Reign and Family of King Ling of Zhou
King Ling of Zhou, born Ji Xiexin, was the twenty-third king of the Zhou dynasty. He reigned as the eleventh king of Eastern Zhou. His reign ended with his death in 545 BC. Notably, Confucius was born in the twenty-first year of King Ling’s reign.
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King Ling’s successor was his son, King Jing of Zhou. Another son, Crown Prince Ji Jin, also played a significant role in his legacy. Interestingly, Empress Wu Zetian later claimed her lover, Zhang Changzong, was a reincarnation of Ji Jin.
The Taiyuan Wang Legacy
King Ling’s lineage extended significantly into Chinese history. His son, Prince Jin, is widely considered the ancestor of the Taiyuan Wang. This family became one of the most influential during the Tang dynasty. Notably, the Taiyuan Wang were among the “Seven Great Surnames,” whose intermarriage was legally banned in 659 AD by Emperor Gaozong. Despite this, clandestine marriages continued, one of which produced the renowned poet Wang Wei.
The Taiyuan Wang family included notable figures such as Wang Jun, who served under Emperor Huai of Jin, and the Buddhist monk Baizhang. Their prominence was well recognized during Emperor Gaozong’s reign.
Marital and Familial Connections
King Ling’s queens and children also highlight the interconnectedness of Zhou dynasty elites. He married Qi Jiang from the Jiang clan of Qi, possibly the daughter of Duke Ling of Qi, in 558 BC. His first son, Crown Prince Jin, fathered Zongjing, who later became the Minister of Education of Zhou. Another son, Prince Gui, succeeded King Ling and ruled as King Jing of Zhou from 544 to 520 BC. Additionally, Prince Ningfu, another son, died in 543 BC.
These familial ties illustrate the complex web of relationships and power dynamics within the Zhou dynasty and beyond, influencing subsequent generations and historical narratives.
Source: Wikipedia
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