Cao Yu of Shang

Cao Yu
曹圉
Ruler of Predynastic Shang
Reign? - ?
PredecessorChang Ruo
SuccessorMing
Names
FatherChang Ruo
Cao Yu
Chinese曹圉
Literal meaning(personal name)
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyincáo yǔ
Bopomofoㄘㄠˊ ㄩˇ
Wade–Gilests'ao23
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationcou4 jyu5
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinesedzaw ngjoX
Old Chinese
Zhengzhang/*N-tsˤu m-qʰ<r>aʔ/

Cao Yu (曹圉), family name Zi (), was the fifth ruler of Predynastic Shang. He is not attested in oracle bone inscriptions, only being mentioned in post-Shang texts such as Records of the Grand Historian.[1]

Family

As a ruler of Predynastic Shang, Cao Yu is a descendent of Xie of Shang, the legendary founder of the tribe; this makes him a descendent of Emperor Ku and the Yellow Emperor. His grandfather, Xiang Tu, is recorded as having been a chariot-maker.[2][3] His son was Ming, who would succeed him after his death.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Sima, Qian. "殷本紀". In Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). 史記 (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project. 契卒,子昭明立。昭明卒,子相土立。相土卒,子昌若立。昌若卒,子曹圉立。曹圉卒,子冥立。冥卒,子振立。振卒,子微立。微卒,子报丁立。报丁卒,子报乙立。报乙卒,子报丙立。报丙卒,子主壬立。主壬卒,子主癸立。主癸卒,子天乙立,是为成汤。
  2. ^ "帝相". 竹書紀年 [Bamboo Annals]. Chinese Text Project. 十五年,商侯相土作乘馬。遂遷于商丘。
  3. ^ Huan, Kuan. "2". In Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). 鹽鐵論 [Discourses on Salt and Iron] (in Literary Chinese). 大夫曰:「秦任商君,國以富強,其後卒并六國而成帝業。及二世之時,邪臣擅斷,公道不行,諸侯叛弛,宗廟隳亡。春秋曰:『末言爾,祭仲亡也。』夫善歌者使人續其聲,善作者使人紹其功。椎車之蟬攫,相土之教也。周道之成,周公之力也。雖有裨諶之草創,無子產之潤色,有文、武之規矩,而無周、呂之鑿枘,則功業不成。今以趙高之亡秦而非商鞅,猶以崇虎亂殷而非伊尹也。」