Taibo of Wu

Eldest son of King Tai of Zhou; he gave up the succession to his younger brother, fled south to the Jingman lands, and founded the State of Wu.

Life

Eldest son yields the throne

Taibo was the eldest son of Gugong Danfu, King Tai of Zhou. King Tai wanted to pass the throne to his third son Jili, and then on to Jili's son Ji Chang (later King Wen of Zhou).

Tattooed body, cropped hair

Learning of their father's wish, Taibo and his second brother Zhongyong left together for the Jingman lands in the south, where, following local custom, they tattooed their bodies and cropped their hair to show they would never return to claim the succession.

Founder of Wu

The local people respected his virtue, and more than a thousand families joined him and honored him as Taibo of Wu; thus began the State of Wu. Confucius praised him: "He may be said to have reached supreme virtue."

Legacy

Taibo's yielding of the state is a famous example of modesty in Chinese history, and the Records of the Grand Historian places "The House of Taibo of Wu" first among its hereditary houses.

Major works & achievements

• Founded the state of Wu

Did you know? Sima Qian placed him at the head of the thirty Hereditary Houses precisely to honor the virtue of "yielding."

Key dates

• 1120 BCEGave up the succession and fled south (approx.)
• 1100 BCEFounded the State of Wu (approx.)