400 Generals of China - Grand View of Chinese History and Culture

Author: Jin Ge
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
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Yi Yin (uncertain birth and death dates) was a significant political figure and military strategist in the late Xia and early Shang dynasties, primarily responsible for the planning of the Shang's overthrow of the Xia. His name was Zhi, with Yin being his official title. Legend has it that he was born by the Yi River, hence the name Yi Yin, and was referred to as "Yi" in oracle bone inscriptions. Yi Yin was initially a slave of the Shang King Tang's wife, You Shen, serving as a "small minister" before assuming national governance. He assisted King Tang in overthrowing the tyrannical King Jie of the Xia dynasty and was honored as Aheng and Baoheng.
In the late Xia dynasty, King Jie of the Xia was infamous for his debauchery and cruelty, leading to a crisis in governance. Yi Yin advised King Tang to adopt a strategy of gradually weakening and isolating the Xia by targeting its vassal states, such as Wei and Gu, which were located between the Xia and Shang. This strategy isolated the Xia, allowing King Tang to capitalize on the rebellion of Kunwu (a tribal name residing in present-day Putian, Henan) and lead the feudal lords to eliminate Kunwu. He then swiftly launched a campaign against King Jie.
In the 16th century BC, the Shang launched the Battle of Mingtiao (located east of Fengqiu, Henan, or north of Anyi Town in Yuncheng, Shanxi) to overthrow the Xia. Before the battle, King Tang held a grand assembly. At the outset of the conflict, Tang and Yi Yin led 70 chariots and 6,000 brave warriors in a fierce attack. King Jie's forces were defeated, and the Shang army pursued him, leading to Jie's death in Nanchao (located north of Chaohu Lake in Anhui). The Xia dynasty fell. King Tang established the Shang dynasty in Xibei (west of Yanshi, Henan). After King Tang's death, Yi Yin continued to advise his successors, Bo Bing (also known as Wai Bing) and Zhong Ren.
Later, when Taija ascended the throne, he became extravagant and disregarded King Tang's laws, leading Yi Yin to exile him to Tonggong. After three years, Taija repented and was restored to power; alternatively, it is said that after three years, Taija was supposed to inherit the throne, but Yi Yin usurped his position and was later killed by Taija.
Fu Hao
Fu Hao (uncertain birth and death dates) was a female general of the Shang dynasty and one of the concubines of King Wuding. She was a highly capable female commander in Chinese history. King Wuding, a renowned king of the mid-Shang dynasty, ascended the throne with the ambition to revitalize the Shang. He pursued governance through virtue and worked diligently to improve the state. Unbound by social status or gender discrimination, he appointed Fu Hao, despite her humble origins, as his prime minister and allowed his wife Fu Hao to command the Shang army. This combination of civil and military governance led to the "great prosperity of the Yin state," making it one of the most powerful slave-owning kingdoms in history. He also established the Right, Middle, and Left armies, each led by a master, giving the Shang dynasty a standing army in addition to its temporary conscription system.
Oracle bone inscriptions and other historical records indicate that Fu Hao was an exceptionally skilled general. In King Wuding's numerous campaigns against neighboring tribes, she sometimes served as the vanguard and other times commanded entire armies independently. During the campaign against the Qiang, she gathered an army of 13,000 and personally led the command. This was a large-scale military operation for that era. She also participated in and directed major battles against the Tufang, Bafang, and Yifang. In the battle against the Bafang, she arranged ambushes and, after King Wuding drove the Bafang army into the trap, swiftly destroyed them, earning great military honors. Fu Hao was deeply favored by King Wuding and held her own fiefdom. She died during King Wuding's reign.
Lü Shang
Lü Shang (uncertain birth and death dates) was a renowned military strategist of the Zhou dynasty. Originally surnamed Jiang, he adopted the surname Lü from his ancestral fief, hence the name Lü Shang, and was known as Zi Ya. Initially, he lived in seclusion by the Wei River. The Duke of Zhou encountered him while hunting and was greatly impressed by his wisdom, declaring, "I have long awaited meeting you, Grand Tutor!" Thus, he was given the title of Taigong Wang (Grand Tutor) and also known as Lü Wang. In the early Zhou, he served as the Grand Master and was revered as Shang Shangfu and Taigong Shang. He was commonly known as Jiang Taigong.
Lü Shang assisted the Duke of Zhou in promoting virtue and governance and supported the Duke of Wu in completing the overthrow of the Shang. Many of the military strategies and tactics used in this endeavor were attributed to him. Historians claim that later generations of military strategists all revered Lü Shang as their master. The classic military text The Six Arts of War (also known as Taigong's Six Arts) is believed to be a work attributed to him by later authors during the Warring States period. Lü Shang can be considered China's first military strategist. For more details about his specific achievements, please refer to the series "400 Great Figures of China."