Ming of Shang
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| Ming 冥 | |||||||||
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 Ming 冥 in seal script. | |||||||||
| Ruler of Predynastic Shang | |||||||||
| Reign | ? - ? | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Cao Yu | ||||||||
| Successor | Wang Hai | ||||||||
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| Father | Cao Yu | ||||||||
| Ming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chinese | 冥 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Darkness" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 季 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "youngest brother" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ming (冥), family name Zi (子), was the sixth ruler of Predynastic Shang.[1] Wang Guowei identifies him with Ji (季), an ancestor mentioned in oracle bone inscriptions based on patterns in Chu Ci, though consensus has not been reached due to inconclusive evidence.[2][3]
Ming was a descendent of Xie of Shang, the mythical founder of Predynastic Shang; therefore, he was a descendent of the Yellow Emperor and Emperor Ku. His father was Cao Yu, and he would go on to father Wang Hai and Wang Gen, the former of whom would be revered as a high ancestor (高祖).[1]
In oracle bone inscriptions
In oracular inscriptions, Ming is usually seen as a placename:
丁酉卜𬆩貞來乙巳王入于冥[4]
On the Dingyou day, Que divinates. Test: On the Yisi day, should the king attack (at) Ming?
貞呼去伯于冥[5]
Test: Should we call a minister from Ming?
Should Ji (季) be interpreted as Ming's original name, however, inscriptions show him possibly afflicting the ruler and receiving you sacrifices.
辛亥卜古貞季弗祟王[6]
On the Xinhai day, Gu divinates. Test: Will Ji not afflict the King?
壬申卜旅貞其侑于季惟羊[7]
On the Renshen day, Lǚ divinates. Test: May we make a you sacrifice to Ji? It's a lamb.