Weizi of Song

Weizi (Chinese: 微子) also spelled Wei Tsze, was the first ruler of Song. He was the subject of Chapter 18 of the Analects of Confucius.

Weizi of Song
宋微子
Duke of Song
Reignc. 1038-1025 BC
PredecessorNew title
SuccessorWeizhong
Full name
Ancestral name: Zǐ (子)
Lineage name: Sòng (宋)
Given name: Qǐ (啓)
FatherDi Yi of Shang

Weizi was the eldest son of Di Yi. He was also a half-brother of the last Shang king, Di Xin (better known as King Zhou of Shang).[1] Di Xin gave himself over to drinking, women and abandoned morals. Weizi tried to persuade him not to do, but Di Xin ignored. Subsequently, Weizi resigned and withdrew from the court.[2]

When Zhou dynasty conquered the Shang kingdom, Weizi submitted and presented the ritual utensils to King Wu of Zhou. He was pardoned by King Wu.[2][3]

After Rebellion of the Three Guards was put down, Weizi was enfeoffed as Duke of Song and granted land at Shangqiu (商邱 'the hill of Shang'), where the capital of the new State of Song was built. After his death, he was succeeded by his younger brother Weizhong (微仲).[4]

Weizi was honored by Confucius as "one of the three men of virtue" (三仁) of the Shang, together with Jizi and Bigan.[5]

References
  1. Yag-yong Chŏng (2016). The Analects of Dasan: A Korean Syncretic Reading. p. 173. ISBN 9780190624996.
  2. Records of the Grand Historian. 38.
  3. Weizi 微子
  4. Yong Huang (2012). Confucius: A Guide for the Perplexed. ISBN 9781441180520.
  5. Analects, Book XVIII. Wei-tsze., Chapter I
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