Zu Ji Explained

Zu Ji was the eldest son of King Wu Ding but despite his kingly title he never succeeded his father as a Shang dynasty King of China. In later texts he is known as Xiao Ji, while contemporary inscriptions record his name as Jie .^[1]

In the Records of the Grand Historian he was said by Sima Qian to have died in distant exile during the twenty-fifth year of his father's reign.^[2]

Oracle script inscriptions on bones unearthed at Yinxu confirm his lineage and his failure to succeed to the throne.^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Keightley, David N.. The Shang: China's First Historical Dynasty. David Keightley. The Cambridge History of Ancient China

   From the Origins of Civilization to 221 B.C.

   . Loewe. Michael. Michael Loewe. Shaughnessy. Edward L.. Edward L. Shaughnessy. Cambridge University Press. 1999. 0-521-47030-7. 275.
2. Book: Bai, Shouyi . An Outline History of China . 2002 . Foreign Language Press . Beijing . 7-119-02347-0.
3. Web site: The Shang Dynasty Rulers . August 7, 2007 . China Knowledge .
4. Web site: Shang Kingship And Shang Kinship . August 7, 2007 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20080409215121/http://www.indiana.edu/~g380/Kings.pdf . April 9, 2008 . dead .