Wen Ding
Shang king of China
About Wen Ding
Lived 1200 BC – 1102 BC.
Wen Wu Ding or Wen Ding or Tai Ding , personal name Zi Tuo (, ), was a king of the Shang dynasty of Ancient China. His reign was from 1116 to 1106 BC according to the Cambridge History of China or 1112 to 1102/1 BC according to the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project.
Records According to the Bamboo Annals, his capital was moved from Mou to Yin .
In the second year of his reign, his vassal Jili of Zhou attacked the Yanjing Rong , but they defeated him.
During his third year, the Huan River dried up.
In his fourth year, Jili attacked the Yuwu Rong and was victorious, making Yuwu into a Zhou client.
In his fifth year, Jili established Chengyi in the lands he had previously annexed from Cheng.
In his seventh year, Jili attacked the Shihu Rong and was again victorious.
Several years later, Jili defeated the Xitu Rong and captured three of their generals. Worried that Zhou was growing too powerful, Wen Ding sent Jili to a rural storehouse and had him starved to death there.
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Wen Ding's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Wen Ding's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Wen Ding?
Shang king of China
When was Wen Ding born?
Wen Ding was born in 1200 BC.
When did Wen Ding die?
Wen Ding died in 1102 BC.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Wen Ding. https://biography.guide/wen-ding/
MLA: "Wen Ding." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/wen-ding/.
Chicago: "Wen Ding." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/wen-ding/.
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