기자 (고조선)

CreatureKorea · East AsiaLegendFear 3/10

Description

A creature from the folklore of Korea. Jizi, Qizi, or Kizi (Chinese: 箕子; Wade–Giles: Chi-tzu), called in Korean Kija (Korean: 기자; RR…

Origin & Background

Jizi, or Kija (기자), is a semi-legendary sage from the 11th century BCE China, said to have ruled Kija Chosŏn (기자 조선). Early Chinese texts such as the Book of Documents (《서경》) and Bamboo Annals (《죽간기》) describe him as a relative of the last king of the Shang dynasty, who was punished for advising the king. After the Shang dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou dynasty in the 1040s BCE, he is said to have given political advice to King Wu of Zhou, the first king of the Zhou dynasty. Later Chinese literature from the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) claims that King Wu appointed Kija as the ruler of Chosŏn. Kija's surname is Zi (子), and he is known by the names Xuye (胥餘) or Shuyu (須臾).

The Legend

Kija is mentioned in ancient Chinese texts as a relative of the last king of the Shang dynasty, King Zhou, and one of the three wise men of the Shang. He is said to have been imprisoned or reduced to slavery for advising against King Zhou's misrule. After the Shang dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou dynasty, Kija was released by King Wu and began to advise on how to govern the new regime. Later, Kija is said to have taught agriculture, sericulture, weaving, and etiquette to Chosŏn, and there are records that his descendants ruled as kings of Chosŏn for 40 generations.

Variants

Kija may have become an object of state worship in 6th century Goguryeo, and his tomb was established in 1102 during the Goryeo dynasty. The first Korean text mentioning Kija is the Samguk Sagi (《삼국사기》), completed in 1145. From the late 13th century, Kija was fully integrated into Korean history and depicted as a successor to Dangun. During the Joseon dynasty (established in 1392), Kija's role as a cultural hero alongside Dangun was emphasized.

In Popular Culture

In modern Korea, there is no official recognition of Kija's existence or his achievements. Since the early 20th century, Korean historians have begun to question Kija's influence, and many contemporary Korean historians deny the existence of Kija Chosŏn. Currently, Kija is rarely mentioned in Korean history textbooks, and his story is mostly treated as a footnote.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Jizi" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia