Duke Wu of Zheng explained

Duke Wu of Zheng
鄭武公
Duke of Zheng
Succession:Ruler of Zheng
Reign:770–744 BC
Predecessor:Duke Huan of Zheng
Successor:Duke Zhuang of Zheng
Full Name:Ancestral name

Ji (姬)
Given name: Juetu (掘突)

Death Date:744 BC
Father:Duke Huan of Zheng
Spouse:Wu Jiang (武姜)
Gui Gui (圭媯)
Issue:Duke Zhuang
Gongshu Duan (共叔段)
House:Ji
Dynasty:Zheng
Posthumous Name:Duke Wu (武公)

Duke Wu of Zheng (; 770 - 744 BC), personal name Ji Juetu, was the second ruler of the Zheng state during the Spring and Autumn period in ancient China. He assumed the throne after his father, Duke Huan of Zheng, was killed alongside King You of Zhou in a 771 BC Quanrong attack on the Western Zhou capital Haojing. Duke Wu, alongside Duke Xiang of Qin[1] supported King Ping of Zhou's flight to Chengzhou by securing the Central Plains,[2] where Duke Huan had previously relocated Zheng. Duke Wu later annexed the states of Eastern Guo (東虢), Hu (胡), Kuai (鄶), and Ji (祭).

Succession crisis

Despite his wife's (Wu Jiang's) requests, Duke Wu did not make his younger son, Gongshu Duan, his heir; he instead favored Wusheng, the future Duke Zhuang.[3] Additionally, he made Duan the ruler of Jing, Zheng's capital.[2] These factors caused Duan to rebel against Duke Zhuang after their father's death.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Han, Zhaoqi (2010). "Annals of Qin". Annotated Shiji (in Chinese). Zhonghua Book Company.
  2. Web site: The Regional State of Zheng 鄭 (www.chinaknowledge.de). Ulrich. Theobald. www.chinaknowledge.de.
  3. Durrant, Stephen; Li, Wai-yee; Schaberg, David (2016). Zuo Tradition (Zuozhuan): Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals". Seattle: University of Washington Press.