Son of Heaven

[CHUNG Yoon-Ngan <chungyn@mozart.collective.com.au>]

    Son of Heaven 

     Ji Fa, who was better known as King Wu3, destroyed the Shang
Dynasty (1783 to 1122BC) and founded the Zhou Dynasty (1134BC to 256BC).
He proclaimed that he was the Tian Zi3 (Son of Heaven) and he had the 
Tian Ming4 (Mandate of Heaven) to destroy the preceding wicked Shang 
Dynasty. He claimed he was the mediator between man and nature. From that 
time on all the future Kings and Emperors (the title Emperor was first in 
used in 221BC by Qin2 Shi3 Huang2 Di4) called themselves the 
"Son of Heaven". Whenever someone overthrew a dynasty and established a 
new one for himself he always claimed that he had the "Mandate of Heaven" 
to do so. He edicted the rules of inheritance should be from father to
son and not from brother to brother as the preceding Shang Dynasty.

   King Wu3 inherited a vast country. The primitive communications at 
that time made it impossible to govern such a big country efficiently. 
So he delegated authority to his relatives, officials, generals and
aristocrats to rule on his behalf. No one really knew how many vassal
States he had created. According to the historical records there were
more than 170 vassal States during the Zhou Dynasty. All the vassal
States must acknowledged suzerainty from him and the future Kings'
of his offspring.

King Wu3 created five titles to honour his relatives and followers. 
They were as follows: 
(1) Gong (Duke)   (2) Hou2 (Marquis)  (3) Bo2 (Count or Earl)  
(4) Zi3 (Viscount)  and (5) Nan2 (Baron)
     
(1) Gong (Duke)
    This title was to be rewarded to the children and brothers
    of the King.

(2) Hou2 (Marquis)
    This title was to be rewarded to those generals and
    officials who had contributed great services to the
    establishment of the Zhou Dynasty.

(3) Bo2 (Count or Earl)
    This title was mainly to be rewarded to those tribal chiefs who had
    controlled over large areas territory and whom the Zhou Court could
    not conquered as they were too powerful.

(4) Zi3 (Viscount)
    This title was to be rewarded to those tribal chiefs who had controlled 
    over small areas of territory whom the Zhou Court could not conquered
    because they were too far away from the Zhou's jurisdiction. 

(5) Nan2 (Baron)
    This title was to be rewarded to those tribal chiefs who had controlled 
    over large areas of territory which were too far from the Zhou 
    capital, Hao4. 

   King Wu3 died in 1116BC.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan