Jili was a leader of the Predynastic Zhou during the Shang dynasty of ancient China. His son King Wen and grandson King Wu would defeat the Shang to establish the Zhou dynasty. He was posthumously granted the title of king, and often referred to as Ji, King of Zhou. Jili's ancestral name was Ji. He was the youngest son of King Tai.

Sima Qian Sima Qian (; ; ) was a Chinese historian of the early Han dynasty (206AD220). He is considered the father of Chinese historiography for his ''Records of the Grand Historian'', a general history of China covering more than two thousand years b ...

recorded that Jili and his son were both renowned for their wisdom and this reputation caused his elder brothers Taibo and Zhongyong to renounce voluntarily their claims to the throne and to leave in exile to Wu.Sima Qian. '' Records of the Grand Historian'
"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 The ''Bamboo Annals'' (), also known as the ''Ji Tomb Annals'' (), is a chronicle of ancient China. It begins in the earliest legendary time (the age of the Yellow Emperor) and extends to 299 BC, with the later centuries focusing on the history ...

. In 1117, he captured 20 "kings" of the Guirong tribes. During the reign of the Shang king Wen Ding, he was defeated by the Yanjing 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

Ji Chang King Wen of Zhou (; 1152–1050 BC, the Cultured King) was Count of state of Zhou, Zhou during the late Shang dynasty in ancient China. Although frequently confused with his fourth son Duke of Zhou, also known as "Lord Zhou", they are different hi ...

to harbor hatred towards the

Shang 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 f ...

; 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

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 Zhou dynasty of China upon defeating the

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