| Taisi 太姒 |
|
|---|---|
| Queen Wen of Zhou | |
| Spouse | King Wen of Zhou |
| Issue | |
| Boyi Kao Fa, King Wu of Zhou Guan Shu Xian Dan, Duke of Zhou Cai Shu Du Cao Shu Zhen Duo Cheng Shu Wu Huo Shu Chu Kang Shu Feng Ran Ji Zai, Ruler of Dan |
|
Taisi (Chinese: 太姒; literally "Lady Si", c. 12th-11th century BC) was the wife of King Wen of Zhou and is revered as a highly respected woman of ancient China. She was a descendant of Yu the Great - founder of the Xia Dynasty - and was the mother of ten sons, including the famed King Wu of Zhou - founder of the Zhou Dynasty - and his younger brother Duke Dan of Zhou.
Particularly respected by Wu Zetian, China's only Empress regnant, Taisi and King Wen were posthumously given the temple names "Shizu" (Chinese: 始祖; literally "founding ancestor") in 690 AD.
Taisi is said to been born in the Si family as a member of the Youxin clan (Chinese: 有莘氏), then living in what is now Heyang County, Shaanxi Province.[1] The famed historiographer Sima Qian wrote that she was originally from the older State of Qi or State of Zeng, both in and around modern-day Henan Province.[2]
The traditional story regarding Taisi's rise to queen says that the future King Wen of Zhou, born Xibo Chang (Chinese: 西伯昌), was walking along the banks of the Wei River one day when he first met Taisi. Her beauty so captivated Chang that he initially thought she was a goddess or angel. Taisi proved a woman of benevolence, wisdom, and simple tastes, and Chang decided to take her as his wife. Because the Wei River was not bridged, Chang set out to build one by constructing a number of boats that were arranged end-to-end to form a floating path across the river. Taisi was impressed, and they were married.[3]
After Taisi joined her husband's family, she is said to have quickly gained favor with the other women of the royal family through her diligent work ethic and demeanor. She and the king had ten sons together, and Taisi is said to have been an exceptional teacher and mother, such that all of the sons were men of upright virtue and wisdom.
Guan Ju, the famous opening song of the Book of Songs, with its opening description of a beautiful maiden plucking plants along a river bank who is loved by a young prince, is said by some to be originally about Taisi and the prince's first meeting along the Wei River.[3]