Tai Kang
Tai Kang (Chinese: 太康) was the third Emperor of the Xia Dynasty. He was the son of the Emperor Qi of Xia and paternal grandson of Yu the Great and Empress Nu Jiao.[1]
Tai Kang | |
|---|---|
| Parent(s) | Qi of Xia |
| Relatives | Zhong Kang (brother) Yu the Great (grandfather) Xiang of Xia (nephew) |
Biography
Tai Kang loved to hunt and did not rule well.
According to the Bamboo Annals,[2] Tai Kang took the throne in the year of Guiwei. His capital was in Zhenxun (斟鄩). In his first year, while he went hunting beyond the Luo river, Houyi came and occupied Zhenxin. Tai Kang died 4 years later, or according to the book Lushi, 10 years later.
According to Records of the Grand Historian, he ruled about 19 years and lost his regime. "Taiping Yulan"[3] claims he was a tyrant who ruled for 29 years, then lost his regime and vanished.
He was succeeded by his brother Zhong Kang and nephew Xiang of Xia.
In literature
The Book of Documents features Songs of the Five Sons (五子之歌) among the documents of Xia (Chapter 8). According to the introductory note, the document contains the pieces composed by Tai Kang's five younger brothers when he lost the country.[5]
Sources
- Bamboo Annals
- 《竹書紀年》,article 帝太康
- 《太平御覽》, volume 皇王部七, article 帝太康
- The Shape of the Turtle: Myth, Art, and Cosmos in Early China by Sarah Allan
- Book of Documents
Tai Kang Xia Dynasty | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Qi |
Emperor of China 2117 BC – 2088 BC |
Succeeded by Zhong Kang |