Chapter 33 The Seventh Person in the Confucian Daoist Tradition

He was a politician, military strategist, philosopher, and educator from the Western Zhou period, revered by Confucius as the "primal sage," and a forerunner of Confucianism, the first Duke of Zhou of the Zhou Dynasty.

The Duke of Zhou, born Ji Dan, was the fourth son of King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang, and the brother of King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa. He twice assisted King Wu of Zhou in his eastern campaigns against King Zhou and created rites and music. His fief was in Zhou, and he held the title of prime minister, hence he was known as the Duke of Zhou.

The Duke of Zhou acted as regent for seven years, during which he established fundamental codes and institutions in all areas, perfected the clan system, enfeoffment system, primogeniture, and the well-field system.