Shang Dynasty

The Shang Dynasty, dated here to 1600–1100 BC, is presented as the historical period associated with the story of Daji and Emperor Zhou. Its significance in the account lies in the boundary it marks between historical reference and later legendary explanations of a ruler’s fall.

Historical Setting

The account names Emperor Zhou as the Shang Dynasty’s last ruler and says he became enamored of Daji. Stories of cruel rulers and selfish consorts provide the broader context for the legend: Daji’s reported cruelty was so extreme that people said she could not be human and imagined her as an evil fox spirit in disguise. The account also notes that she was said to have gone boating on a pond of wine.

Historical Distinction

The dynasty’s association with Daji is carefully distinguished from another tale sometimes attached to them: the story of an emperor causing a war to amuse his beloved did not concern Emperor Zhou and Daji. It instead concerned Emperor Murong Xi of the Later Yan dynasty, which the account dates to AD 384–407. This distinction separates the Shang-era legend from a similar anecdote belonging to a different ruler and period.