Tomb of King Tai of Zhou

　　   fǔ, Middle Chinese: tanx

　　   pyox), also known as Gu Gong ??fu, was the ruler of the Western state of Bin and an ancestor of the Zhou dynasty. Thanks to his benevolent governance, many tribes came to submit to him. After the Zhou overthrew the Shang, they believed that the “imperial aura” originated with Ji ??fu, so he was posthumously honored as King Tai.

　　   According to Records of the Grand Historian – Annals of Zhou, Gu Gong ??fu carried on the legacy of Hou Ji and Gong Liu, practicing virtue and righteousness, and won the love of the people. The Xunyu and Rongdi tribes attacked the Zhou people in an attempt to seize their wealth, but ??fu gave it to them. When they attacked again, demanding the land and people of Zhou, the people were furious and wanted to resist. Gu Gong said, “The people set up a ruler for their own benefit. Now the Rongdi have come to attack us for our land and subjects. Whether the people follow me or him makes no difference. If you fight for me, many fathers and sons will be killed. For me to become ruler through such means—I cannot bear it.” Then ??fu left Bin with his family and close followers, crossed the Qi and Ju rivers, passed by Mount Liang, and settled beneath Mount Qi. The people of Bin, young and old alike, all returned with Gu Gong to Qi. People from other states, hearing of Gu Gong’s benevolence, also came to join him. Gu Gong then reformed the customs of the Rongdi, built cities, houses, and had people live in separate quarters, while establishing the five governmental offices, each with its own duties. The people lived and worked in peace and happiness, all praising the virtues and merits of King Tai of Zhou. Mencius once praised King Tai for loving only his consort Tai Jiang and not taking any other wives, so that “there were no women without husbands at home, nor men without wives abroad.”