King Xuan of Zhou

King Xuan of Zhou, also formerly known as King Suan or Hsüan, was the eleventh king of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. Estimated dates of his reign are 827/25-782 BC.

He worked to restore royal authority after the Gong He interregnum. He fought the 'Western Barbarians' (probably Xianyun) and another group on the Huai River to the southeast. In his ninth year he called a meeting of all the lords. Later he intervened militarily in succession struggles in the states of Lu, Wey and Qi. Sima Qian says "from this time on, the many lords mostly rebelled against royal commands." He is said to have killed the innocent Du Bo (Duke of Tangdu, 唐杜公) and was himself reportedly killed by an arrow fired by Du Bo's ghost. His son, King You of Zhou was the last king of the Western Zhou.

The Stone Drums of Qin were long mistakenly ascribed to King Xuan.

Family

• Parents:
  • Crown Prince Hu (太子胡; 890–828 BC), ruled as King Li of Zhou from 877–828 BC
  • Shen Jiang, of the Jiang clan of Shen (申姜 姜姓), a sister of the Count of Shen
• Queens:
  • Queen Xian of Zhou, of the Lü lineage of the Jiang clan of Qi (週獻後 姜姓 呂氏), known as Queen Jiang; a daughter of Duke Wu of Qi; married in 826 BC; the mother of Crown Prince Gongsheng
• Concubines:
  • Lady Hou (後夫人)
  • Nü Jiu (女鳩)
• Sons:
  • Crown Prince Gongsheng (太子宮涅; d. 771 BC), ruled as King You of Zhou from 781–771 BC
  • Prince Yuchen (王子餘臣; d. 750 BC), claimed the throne as King Xie of Zhou from 770–750 BC
  • Prince Changfu (王子長父), ruled as the Marquis of Yang