Wo Ding
Traditionally believed to be a king of the Shang Dynasty
About Wo Ding
Lived 1800 BC – 1592 BC.
Wo Ding (, personal name Xuan, is traditionally held to be a Shang dynasty King of China but recent archaeological evidence has thrown this into doubt.
In the Records of the Grand Historian he was listed by Sima Qian as the fifth Shang king, succeeding his father Tai Jia. He was enthroned in the year of Guisi with Qingshi as his prime minister and Bo as his capital. In the 8th year of his reign, he conducted ceremonies to honour Yi Yin, the previous prime minister. He ruled for 19 years (other sources say 29 years) before his death. He was given the posthumous name Wo Ding and was succeeded by his brother Tai Geng. Oracle script inscriptions on bones unearthed at Yinxu do not list him as one of the Shang kings.
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Important facts
People in Wo Ding's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Wo Ding's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Wo Ding?
traditionally believed to be a king of the Shang Dynasty
When was Wo Ding born?
Wo Ding was born in 1800 BC.
When did Wo Ding die?
Wo Ding died in 1592 BC.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Wo Ding. https://biography.guide/wo-ding/
MLA: "Wo Ding." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/wo-ding/.
Chicago: "Wo Ding." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/wo-ding/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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