Bo Ying () was a consort to the sixth-century BC Chu ruler, King Ping, and mother of his successor, King Zhao.

Biography

Bo Ying was a daughter of the ruler of

Qin Qin may refer to: Dynasties and states * Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China * Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC * Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...

. The ''

Biographies of Exemplary Women The ''Biographies of Exemplary Women'' () is a book compiled by the Han dynasty scholar Liu Xiang c. 18 BCE. It includes 125 biographical accounts of exemplary women in ancient China, taken from early Chinese histories including '' Chunqiu'', ' ...

'' states that Bo Ying's father was

Duke Mu of Qin Duke Mu of Qin (died 621BC), born Renhao, was a duke of Qin (659–621BC) in the western reaches of the Zhou Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. Sometimes considered one of China's Five Hegemons, he greatly expanded ...

, but he reigned nearly 100 years earlier than her husband

King Ping of Chu King Píng of Chu (, died 516 BC). During the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China, he was king of the State of Chu from 528 BC to 516 BC. He was a son of King Gong of Chu and his consort (a sibling of King Zi'ao). Born Xiong Qiji (), P� ...

, so it is generally accepted that she was a daughter of Duke Ai. The '' Zuo zhuan'' and ''

Shiji ''Records of the Grand Historian'', also known by its Chinese name ''Shiji'', is a monumental history of China that is the first of China's 24 dynastic histories. The ''Records'' was written in the early 1st century by the ancient Chinese hist ...

'' record that she was betrothed to the heir of Chu, but the official who negotiated her marriage,

Fei Wuji Fei Wuji (; died 515 BCE) was a corrupt official of the state of Chu during the reign of King Ping whose persecution of Crown Prince Jian and the family of Wu Zixu led to the defeat and decline of Chu. Life and death According to ''Lüshi Chun ...

, persuaded the Chu king to marry her himself. Bo Ying married the king on her arrival in Chu and later gave birth to a son named Xiong Zhen. Bo Ying's marriage is one of very few between Chu and Qin state to have been recorded. Bo Ying's son became king of Chu in 516 BCE. In 506, Helu of Wu captured the Chu capital, and Bo Ying's son fled with a younger sister. The ''

'' records that Helu attempted to rape Bo Ying and other members of the harem, but Bo Ying resisted with a knife and lectured him on morality. Helu was ashamed and retreated,于是吴王惭，遂退舍。伯嬴与其保阿闭永巷之门，皆不释兵。 and Chu was later liberated by Qin.

Family

*Father:

Duke Ai of Qin Duke Ai of Qin (, died 501 BC) was from 536 to 501 BC the nineteenth ruler of the Zhou Dynasty state of Qin that eventually united China to become the Qin Dynasty. His ancestral name was Ying ( 嬴), and Duke Ai was his posthumous title. Duke A ...

(536 — 501 BCE) *Husband:

(528 — 516 BCE) **Son:

King Zhao of Chu King Zhao of Chu (, died 489 BC) was from 515 to 489 BC the king of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. He was born Xiong Zhen () and King Zhao was his posthumous title. Documents unearthed in the former state ...

(515 — 489 BCE)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bo Ying 6th-century BC Chinese women 6th-century BC Chinese people Chinese royal consorts Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown Qin state people