Jizi (Viscount of Ji), like Weizi (Viscount of Wei), was a relative the corrupt last ruler of the Yin (i.e., Shang) dynasty, Zhou Xin.³ The Shi Ji, Annal 3, says briefly that in protest against Zhou Xin the Viscount of Ji acted crazily and was thrown in prison.⁴

Shi Ji, Annal 38,⁵ gives more detail, suggesting (as here) that he had criticized the corruption directly. Tradition says he then played Jizi's Melody⁶ on the qin as a lament. No melody of this title survives in old tablature.

Yuefu Shiji, Folio 57, #12 (p. 830) has a "Jizi Cao, also called Intonation of Jizi,"⁷ with prefaces and lyrics as follows.

Shi Ji, Annal 38 (pp. 1620/1), also says he also wrote a Sprouting Wheat Ears Lyrics; it then quotes them.⁸

The original biography in Qin Shi is as follows.

Further details in preparation. ¹⁰

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1 26722.3 箕子 Jizi (Return)

2 10 lines (Return)

3 紂辛 Zhou Xin (12th c. BCE)
Zhou Xin, the last ruler of the 殷 Yin (商 Shang) dynasty, is famous for his debauchery and corruption. His biography is in Chapter 3 (Yin dynasty) of the Shi Ji (GSR, I, pp. 49 - 52). On the advice of 崇侯虎 Marquis Hu of Chong (8330.52; mentioned also by Mozi, see Mozi Bei Ge), Zhou Xin imprisoned the virtuous Lord of the West (Wen Wang; see Juyou Cao). Honorable advisers subsequently left him, including his relatives Jizi and Weizi as well as Lü Shang (see Shi Xian). In the end Zhou Xin was defeated by Wu Wang, leading to the establishment of the Zhou dynasty.

The corrupt music of Zhou Xin is often mentioned, including in the biographies of Shi Kuang, Shi Yan and King Zhuang of Chu. The Music Annals of the Shi Ji compare this music to the correct music of emperor Shun; see under Nan Xun Ge. Shi Ji also said Zhou Xin's debauchery was encouraged by a concubine name 妲己 Da Ji (6298.1; Giles; the biography of Zhao Feiyan compares her to Da Ji). Zhou Xin is often called simply Zhou, not to be confused with the 周 Zhou of Zhou dynasty). (Return)

4 Shi Ji, Chapter #3 (Knechtges, I, p.51), has only a brief account. Details are in Chapter 38. (Return)

5 To my knowledge Shi Ji Chapter 38 is not yet translated. See Chinese edition p.1609. (Return)

6 箕子操 Jizi Cao (Jizi's Melody)
26722.4 箕子操 quotes YFSJ and Shi Ji, Annal 38. Qin Shi mentions the melody but does not include the lyrics. Qin Cao has only the unrelated 箕山操 Mount Ji Melody. (Return)

7 箕子吟 Jizi Yin. 26722.xxx. (Return)

8 48695.34 麥秀歌 Mai Xiu Ge says it is also called Mourning Yin Melody, then quotes the Shi Ji (pp. 1620/1) passage, including the lyrics. For Mourning Yin melody 1083.71 傷殷操 Shang Yin Cao also says it is the same as Mai Xiu Ge, but it attributes it to Weizi. (Return)

9 傷殷操 Shang Yin Cao, (Return)

10 (Return)

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