King Wen
King Wen of Zhou, born Ji Chang, was a ruler renowned for his virtue, wisdom and dedication to benevolence. He respected the elderly, cared for the young, and treated talented individuals with the utmost courtesy, sometimes even neglecting his meals to ensure their hospitality.
During his reign, King Wen was unjustly imprisoned in Youli by the tyrannical King Zhou of Shang, following accusations from Chong Houhu. His loyal followers, however, managed to secure his release by offering King Zhou gifts of beautiful women, fine horses and rare treasures. Impressed, King Zhou not only freed King Wen but also granted him military authority, symbolized by the bestowal of a bow, arrows and axe, empowering him to campaign against rival lords.
King Wen's compassion and sense of justice were legendary. To persuade King Zhou to abolish the brutal punishment of "roasting on heated metal", King Wen willingly ceded the fertile Luoxi region to the Shang king. His reputation for virtue extended beyond his kingdom, as illustrated by a dispute between the Yu and Rui states. When they came to Zhou seeking King Wen's judgment, they observed the harmonious behavior of Zhou farmers, who humbly shared land boundaries and respected their elders. Ashamed by their own pettiness, the Yu and Rui envoys resolved their dispute without meeting King Wen, declaring, “The people of Zhou embody what we lack. Seeking King Wen’s judgment would only deepen our shame.”
This incident solidified King Wen's reputation as the ruler destined to receive the Mandate of Heaven. Poets praised him, noting that the year he arbitrated the Yu-Rui dispute marked his ascension as a king chosen by divine will.
Under King Wen’s leadership, Zhou forces expanded their influence through campaigns against the Quanrong, Mixu and Qi states. These victories laid the groundwork for his son, King Wu, to eventually overthrow the Shang Dynasty and establish the Zhou Dynasty.
King Wen’s success demonstrated the importance of winning the hearts of the people. His benevolent governance, wise use of talent and care for his subjects earned him widespread loyalty and admiration. He lived to the age of 97 and was buried on the southern slope of Mount Phoenix in present-day Qishan County, Shaanxi Province. After King Wu’s triumph over the Shang, Ji Chang was posthumously honored with the title King Wen, meaning The Cultured King.