Ming of Shang
| Ming 冥 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruler of Predynastic Shang | |||||||||
| Reign | ? - ? | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Cao Yu | ||||||||
| Successor | Wang Hai | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Father | Cao Yu | ||||||||
| Ming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 冥 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Darkness" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 季 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "youngest brother" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ming (冥), family name Zi (子), was the sixth ruler of Predynastic Shang.[1] Wang Guowei identifies him with Ji (季), an ancestor mentioned in oracle bone inscriptions based on patterns in Chu Ci, though consensus has not been reached due to inconclusive evidence.[2][3]
Family
Ming was a descendent of Xie of Shang, the mythical founder of Predynastic Shang; therefore, he was a descendent of the Yellow Emperor and Emperor Ku. His father was Cao Yu, and he would go on to father Wang Hai and Wang Gen, the former of whom would be revered as a high ancestor (高祖).[1]
In oracular inscriptions, Ming is usually seen as a placename:
丁酉卜𬆩貞來乙巳王入于冥[4]
On the Dingyou day, Que divinates. Test: On the Yisi day, should the king attack (at) Ming?
貞呼去伯于冥[5]
Test: Should we call a minister from Ming?
Should Ji (季) be interpreted as Ming's original name, however, inscriptions show him possibly afflicting the ruler and receiving you sacrifices.
辛亥卜古貞季弗祟王[6]
On the Xinhai day, Gu divinates. Test: Will Ji not afflict the King?
壬申卜旅貞其侑于季惟羊[7]
On the Renshen day, Lǚ divinates. Test: May we make a you sacrifice to Ji? It's a lamb.
Posthumous accounts
In the Bamboo Annals
In the Bamboo Annals, Ming is mentioned as having been a lord of Shang and worked with Shao Kang of Xia, but died in the Yellow River.[8]
十一年，使商侯冥治河。
In the eleventh year [of Shao Kang's reign], [Shao Kang] ordered Lord Ming of Shang to handle the Yellow River.
Later, during Zhu of Xia's reign, he is reported as having died in the river:
十三年，商侯冥死于河。
In the thirteenth year [of Zhu of Xia's reign], Lord Ming of Shang died in the Yellow River.
In Guoyu
In Guoyu, a text detailing ancient speeches, Ming is mentioned twice during a speech by Zhan Qin (展禽).[9]
契為司徒而民輯，冥勤其官而水死，湯以寬治民而除其邪，
Xie acted as the Minister of Instruction and brought harmony to the people; Ming did his duty in the waters and died; Tang governed the people and eliminated their evils!
商人禘舜而祖契，郊冥而宗湯；
The Shang offered sacrifices to Di Shun and Ancestor Xie; they too offered sacrifices to Ming and paid reverence to Tang!
In the Chu Ci
In the poem Tianmen (天問), Ji is mentioned as being Wang Hai's father, which was used by Wang Guowei as evidence for them being the same person. The poem notably matches with the story of Wang Hai and Wang Gen experiencing trouble at the hands of the Youyi Tribe.[2]
該秉季德厥父是臧
胡終弊於有扈牧夫牛羊
乾協時舞何以懷之
平肋曼膚何以肥之
有扈牧豎云何而逢
擊床先出其命何從
He (Wang Hai) who held to the virtue of Ji (Ming), his father was good.
How then did he come to ruin among the Youhu, a herdsman of oxen and sheep?
When they danced with shields in hand, how did he win their hearts?
With smooth flanks and delicate skin, how was he so sleek?
The Youhu (Youyi), a lowly herdsman—how did they meet?
Attacked first upon his bed—from whom came that command?
恆秉季德焉得夫樸牛
何往營班祿不但還來
Heng, who held to the virtue of Ji—how did he get those draft cattle?
Why did he go to manage the distribution of rewards, not just come back?
References
- ^ 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。
- ^ a b 王国维 (1917). 殷卜辞中所见先公先王考.
- ^ Wang Guowei 王國維. "《殷卜辭中所見先公先王考》存". In Xi Zhe 晞輒 (ed.). 王國維集 (in Chinese). pp. 440, 441. ISBN 9787511376015.
- ^ 甲骨文合集 Heji 7843
- ^ 甲骨文合集 Heji 00635正.4
- ^ 甲骨文合集 Heji 14721正.2
- ^ 甲骨文合集 Heji 24969
- ^ Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). "帝少康". 竹書紀年 [Bamboo Annals] (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
十一年，使商侯冥治河。
- ^ Zuo, Qiuming. "魯語上". In Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). 國語 [Discourses of the States] (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project.
「夫聖王之制祀也，法施于民則祀之，以死勤事則祀之，以勞定國則祀之，能御大災則祀之，能捍大肆患則祀之。非是族也，不在祀典。昔烈山氏之有天下也，其子曰柱，能殖百穀百蔬；夏之興也，周棄繼之，故祀以為稷。共工氏之伯九有也，其子曰後土，能平九土，故祀以為社。黃帝能成命百物，以明民共財，顓頊能修之。帝嚳能序三辰以固民，堯能單均刑法以儀民，舜勤民事而野死，鯀障洪水而殛死，禹能以德修鯀之功，契為司徒而民輯，冥勤其官而水死，湯以寬治民而除其邪，稷勤百穀而山死，文王以文昭，武王去民之穢。故有虞氏禘黃帝而祖顓頊，郊堯而宗舜；夏后氏禘黃帝而祖顓頊，郊鯀而宗禹；商人禘舜而祖契，郊冥而宗湯；周人禘嚳而郊稷，祖文王而宗武王；幕，能帥顓頊者也，有虞氏報焉；杼，能帥禹者也，夏后氏報焉；上甲微，能帥契者也，商人報焉；高圉、大王，能帥稷者也，周人報焉。凡禘、郊、祖宗、報，此五者國之典祀也。