Bo Ying

Bo Ying
伯嬴
HusbandKing Ping of Chu
IssueXiong Zhen
HouseYing
FatherDuke Ai of Qin
Other namesChu Ying
楚赢
Bo Ying
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinBó yíng
Wade–GilesPo ying
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingBaa3 jing4
Southern Min
Hokkien POJPeh êng

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

Biography

Bo Ying was a daughter of the ruler of Qin. The Biographies of Exemplary Women states that Bo Ying's father was Duke Mu of Qin, but he reigned nearly 100 years earlier than her husband King Ping of Chu, so it is generally accepted that she was a daughter of Duke Ai.[1]

The Zuo zhuan and Shiji record that she was betrothed to the heir of Chu, but the official who negotiated her marriage, Fei Wuji, 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.[1] Bo Ying's marriage is one of very few between Chu and Qin state to have been recorded.[2]

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 Biographies of Exemplary Women 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.[1] Helu was ashamed and retreated,[3] and Chu was later liberated by Qin.[4]

Family

References

  1. ^ a b c Liu Jie 刘洁 (2013). "《列女传》中的楚国后妃" [Concubines of Chu state in the 'Biographies of Exemplary Women']. Journal of Xuchang University (in Chinese). 32 (4): 87.
  2. ^ Song Gongwen 宋公文; Chen Huijun 陈慧君 (2000). "试论春秋时期的楚秦联姻" [Discussion of Chu—Qin marital alliances during the Spring and Autumn period]. Journal of Xiangfan University (in Chinese). 21 (3): 73.
  3. ^ 于是吴王惭，遂退舍。伯嬴与其保阿闭永巷之门，皆不释兵。
  4. ^ Liu Xiang. "楚平伯赢" [Bo Ying (King Ping of Chu)]. 列女传 [Biographies of Exemplary Women] (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 March 2021.