King Cheng of Zhou

King Cheng of Zhou (Chinese: 周成王; pinyin: Zhōu Chéng Wáng; Wade–Giles: Chou Ch'eng Wang) or King Ch'eng of Chou was the second king of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1042-1021 BCE or 1042/35-1006 BCE. His parents were King Wu of Zhou and Queen Yi Jiang (邑姜).

King Cheng was young when he ascended the throne. His uncle, Duke of Zhou, fearing that Shang forces might rise again under the possible weak rule of a young ruler, became the regent and supervised government affairs for several years. Duke of Zhou established the eastern capital at Luoyang, and later defeated a rebellion by Cheng’s uncles Cai Shu, Guan Shu and Huo Shu.

King Cheng later stabilized Zhou Dynasty’s border by defeating several barbarian tribes along with the Duke of Zhou.

Family

• Parents:
  • Fa (發; d. 1043 BC), ruled as King Wu of Zhou from 1046–1043 BC
  • Yi Jiang, of the Lü lineage of the Jiang clan of Qi (邑姜 姜姓 呂氏), the first daughter of the Great Duke of Qi
• Queens:
  • Wang Si, of the Si clan (王姒 姒姓), the mother of Crown Prince Zhao
• Sons:
  • Crown Prince Zhao (太子釗; 1040–996 BC), ruled as King Kang of Zhou from 1020–996 BC