Du of Cai

Shu Du of Cai , given name Du , was the first ruler of the State of Cai.

Early life Shu Du was the fifth son of King Wen of Zhou and his wife Tai Si . He had ten brothers and eight half-brothers. His elder brothers were Bo Yikao, Ji Fa, Shu Xian, and Ji Dan.

Reign Shu Du was given the fief of Cai by King Wu after the overthrow of the last Shang king, Di Xin. Du's realm centred on present-day Shangcai, Henan, and the fief was aimed at controlling the heir to the Shang throne, Wu Geng, by restricting his access to eastern support from the Dongyi. He and his brothers Shu Xian of Guan and Shu Chu of Huo were known as the Three Guards, but when King Wu died and the Duke of Zhou assumed the regency for the young King Cheng of Zhou, they rebelled along with Wu Geng from the perspective of the Shang being entitled to the throne if King Wu had no heir.