Zhao Ming

Zhao Ming (? – ?) was a ruler of Predynastic Shang. His family name was Zi .

Succession His father was Xie of Shang, born in Shangqiu , Henan . He is thus a descendent of the Yellow Emperor and Emperor Ku, and among the twelve ancestors of the King Tang of Shang. He was succeeded by Xiang Tu. In 1940, Ding Shan (丁山) found equivalence with Jiong , but further research by Jiang Linchang (江林昌) found that this was more than likely a placename, observing structures such as south Jiong 南囧. In 1985, Zheng Huisheng (鄭慧生) observed that the name could possibly result from a misinterpretation from the Book of Yao : 百姓昭明協和萬邦 The quote bears similar syntax to "昭明相土昌若曹圉" whilst using Zhaoming's name in its adjectival sense. The syntax can be interpreted either as a genealogy, or as an ancient idiom along the lines of Illustrious are the [people], united by the same earth and singing in harmony across borders.

Therefore, should Zheng's theory be correct, structures such as the following show in Xunzi's Cheng Xiang 成相 chapter would illustrate that misinterpretation:

契玄王，生昭明 This text can be interpreted as either "Xie, the Dark King, birthed Zhaoming." or "Xie, the Dark King, was born luminous." As Classical Chinese traditionally places an object after the verb, sheng 生 was interpreted as a genealogy, common in annalistic works.