Geng Ding

Geng Ding
Geng Ding
King of Shang dynasty
Predecessor	Zu Jia or Lin Xin
Successor	Wu Yi
Born	c. 11-12th Century BCE
Died	1148 BCE
Spouse	Bi Xin (妣辛)
Issue	Wu Yi
Father	Zu Jia

Kang Ding (康丁) or Geng Ding (庚丁) was a king of the Shang dynasty of China. His given name is Xiao (嚣). He was enthroned in the year of Jiawu (甲午) and his capital was at Yin (殷).³

Reign

Different sources suggest different reign lengths for Geng Ding. The Bamboo Annals suggest an 8-year reign.⁴ On the other hand, the Song dynasty Zizhi Tongjian Waiji⁵ (A supplement to the Zizhi Tongjian) and Tongzhi Encyclopedia⁶ suggest a 6-year reign. The Diwang Benji (帝王本紀) quoted in Tongzhi suggests a 11-year reign.⁶

Irrespective of reign dates, several oracle bones featuring inept handwriting have been dated to the reign of Geng Ding and Lin Xin,⁷ particularly from the diviner Peng.⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹ These typically consist of an individual copying an existing diviner's work (e.g. Those from Nan), having it checked, and repeating. This is among the earliest examples of Chinese education and literary training.⁷

References

XSZCP Group (2000), Xià-Shāng-Zhōu duàndài gōngchéng 1996—2000 nián jiēduàn chéngguǒ bàogào: Jiǎn běn 夏商周断代工程1996—2000年阶段成果报告: 简本 [The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project Report for the years 1996–2000 (abridged)], Beijing: 世界图书出版公司, ISBN 978-7-5062-4138-0, archived from the original on 29 December 2010, retrieved 19 February 2017
甲骨文合集 Heji 36290：辛巳卜貞王賓康丁爽妣辛X無X
Bamboo Annals
Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). "庚丁". 竹書紀年 [Zhushu Jinian] (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project. Retrieved 27 March 2026. 元年甲午，王即位，居殷。八年，陟。
劉恕. 資治通鑑外 (in Chinese) – via Wikisource.
鄭樵. 通志 (in Chinese) – via Wikisource.
Smith, Adam (2011). "Evidence for Scribal Training in Anyang". In Feng, Li; Banner, David Prager (eds.). Writing & literacy in early China: studies from the Columbia Early China Seminar. Seattle: University of Washington press. pp. 196–200. ISBN 9780295991528.
甲骨文合集 27543
甲骨文合集 26899
甲骨文合集 31420
甲骨文合集 34127

[1] XSZCP Group (2000), Xià-Shāng-Zhōu duàndài gōngchéng 1996—2000 nián jiēduàn chéngguǒ bàogào: Jiǎn běn 夏商周断代工程1996—2000年阶段成果报告: 简本 [The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project Report for the years 1996–2000 (abridged)], Beijing: 世界图书出版公司, ISBN 978-7-5062-4138-0, archived from the original on 29 December 2010, retrieved 19 February 2017

[2] 甲骨文合集 Heji 36290：辛巳卜貞王賓康丁爽妣辛X無X

[3] Bamboo Annals

[bamboo_annals-4] Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). "庚丁". 竹書紀年 [Zhushu Jinian] (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project. Retrieved 27 March 2026. 元年甲午，王即位，居殷。八年，陟。

[5] 劉恕. 資治通鑑外 (in Chinese) – via Wikisource.

[tongzhi-6] 鄭樵. 通志 (in Chinese) – via Wikisource.

[smith2011-7] Smith, Adam (2011). "Evidence for Scribal Training in Anyang". In Feng, Li; Banner, David Prager (eds.). Writing & literacy in early China: studies from the Columbia Early China Seminar. Seattle: University of Washington press. pp. 196–200. ISBN 9780295991528.

[8] 甲骨文合集 27543

[9] 甲骨文合集 26899

[10] 甲骨文合集 31420

[11] 甲骨文合集 34127

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