling, was Earl of Zhongwu in Yizhou. His upright conduct won no favor with Zhou, and he was put to death for his offense.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 172Volume 172 Biographies 97: Yu, Wang, Two Du's, Fan · 2 passages

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于頔，字允元，後周太師謹七世孫。 Yu Di, style name Yunyuan, was a seventh-generation descendant of Yu Jin, grand tutor of Northern Zhou.

隴西李衡在坐，曰：「使桀、紂為之，不是過也！」 Li Heng of Longxi, who was present, remarked, "Jie and Zhou could hardly have outdone this!"

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 2Volume 2 Later Liang Annals 2: Taizu 2 · 1 passage

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桀、纣，不待贬其王，而万世所共恶者也。 Jie and Zhou needed no demotion from kingship—the ages have condemned them of themselves.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 9Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses · 1 passage

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雖辛、癸之荒淫，趙、李之傾惑，曾未足比其髣髴也。 Even the debauchery of Kings Zhou and Li of old and the seductive sway of Zhao Feiyan and Lady Li of Han barely approach this in likeness.