Rebellion of the Three Guards

Quick Facts: Who was Rebellion of the Three Guards?

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Rebellion of the Three Guards

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A civil war challenging Western Zhou authority, defining early Chinese statecraft.

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Origins & Early Life

The Rebellion of the Three Guards (simplified Chinese: 三监之乱; traditional Chinese: 三監之亂; pinyin: Sān Jiàn zhī Luàn), or less commonly the Wu Geng Rebellion (simplified Chinese: 武庚之乱; traditional Chinese: 武庚之亂), was a civil war, instigated by an alliance of discontent Zhou princes, Shang loyalists, vassal states and other non-Zhou peoples against the Western Zhou government under the Duke of Zhou's regency in late 11th century BC. After the fall of the Shang dynasty, King Wu of Zhou had appointed his younger brothers Shu Xian of Guan, Shu Du of Cai and Shu Chu of Huo as the "Three Guards" of the East to secure the newly conquered Shang lands. After his death and his young son King Cheng's coronation, King Wu's brother Dan, the Duke of Zhou, declared himself regent and took over the court. This aroused the anger of the Three Guards who suspected Dan of usurpation and believed that they should serve as regents. The Three Guards allied with many separatist eastern nobles, Shang loyalists under Prince Wu Geng, and several Dongyi and Huaiyi (淮夷) states in rebellion.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The Duke of Zhou then launched a second "eastern campaign" to put down the rebellion, and defeated the rebels in three years, killing or disempowering their leaders. In doing so, he also further expanded the authority of Zhou kingdom into East China, transforming it into an empire using the new Fengjian system. Edward L. Shaughnessy called the rebellion "a succession crisis that has come to be seen as defining moment not only for the Western Zhou dynasty but for the entire history of Chinese statecraft". In 1059 BC, an extremely rare planetary conjunction occurred as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were visible in the northwestern sky over northern China, grouped closely together. This was taken by the Zhou people as sign of great importance, showcasing that their ruler had been granted the "Mandate of Heaven".

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Declaring himself king, Wen of Zhou broke away from his previous overlords, the Shang dynasty, and launched a war for dominance over China. The Zhou consolidated the territories surrounding their homeland in the Wei River valley under King Wen. Following his death, his son King Wu of Zhou defeated the Shang dynasty and conquered the latter's capital of Yin in 1046 BC. The Zhou dynasty supplanted the old Shang rule, but uncertainty and unrest remained. Most of the eastern vassal states remained loyal to the fallen Shang dynasty and resented the new "barbarian" rulers.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1046: 1046 Milestone — Following his death, his son King Wu of Zhou defeated the Shang dynasty and conquered the latter's capital of Yin in 1046 BC.
2. 1059: 1059 Milestone — In 1059 BC, an extremely rare planetary conjunction occurred as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were visible in the northwestern sky over northern China, grouped closely together.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Rebellion of the Three Guards

True or False: “The Rebellion of the Three Guards was primarily a conflict between the Zhou royal family and external nomadic tribes.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): It was fundamentally an internal succession crisis involving discontented Zhou princes, Shang loyalists, and vassal states against the Duke of Zhou's regency.

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