Da Ding Explained

Da Ding or Tai Ding was the eldest son of King Tang, but sources are conflicted as to whether he actually succeeded his father as the second king of the Shang dynasty or not.

Records

In the Records of the Grand Historian he was said by Sima Qian to have died at an early age without succeeding his father King Tang. He was given the posthumous name Tai Ding (Chinese: Chinese: 太丁) and the throne passed to his younger brother Wai Bing and later to his own son Tai Jia.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Inscriptions on oracle bones unearthed at Yinxu record that he was the second Shang king, given the posthumous name Da Ding (Chinese: Chinese: 大丁), and succeeded by his sons Da Jia (Tai Jia) and Bu Bing (Wai Bing).

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore in his book, refers to an inscription that refers to Da Ding's death: "Da Jia and Zu Yi, of wine, 100 qiang prisoners, 300 head of cattle."^[6]

Notes and References

1. Library of Congress. (2020). Shang Tang, Emperor of China, approximately 1670 B.C.-approximately 1587 B.C.商汤, Emperor of China, approximately 1670 B.C.-approximately 1587 B.C. LC Linked Data Service. https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2016039306.html
2. 甲骨文合集 Heji 36196丙.2：戊戌卜卜王賓大丁爽妣戊翌日無尤
3. Book: Bai, Shouyi . An Outline History of China . 2002 . Foreign Language Press . Beijing . 7-119-02347-0.
4. Web site: The Shang Dynasty Rulers . August 7, 2007 . China Knowledge .
5. Web site: Shang Kingship and Shang Kinship . August 7, 2007 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20080409215121/http://www.indiana.edu/~g380/Kings.pdf . April 9, 2008 .
6. Book: Sebag Montefiore, Simon . The world: a family history of humanity . 2023 . Alfred A. Knopf . 978-0-525-65953-2 . New York . 70 (Portuguese Edition) . English.