Huai of Xia

Huai 槐
8th King of the Xia dynasty
Predecessor	Zhu
Successor	Mang
Issue	Mang
Dynasty	Xia dynasty
Father	Zhu

Huai (Chinese: 槐) was the eighth king of the semi-legendary Xia dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BCE) of Ancient China. His reign length varies considerably in sources, either around 26 or 44 years.

Background

The Xia dynasty (夏朝; c. 2070–1600 BCE) is the first dynasty of traditional Chinese historiography.[1] Founded by Yu the Great, both the dynasty and its rulers are of highly uncertain and controversial historicity.[1][2]

Herbert J. Allen notes that the character for Huai's name and the Sophora japonica tree are the same.[3] His name is read Hui according to Sima Zhen; his other name is Fen (芬). His name is also read as Hai.

Traditional narrative

Extant sources offer little information on Huai's reign; they are mainly limited to court appointments and assemblies.[4]

Huai ascended the throne in the year of Wuzi (戊子), after his father Zhu had died.[5]

In the 3rd year of his reign, nine barbarians (九夷) came to his capital.

In the 16th year of his regime, the minister Luobo (洛伯) fought with minister Fengyi (冯夷) at He(河). In the 33rd year of his regime, he assigned the son of Kunwu as minister in Yousu (有苏).

He created a prison called yuantu (圜土) in the 36th year of his reign.

He was succeeded by his son Mang.

Chronology

Huai is traditionally held to have succeeded his father Zhu and been succeeded by his son Mang.[6] Aside from this, all reign periods and lengths are speculative and unverifiable.

Differing reign lengths of Huai (BCE)[4]

Source	Length	Speculative Years
Shiji	26	2040–2015
Bamboo Annals	44	1851–1807

References

Citations

1. Morton & Lewis 2004, p. 14.
2. Chang 1999, pp. 71–73.
3. SJ in Allen 1895, p. 110.
4. Imperial China 2020, p. 315.
5. Page 112
6. SJ in Allen 1895, p. 108.

Sources

Early

• "Dì Fēn" 帝芬 [Emperor Huai]. Zhúshū Jìnián 竹書紀年 [Bamboo Annals] (in Traditional Chinese).
• "The Annals of the Bamboo Books". The Chinese Classics: A Translation Critical and Exegetical Notes, Prolegomena, And Copious Indexes. Translated by Legge, James. London: Trübner. 1865.
• "Ssŭma Ch'ien's Historical Records, Chapter II – The Hsia Dynasty". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 27 (1). Translated by Allen, Herbert J.: 93–110 1895. doi:10.1017/S0035869X00022784. S2CID 250351018.

Modern

• Chang, Kwang-chih (1999). "China on the Eve of the Historical Period". In Loewe, Michael; Shaughnessy, Edward L. (eds.). The Cambridge History of Ancient China: From the Origins of Civilization to 221 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-47030-8.
• Morton, W. Scott; Lewis, Charlton M. (2004). China: Its History and Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-146526-7.
• Wu Kuo-Chen (1982). The Chinese Heritage. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc. ISBN 978-0-517-54475-4.
• Imperial China: The Definitive Visual History. New York: DK and Encyclopedia of China Publishing House. 2020. ISBN 978-0-7440-2047-2.

Huai of Xia Xia dynasty
Regnal titles
Preceded by Zhu	King of China	Succeeded by Mang