Abstract
Previous studies on the procedures for designating successors for high-level official positions in the Shang court have been exclusively based on received classical texts. Rivaling theories exist, yet none of them are particularly convincing.
This paper suggests that position titles that adhere to the formula “marker＋kinship term＋ri(sun)＋Heavenly Stem” may help us to decipher the procedures for designating successors for official positions held by members of the Shang royal house and other elite. Examples of this formulaic title include Dazu Ri-ji 大且日己, Xiaozu Yi 小且乙, Xiaozu 小且, Dafu Ri-gui 大父日癸, Zhongfu Ri-gui 中父日癸, Xiaofu 小父, Daxiong Ri-yi 大兄日乙, Xiaoxiong 小兄, Dazi Ding 大子丁, Zhongzi Xin 中子辛, Dazi 大子, Zhongzi 中子, and Xiaozi 小子. Distinguishing markers that denote the order of succession with preference given to those of higher rank (Da 大, Zhong 中, Xiao 小) may be found in the reigning names of Shang kings such as Da Yi 大乙, Zhong Ding 中丁, and Xiao Xin 小辛, as well as others who did not inherit the throne, such as Zhong Ji 中己, Xiao Ding 小丁, Xiao Ji 小己, and Xiao Geng 小庚. Some women were also designated as successors through the use of formulaic titles as seen; instances of this use may be found in the oracle bone inscriptions, for example Zhongbi 中匕, Xiaobi Ji 小匕己, Zhongmu 中母, Zhongmu Ji 中母己, Xiaomu 小母, Xiaomu Jia 小母甲, and Zhongfu 中婦 , and also in bronze inscriptions, as in the case of Xiaofu 小婦. As we know, the Shang Dynasty was a patriarchal society and thus women did not inherit throne in every circumstance. That these distinguishing markers may also be found in the titles of female elite suggests that women play some role in the transfer of priority appointment to positions.
Previous publications have touched upon some of the terms mentioned above, but these discussions pertain to only one or two these titles, and the interpretations presented are thus not relevant in the analysis of the rest of the terms. Apart from this, existing scholarly work does not pay heed to the fact that these terms also applied to women. The author advocates a holistic analysis of these terms and tries to present a consistent interpretation for this set of terms.
According to the ancestors listed in the Sangou Bing 三句兵 and in the king‘s list based on the Cyclic Sacrifices 周祭, I have summarized our findings on the distinguishing markers as below:
1. Persons whose titles include the marker da were given the highest priority in appointing successors to high-level positions. Among persons who shared the same titular marker, other factors such as age would decide who would take up the position. Next in line were those with the marker zhong, followed by those with the marker xiao, and finally those with the marker wai 外 or those without any marker at all.
2. These markers were inherited through one’s mother, which explains why women also carried these priority markers.
3. Both the royal house and other Zi clan branches used the markers.
The king‘s list generated by the Cyclic Rituals shows that in the first six generations of rule, the royal house produced heirs from within designating marker system without difficulty. Then from the reign of Zhong Ding 中丁 to the reign of Xiao Xin (a period spanning the reign of nine kings), the system was not in use. This “chaos of nine kings” recorded in the Annals of Yin in the Records of the Grand Historian. was linked to competition between brothers as they vied for the throne. This situation often resulted in the relocation of the capital city. The chaos lasted until the reign of Xiao Yi, and order finally restored under Xiao Xin. Yet even at that time, the royal house was plagued by the faults of the original system for designating successors; reform was clearly needed.
The next Shang king Wu Ding promptly adopted the new imperial titular marker di 帝. Di was the supreme deity in the Shang religion. The adoption of marker di bonded the earthly king to the celestial Di. The Shang royal house likely did this deliberately to demarcate themselves from the innumerable Zi clansmen and emphasize the sanctity of the royal houses. The new marker was used exclusively for members of the royal house.
Other markers were used in a similar way. Persons born without the right to inherit high offices were distinguished by the marker Jie 介. Whereas sons who branched off to establish their own lines of succession were known by the marker Bei 北 Zhang 長 signified the eldest in age. All these markers, though different, achieve the same aim as the markers for the designation of successors, and as such they are also discussed in this paper.
Keywords
succession of offices, “da, zhong, xiao,” di, jie, zhang, bei
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