King Gong of Zhou facts for kids

King Gong of Zhou (pronounced "Jow Gong Wang") was an important ruler of ancient China. He was a king of the Zhou dynasty, a powerful period in Chinese history. His personal name was Ji Yihu. He ruled from about 922 BC until 900 BC.

Life and Reign of King Gong

King Gong became king in 922 BC. He took the throne after his father, King Mu of Zhou, passed away. Unlike some kings before him, King Gong focused on making his kingdom stronger from the inside.

Building the Economy

Instead of fighting many wars, King Gong worked on the economy. This means he tried to make the country richer. He focused on collecting more money for the royal treasury. This helped the kingdom grow without needing to expand its land through battles.

A Story of Conflict

There is a famous story about King Gong and a small state called Mi. While visiting the State of Mi, King Gong saw three beautiful women. He asked the lord of Mi to send them to his palace. However, the lord kept the women for himself.

This action made King Gong very angry. He felt disrespected by the lord of Mi. Because of this, King Gong decided to invade the State of Mi. He defeated the lord and took control of the state.

End of His Reign

King Gong ruled for about 15 years. He passed away peacefully in his palace around 900 BC. After his death, his son, King Yi of Zhou, became the next ruler of the Zhou dynasty.

Royal Family

King Gong had a family that was important to the Zhou dynasty.

Queens

• Wang Gui, who was from the Gui family.

Sons

• Crown Prince Jian, who later became King Yì of Zhou. He ruled from 899 BC to 892 BC.