Kangshu of Wei was granted a fiefdom and was the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, sharing the same mother. They had another younger brother named Ranji, the youngest among them.
After King Wu of Zhou defeated King Zhou of Shang, he granted the remaining Shang people to Zhou’s son, Wugeng Lufu, allowing him to rule alongside other feudal lords so that he could continue the ancestral rites of the Shang dynasty. However, since Wugeng had not fully submitted to Zhou’s rule, King Wu feared his potential rebellion. To prevent this, he appointed his brothers, Guan Shu and Cai Shu, to monitor and assist Wugeng, ensuring the stability of the people.
After King Wu’s passing, his son, King Cheng, was still an infant. The Duke of Zhou, Dan, took on the role of regent to manage state affairs. Suspicious of the Duke of Zhou’s intentions, Guan Shu and Cai Shu conspired with Wugeng Lufu to rebel against the Zhou court. They planned to attack Chengzhou, the Zhou capital. The Duke of Zhou, acting on behalf of King Cheng, led an army to suppress the rebellion, executed Wugeng and Guan Shu, and exiled Cai Shu. He then reassigned the former Shang people to Kangshu and made him the ruler of the State of Wei, settling him in the region between the Yellow River and the Qi River, at the site of the old Shang capital, Yin Ruins.
Worried that Kangshu was too young to govern effectively, the Duke of Zhou repeatedly admonished him: “You must seek out capable and experienced officials from the Shang dynasty, learn from their history of rise and fall, and always show compassion for your people.” He also warned Kangshu that the downfall of King Zhou of Shang stemmed from his excessive indulgence in alcohol and pleasure, as well as his debauchery, which ultimately led to chaos. The Duke of Zhou further composed Zicai, a text based on the principles of carpentry, likening statecraft to the precise work of craftsmen. This text, along with Kanggao and Jiugao, became guiding principles for Kangshu’s governance. By following these principles, Kangshu ruled wisely, fostering stability and harmony among his people, who rejoiced under his reign.
When King Cheng came of age and assumed full control of the government, he appointed Kangshu as the Sikou (Minister of Justice) of Zhou and rewarded him with numerous ritual vessels and treasures in recognition of his virtue and service.
After Kangshu’s death, his son Kangbo succeeded him as the ruler of Wei. Following Kangbo’s passing, his son Kaobo took the throne. After Kaobo, his son Sibo ruled, followed by his son Jiebo. When Jiebo passed, his son Jingbo succeeded him, and later, his son Zhenbo took the throne. Upon Zhenbo’s death, his son Qinghou became the ruler.
Qinghou, by offering generous tributes to King Yi of Zhou, was granted the title of Marquis. After ruling for twelve years, Qinghou passed away, and his son Li Hou ascended the throne.
In the thirteenth year of Li Hou’s reign (841 BCE), King Li of Zhou was forced into exile in Zhi due to widespread rebellion, and the government was jointly managed by Duke Shao and Duke Zhou in what became known as the “Gonghe Regency.” In the twenty-eighth year of Li Hou’s reign (827 BCE), King Xuan of Zhou ascended the throne.
In the forty-second year of his reign (813 BCE), Li Hou passed away, and his son Gongbo Yu became ruler. However, his younger brother He, whom Li Hou had favored and gifted with great wealth, used these resources to bribe warriors. He then ambushed Gongbo Yu at their father’s tomb, forcing him to flee and take his own life in the burial passage. The people of Wei buried him beside Li Hou’s tomb and posthumously honored him as Gongbo, while He was installed as the new ruler, later known as Duke Wu of Wei.
After ascending the throne, Duke Wu reorganized the administration following Kangshu’s principles, restoring order and ensuring the well-being of the people. In the forty-second year of his reign (771 BCE), the Quanrong tribes invaded, killing King You of Zhou. Duke Wu personally led his forces to support the Zhou royal family in repelling the invasion, earning great merit. As a reward, King Ping of Zhou granted him the noble title of Duke.
In the fifty-fifth year of his reign (758 BCE), Duke Wu passed away, and his son Duke Zhuang succeeded him.
In the fifth year of Duke Zhuang’s reign (753 BCE), he married a woman from the State of Qi, who was renowned for her beauty but remained childless. He later married a princess from the State of Chen, who gave birth to a son, though the child died young. The princess’s younger sister also became favored by Duke Zhuang and bore him a son named Wan. After Wan’s mother passed away, Duke Zhuang entrusted his wife from Qi with Wan’s upbringing and later named him the crown prince.
However, Duke Zhuang also had a favored concubine who bore him another son, Zhouxu. By the eighteenth year of his reign (740 BCE), Zhouxu had grown into a young man with a strong interest in military affairs. Impressed, Duke Zhuang appointed him as a military commander. Wei’s chief minister, Shi Que, earnestly advised against this, warning, “If a concubine’s son is given military power, calamity will surely follow.” Duke Zhuang ignored the warning.
In the twenty-third year of his reign (735 BCE), Duke Zhuang passed away, and the crown prince Wan ascended the throne as Duke Huan of Wei.
In the second year of Duke Huan’s reign (733 BCE), his younger brother, Zhou Xu, indulged in arrogance and debauchery, leading Duke Huan to depose him. Zhou Xu fled abroad. In the thirteenth year (722 BCE), Duan, the younger brother of the Duke of Zheng, rebelled against his brother but failed and also fled. Zhou Xu sought an alliance with him.
By the sixteenth year (719 BCE), Zhou Xu had gathered exiles from the State of Wei and launched an attack, ultimately assassinating Duke Huan and usurping the throne of Wei. Seeking further support, Zhou Xu allied with Song, Chen, and Cai to back Duan’s cause against Zheng. However, his rule was deeply unpopular, as he was a military enthusiast who had seized power through regicide.
Shi Que, leveraging his connection with Duke Huan’s maternal family in Chen, feigned loyalty to Zhou Xu. When the Wei army reached the outskirts of the Zheng capital, Shi Que conspired with the Marquis of Chen, sending the court official Youzai Chou to offer provisions to Zhou Xu. This was merely a ruse; at the Puo River, Zhou Xu was ambushed and killed. Subsequently, Duke Huan’s younger brother, Jin, was brought back from Xing and installed as the new ruler of Wei—known as Duke Xuan.
In the seventh year of Duke Xuan’s reign (712 BCE), the people of Lu assassinated their ruler, Duke Yin. In the ninth year (710 BCE), Song Du assassinated his own sovereign, Duke Shang, along with the minister Kong Fu. The following year (709 BCE), Quwo Zhuangbo of Jin also murdered his ruler, Duke Ai.
In the eighteenth year (701 BCE), Duke Xuan had a favored consort, Yi Jiang, who bore him a son named Ji, later designated as crown prince. Duke Xuan entrusted Prince You with Ji’s education. At one point, Prince You arranged a marriage for Ji with a beautiful woman from Qi. However, upon seeing her, Duke Xuan was captivated by her beauty and took her for himself, arranging another match for Ji instead. The Qi woman later bore him two sons, Zi Shou and Zi Shuo, whom he assigned to the care of Prince Zuo.
After Ji’s mother passed away, Duke Xuan’s principal wife, in collusion with Zi Shuo, began slandering Ji before the Duke. Already harboring resentment towards Ji for having taken his intended wife, Duke Xuan found the accusations a convenient pretext to dispose of his heir. He thus ordered Ji to undertake a diplomatic mission to Qi while secretly instructing bandits at the border to assassinate him. As a signal, he gave Ji a white mao (a ceremonial banner), instructing the assassins to kill whoever bore it.
Before Ji’s departure, Zi Shou, his half-brother and elder sibling to Zi Shuo, warned him, saying, “The bandits at the border will kill anyone carrying the white mao. You must not go!” Ji, however, refused to disobey his father’s command, believing it dishonorable to prioritize his own life over duty. Determined, he set off for Qi. Seeing Ji’s resolve, Zi Shou secretly stole the white mao, rushed ahead in Ji’s carriage, and was slain by the assassins. Upon Ji’s arrival, he realized the ruse and declared, “I am the one you were meant to kill!” The assassins thus executed him as well and reported back to Duke Xuan, who then installed Zi Shuo as the new crown prince.
In the nineteenth year (709 BCE), Duke Xuan passed away, and Zi Shuo ascended the throne as Duke Hui.
The court was rife with resentment over his usurpation. By the fourth year of his reign (696 BCE), two prominent officials, embittered by the wrongful death of Ji, orchestrated a rebellion. They overthrew Duke Hui and installed Ji’s younger brother, Qianmou, as ruler. Duke Hui fled to Qi.
By the eighth year of Qianmou’s reign (689 BCE), Duke Xiang of Qi, acting under the mandate of the Zhou king, led an allied force of feudal lords against Wei, reinstating Duke Hui and executing the rebel officials. Qianmou fled to Zhou, and Duke Hui reclaimed the throne. Having been deposed for three years and exiled for eight more, he had endured thirteen years of hardship before resuming his rule.
In the twenty-fifth year of his reign (675 BCE), Duke Hui, resentful of the Zhou court for sheltering Qianmou, allied with the state of Yan to attack Zhou. King Hui of Zhou fled to Wen, and Wei and Yan installed his brother, , as the new king. However, by the twenty-ninth year (671 BCE), Zheng escorted King Hui back to Zhou, restoring him to power.
In the thirty-first year (669 BCE), Duke Hui died, and his son, Duke Yi, ascended the throne.
Duke Yi indulged in extravagance and was particularly fond of keeping pet cranes, lavishing them with attention while neglecting state affairs. By his ninth year (660 BCE), the Di barbarians invaded Wei. When Duke Yi led his forces into battle, his soldiers, disillusioned by his rule, abandoned him. The ministers mockingly declared, “Since our ruler cherishes his cranes so much, let him send them to fight the Di!” The barbarians overran Wei and killed Duke Yi.
His reign had been met with widespread discontent. Ever since Duke Hui’s treachery in murdering Ji and seizing the throne, the people and officials had harbored thoughts of overthrowing his lineage. At last, with Duke Yi’s demise, the remnants of Duke Hui’s bloodline were extinguished. The people installed Zhao Bo Wan, the son of Qianmou’s brother, as the new ruler, known as Duke Dai.
Duke Dai passed away in his first year (660 BCE). Recognizing Wei’s prolonged instability, Duke Huan of Qi led a coalition to repel the Di invaders, rebuilding the capital at Chuqiu. He then appointed Duke Dai’s brother, Hui, as the new ruler of Wei—henceforth known as Duke Wen. Duke Wen, having been driven into exile during the previous turmoil, was subsequently escorted back to Wei by the people of Qi, restoring order to the state.
When the Zhai people assassinated Duke Yi of Wei, the people of Wei sympathized with him and wished to restore the lineage of Crown Prince Ji, who had been murdered by Duke Xuan. However, Ji’s son had already passed away, and his grandson, Zi Shou, who had died in his place, left no heir.
Crown Prince Ji had two younger brothers from the same mother: one was Qianmou, who briefly ruled Wei for eight years in place of Duke Hui before being expelled; the other was Zhao Bo. Since both Qianmou and Zhao Bo had long since passed away, the people of Wei instead enthroned Zhao Bo’s son, Shen, as Duke Dai. After Duke Dai’s passing, his brother Hui succeeded him as Duke Wen.
At the beginning of his reign, Duke Wen alleviated the tax burden on the people, ensured justice in legal matters, and worked tirelessly alongside his subjects, sharing in their hardships and earning their loyalty.
In the sixteenth year of his reign (644 BCE), the Jin noble Prince Chong’er passed through Wei, yet Duke Wen failed to offer him proper hospitality. The following year (643 BCE), Duke Huan of Qi passed away. In the twenty-fifth year of his reign (635 BCE), Duke Wen died, and his son, Duke Cheng (Zheng), ascended the throne.
In the third year of Duke Cheng’s reign (632 BCE), Jin sought passage through Wei to aid the state of Song, but Duke Cheng refused. Consequently, Jin altered its route, crossing the southern river to reach Song. Later, Jin demanded military conscription from Wei. While the ministers of Wei were inclined to comply, Duke Cheng firmly rejected the request. This led to an insurrection led by Minister Yuan Xuan, forcing Duke Cheng to flee to the state of Chu.
Jin’s ruler, Duke Wen (Chong’er), still harbored resentment toward Wei—both for Duke Wen of Wei’s past discourtesy and for Wei’s refusal to assist Song. As a result, Jin launched a campaign against Wei, ceding part of its land to Song. Duke Cheng was forced to seek refuge in the state of Chen. Two years later, he sought the protection of the Zhou king and attempted reconciliation with Duke Wen of Jin. The Jin court, however, attempted to poison him, but Duke Cheng managed to bribe the official in charge, ensuring only a minimal dose of poison, thus escaping death. Eventually, through the Zhou king’s mediation, Duke Cheng was restored to Wei. He executed Yuan Xuan, causing the usurper, Wei Jun Xia, to flee.
In the seventh year of his return (628 BCE), Duke Wen of Jin passed away. In the twelfth year (623 BCE), Duke Cheng paid homage to Duke Xiang of Jin. In the fourteenth year (621 BCE), Duke Mu of Qin died. In the twenty-sixth year (609 BCE), Qi’s noble Bing Chu assassinated Duke Yi of Qi. In the thirty-fifth year (600 BCE), Duke Cheng died, and his son, Duke Mu (Su), ascended the throne.
In the second year of Duke Mu’s reign (598 BCE), King Zhuang of Chu attacked the state of Chen and executed Xia Zhengshu. In the third year (597 BCE), King Zhuang besieged the state of Zheng, forcing the Marquis of Zheng to surrender. However, King Zhuang, magnanimously, later released him.
In the eleventh year (589 BCE), General Sun Liangfu of Wei launched a campaign against Qi to assist the state of Lu and reclaimed lost territories. After Duke Mu’s passing, his son, Duke Ding (Zang), took the throne. Duke Ding died in the twelfth year of his reign (577 BCE), and his son, Duke Xian (Kan), succeeded him.
In the thirteenth year of his reign (576 BCE), Duke Xian ordered the musician Cao to instruct a palace concubine in the art of playing the zither. The concubine, lacking skill, was reprimanded and flogged by Cao. Resentful, she slandered Cao before Duke Xian, who, in turn, ordered Cao to be whipped three hundred times.
In the eighteenth year (571 BCE), Duke Xian invited Sun Wenzi and Ning Huizi to a banquet. The two officials arrived punctually and waited for the duke’s summons. However, instead of meeting them, Duke Xian went hunting for wild geese in the palace gardens. Left waiting, the two officials followed him there. When Duke Xian finally spoke to them, he did not even remove his hunting attire, treating them with great discourtesy. Offended, they left for Suyi.
Meanwhile, Sun Wenzi’s son frequently attended the duke’s drinking banquets. During one such occasion, Duke Xian ordered the musician Cao to perform the final verse of “Clever Words” from the Book of Songs (Shijing: Minor Odes). Still bearing a grudge for his earlier punishment, Cao deliberately sang the verse in a way that provoked Sun Wenzi, hoping to stir discord. Enraged, Sun Wenzi consulted the Wei minister Qu Boyu, who simply responded, “I know nothing of this matter.” Undeterred, Sun Wenzi expelled Duke Xian, forcing him into exile in the state of Qi.
Qi provided Duke Xian with refuge in Juyi, while Sun Wenzi and Ning Huizi installed Duke Xian’s younger brother, Qiu, as the new ruler—Duke Shang of Wei.
Upon his accession, Duke Shang granted the fief of Su to Sun Wenzi. In the twelfth year of his reign (547 BCE), a power struggle between Ning Xi and Sun Linfu escalated, each vying for influence. Duke Shang sided with Ning Xi, ordering an attack on Sun Linfu. Linfu fled to Jin, where he sought their support in reinstating Duke Xian.
At the time, Duke Xian was still residing in Qi. Upon learning of Linfu’s appeal, Duke Jing of Qi accompanied him to Jin, seeking assistance in restoring Duke Xian to the throne. Jin subsequently launched an invasion of Wei, forcing the state to submit to its authority. Duke Shang was summoned to meet Duke Ping of Jin, where he was promptly detained along with Ning Xi. Seizing the opportunity, Jin reinstated Duke Xian, ending his twelve-year exile.
In the first year after his return (546 BCE), Duke Xian executed Ning Xi.
In the third year (544 BCE), the Wu noble Ji Zha of Yanling passed through Wei on a diplomatic mission. Meeting the scholars Qu Boyu and Shi Yu, he remarked, “Wei has many virtuous men, and thus, it will not suffer calamity.” However, upon passing through Su, Sun Linfu struck a chime-stone for him. Listening intently, Ji Zha solemnly declared, “The melody is mournful; the root of Wei’s unrest lies here.”
That same year, Duke Xian passed away, and his son, Duke Xiang (E), ascended the throne.
In the sixth year of Duke Xiang’s reign (538 BCE), King Ling of Chu convened a meeting of the feudal lords. Duke Xiang, feigning illness, declined to attend.
By the ninth year (535 BCE), Duke Xiang passed away. Previously, he had a favored concubine who became pregnant and dreamt of a figure speaking to her: “I am Kang Shu. Your son shall inherit the state of Wei, and he should be named Yuan.” Startled by the dream, she sought counsel from Kong Chengzi, who explained, “Kang Shu is the founding ancestor of Wei.” When the child was born—a boy—she recounted the dream to Duke Xiang, who declared, “This is the will of Heaven!” Thus, the boy was named Yuan. Since the duchess had not borne a son, Yuan was designated as the heir. He later ascended the throne as Duke Ling of Wei.
In his fifth year (530 BCE), Duke Ling paid homage to Duke Zhao of Jin. The following year (529 BCE), Prince Qi Ji of Chu assassinated King Ling of Chu and seized the throne, proclaiming himself King Ping.
In the eleventh year (524 BCE), a great fire broke out in Wei.
By the thirty-eighth year (498 BCE), Confucius arrived in Wei. The state granted him a stipend equivalent to what he had received in Lu. However, he soon fell into conflict with the ruler of Wei and departed, only to return later during his travels.
In the thirty-ninth year (497 BCE), Crown Prince Kuai Kui harbored deep animosity toward Lady Nanzi, the consort of Duke Ling, and plotted to assassinate her. He conspired with his retainer, Xi Yangsu, to strike during a court assembly. Yet, when the moment came, Xi Yangsu hesitated and failed to act. Seeing his inaction, Kuai Kui signaled him repeatedly, but Lady Nanzi noticed and, terrified, cried out, “The crown prince seeks to kill me!” Duke Ling, enraged, ordered Kuai Kui’s arrest, forcing the prince to flee to the state of Song before seeking refuge with the Zhao clan in Jin.
In the forty-second year (494 BCE), during a spring excursion, Duke Ling ordered his son Ying to drive his carriage. Ying, known by the courtesy name Zinan, was the duke’s younger son. Still resentful of the crown prince’s escape, Duke Ling told Ying, “I shall make you my heir.” But Ying respectfully declined, saying, “I am unworthy of such a position. It would bring disgrace upon our state. Please reconsider.”
That summer, Duke Ling passed away. Lady Nanzi, asserting the late duke’s decree, declared Zinan the rightful heir. Yet, Ying refused, insisting, “The rightful heir, Prince Kuai Kui’s son Zhe, still lives. I dare not usurp his place.” The people of Wei thus enthroned Zhe as Duke Chu of Wei.
On the twenty-sixth day of the sixth month (Yi You day), Zhao Jianzi of Jin sought to restore Kuai Kui to power. He ordered Yang Hu to disguise over a dozen men as envoys from Wei, dressed in mourning attire, pretending to summon Kuai Kui back to his homeland. Zhao Jianzi personally saw Kuai Kui off. Upon learning of this, the people of Wei mobilized an army to intercept him. Unable to return, Kuai Kui fled to Su, where he fortified his position, prompting the Wei forces to halt their pursuit.
In Duke Chu’s fourth year (489 BCE), Tian Qi of Qi assassinated his ruler, Ruozi. Four years later (485 BCE), Baozi of Qi murdered Duke Dao.
Meanwhile, Confucius traveled from Chen to Wei. In the ninth year (484 BCE), Kong Wenzi of Wei sought military counsel from Confucius, who declined to respond. Shortly after, the ruler of Lu sent envoys to invite Confucius back, and he returned to Lu.
In the twelfth year (481 BCE), early in the year, Kong Yu, known as Kong Wenzi, married the elder sister of Kuai Kui. Together, they had a son, Kui. After Kong Wenzi’s death, his handsome servant Hun Liangfu engaged in an illicit affair with Kui’s mother. Later, while Kuai Kui remained in exile, Kui’s mother sent Hun Liangfu to him.
Kuai Kui made Liangfu an offer: “If you help me reclaim my throne, I will grant you a nobleman’s carriage and absolve you of three capital offenses. Wearing purple robes, donning fur-lined garments, and carrying a treasured sword—none of these shall be punishable by death.” They sealed a pact, and Kuai Kui also promised Kui’s mother to Liangfu as his wife.
In the intercalary twelfth month, Liangfu and Kuai Kui returned to the capital, first taking refuge in the outer gardens of the Kong family estate. That night, disguised as women with veiled heads, they rode in a carriage driven by a eunuch named Luo. Upon arrival, a Kong family steward, Luan Ning, questioned them, but they claimed to be concubines from a relative’s household, allowing them safe passage into the estate, where they reached Lady Boji’s residence.
After supper, Kui’s mother, armed with a dagger-axe, approached Kui, while Kuai Kui and five armored men followed, bringing with them a sacrificial boar. Lady Boji cornered Kui, coercing him into swearing allegiance before forcing him to summon the court ministers.
At that moment, Luan Ning was about to enjoy roasted meat when the commotion reached his ears. He immediately sent word to Zhong You, who, still drinking, swiftly arranged an escort for Duke Chu. Carrying his cup and roasted meat, he shielded the young ruler as they fled to the state of Lu.
When Zhong You heard the news, he rushed to the Kong residence, only to encounter Zigao, who had just fled the household. Zigao warned him, “The gates are already shut.”
Zilu replied, “Let me see for myself.”
Zigao, alarmed, urged, “There is no time! Do not follow Kui into peril!”
But Zilu declared resolutely, “Having received Kui’s patronage, I cannot stand idly by while he suffers.” Zigao then fled.
Determined to enter, Zilu arrived at the gate, where Gongsun Gan firmly bolted the door and called out, “Do not go in!”
Zilu, recognizing him, retorted, “Gongsun! You accept a man’s rewards but shrink from his misfortunes? I cannot do the same. If I have taken his stipend, I must also share his fate.”
Just then, a messenger emerged, and Zilu seized the moment to slip inside. He questioned, “Why would the Crown Prince need Kong Kui as an ally? Even if Kui is slain, another will surely take his place in opposition.”
He continued, “The Crown Prince lacks courage. If you set fire to the terrace, he will surely release Kong Shu.”
Alarmed, the Crown Prince hesitated and ordered Shi Qi and Meng Yan to descend from the terrace to stop Zilu. They struck him with halberds, severing the ribbon of his hat. Undeterred, Zilu declared, “A gentleman may die, but his hat must not fall to the ground.” He calmly tied the ribbon back and met his end with dignity.
When Confucius heard of the turmoil in Wei, he sighed, “Ah! Chai will return. But You… You is lost forever.”
Ultimately, Kong Kui succeeded in enthroning the Crown Prince Kuai Kui as ruler, later known as Duke Zhuang.
The Rise and Fall of the Lords of Wei
Duke Zhuang, Kuai Kui, was the father of the exiled Duke Chu. During his years in exile, he harbored deep resentment toward the ministers who had not reinstated him. Upon ascending the throne in his first year, he sought to execute them all, saying, “I was absent for so long—did you ever even mention me?” But faced with rebellion, he was forced to abandon his vengeance.
In 479 BCE, Confucius passed away.
By 478 BCE, Duke Zhuang stood atop the city walls and gazed upon Rongzhou, muttering, “Why do the barbarians fortify their town?” His words stirred great unease among the people of Rongzhou, who, in October, reported his remarks to Zhao Jianzi. By November, Zhao Jianzi besieged the state of Wei. Duke Zhuang fled, and the Wei people installed Prince Banshi as their ruler. Shortly after, the state of Qi intervened, deposing Banshi and establishing Prince Qi in his place.
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The Decline of the House of Wei
In 477 BCE, Prince Qi ascended the throne. However, Wei nobleman Shi Manfu expelled him, forcing him to seek refuge in Qi. Seizing the opportunity, Duke Chu of Wei, once exiled, returned and reclaimed his title.
Duke Chu had first fled in 481 BCE and spent four years in exile before returning. In 476 BCE, he rewarded those who had accompanied him in exile. After ruling for a total of 21 years, he died in 456 BCE. His uncle Qian drove out Duke Chu’s son and seized power, becoming Duke Dao of Wei.
Duke Dao ruled until his death in 451 BCE, when his son, Duke Jing, took the throne. After ruling for 19 years, Duke Jing passed away in 432 BCE, and his son, Duke Zhao, ascended.
By this time, the power of the Three Jins had grown immensely, reducing the rulers of Wei to mere vassals under the Zhao state.
In 426 BCE, Prince Wei assassinated Duke Zhao and usurped the throne, becoming Duke Huai. Eleven years later, in 415 BCE, Prince Xu killed Duke Huai and installed himself as Duke Shen.
Duke Shen’s father, Prince Shi, was the son of Duke Jing. In 373 BCE, Duke Shen passed away, and his son, Duke Sheng, succeeded him.
Duke Sheng ruled for 11 years before his death in 362 BCE. His son, Duke Cheng, took the throne.
The Waning of a Kingdom
In 351 BCE, Duke Cheng witnessed the arrival of Gongsun Yang in Qin, marking the dawn of Qin’s dominance. By 346 BCE, the state of Wei was demoted to the rank of a mere marquisate.
In 333 BCE, Duke Cheng died, and his son, Duke Ping, took the throne, only to die in 325 BCE. His successor, Duke Si, ruled briefly before suffering yet another demotion in 320 BCE, leaving him with dominion over only Puyang.
In 283 BCE, Duke Si died, and his son, Duke Huai, took the throne. By 252 BCE, Duke Huai, seeking alliance, traveled to Wei, only to be imprisoned and executed. Wei then appointed his brother, Duke Yuan, as ruler, as he had married into the Wei royal family.
By 239 BCE, Qin had conquered the eastern territories of Wei and established the Eastern Commandery. The Wei ruler was relocated to Yewang County, while Puyang was annexed into Qin’s domain.
In 228 BCE, Duke Yuan passed away, and his son, Prince Jiao, succeeded him.
By 221 BCE, Qin had unified all under Heaven, and Ying Zheng proclaimed himself the First Emperor of Qin. In 210 BCE, Qin Er Shi deposed the ruler of Wei, stripping him of all titles. Prince Jiao was reduced to a commoner, marking the final end of the Wei state.
The Reflection of the Grand Historian
Sima Qian writes:
As I pored over the records of noble houses, I encountered the tragic tale of Prince Shou of Wei, who, out of love for his wife, was slain, and of Prince Shou’s younger brother, who vied with him in seeking death. Their tale mirrors that of Crown Prince Shen Sheng of Jin, who, out of deference to his father, never dared expose the wickedness of Lady Li Ji—both feared dishonoring their fathers, yet both met untimely deaths. How tragic!
Fathers and sons turning against one another, brothers vying for destruction—what, in the end, drives such calamities?