Jili was a leader of the

Predynastic Zhou The Predynastic Zhou or Proto-Zhou (; ) refers to the state of Zhou that existed in the Guanzhong region of modern Shaanxi province during the Shang dynasty of ancient China, before its conquest of Shang in 1046/45 BC which led to the establishment ...

during the

Shang dynasty The Shang dynasty (), also known as the Yin dynasty (), was a Chinese royal dynasty founded by Tang of Shang (Cheng Tang) that ruled in the Yellow River valley in the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and ...

of ancient China. His son King Wen and grandson King Wu would defeat the Shang to establish the

Zhou dynasty The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by ...

. He was posthumously granted the title of king, and often referred to as Ji, King of Zhou. Jili's

ancestral name In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

was Ji. He was the youngest son of King Tai. Sima Qian recorded that Jili and his son were both renowned for their wisdom and this reputation caused his elder brothers

Taibo Taibo () (circa 1150 BCE), or Wu Taibo, was the eldest son of King Tai of Zhou and the legendary founder of the State of Wu. His exact birth and death dates are unknown. Biography According to Sima Qian, Taibo was the founder of the State of ...

and Zhongyong to renounce voluntarily their claims to the throne and to leave in exile to Wu.Sima Qian. ''

Records of the Grand Historian ''Records of the Grand Historian'', also known by its Chinese name ''Shiji'', is a monumental history of China that is the first of China's 24 dynastic histories. The ''Records'' was written in the early 1st century by the ancient Chinese his ...

'
"Annals of Zhou"
/ref> Surviving historical records portray him travelling to the Shang capital to submit to Wu Yi and being rewarded with land, jade, and horses in 1118 BC. Bamboo Annals. In 1117, he captured 20 "kings" of the

Guirong Guifang () was an ancient ethnonym for a northern people that fought against the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE). Chinese historical tradition identified the Guifang with the Rong, Di,Old Text Bamboo Annals"Wu Yi"quote: "三十五年，周王季伐� ...

tribes. During the reign of the Shang king

Wen Ding Wen Wu Ding () or Wen Ding (), personal name Zi Tuo (), was a king of the Shang dynasty of Ancient China. His reign was from 1116 to 1106 BC. Records According to ''Bamboo Annals'', his capital was at Yin (殷) or Zimou. In the second year o ...

, he was defeated by the Yanjing Rong people, Rong but managed to subdue the Yuwu (), Hu (), and Xitu () Rong. After the defeat of the Xitu tribe, Wen Ding became nervous and betrayed him, rewarding him richly before dispatching him to a place called Saiku (), where he was killed by Shang forces. Jili's death caused his son King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang to harbor hatred towards the Shang dynasty, Shang; as the Zhou were still weak and must serve the Shang, Ji Chang plotted revenge. Jili's wife was Tai Ren (). Tai Ren, along with Jiang Yuan (mother of Jili's paternal ancestor Hou Ji), were credited by Sima Qian as two women responsible for the success of the Zhou.''Records of the Grand Historian'
"Hereditary Houses of the In-Laws"
quote: "周之興也以姜原及大任" She came from a place called Zhi () and represented some connection to the Shang royalty.''Classic of Poetry'', "Major Court Hymns - Decade of King We
Da Ming
translated by James Legge Jili had at least three sons. The eldest son was King Wen, whose son King Wu established the

of China upon defeating the Shang dynasty, Shang at the Battle of Muye. The second eldest son was enfeoffed by King Wu in Eastern Guo, also known as (i.e. the "Second Son of Guo"), and the third eldest son in Western Guo, also known as (i.e. the "Third Son of Guo.")

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ji of Zhou Zhou dynasty kings Shang dynasty people 12th-century BC Chinese monarchs