Cai Shudu: Western Zhou Royal Clan and the Full Account of the "Rebellion of the Three Guards" in the "Records of the Grand Historian"

Brief Introduction

Cai Shudu, surname Ji, name Du, was the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou (Ji Fa), the founding monarch of the Western Zhou Dynasty, and the son of King Wen of Zhou (Ji Chang). He played a significant role in the political landscape of the early Western Zhou period. He was both an enfeoffed feudal lord and a key participant in the "Rebellion of the Three Guards." As the founding lord of the State of Cai, his life story is primarily recorded in Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji). He is an important historical figure for studying the Western Zhou patriarchal clan system and early political struggles.

Core Knowledge Points

* Royal Status: Cai Shudu, along with Guan Shuxian and the Duke of Zhou (Zhou Gong Dan), was a younger brother of King Wu of Zhou. During the initial enfeoffment in the early Zhou dynasty, he was granted the land of Cai (present-day Shangcai, Henan Province) to establish the State of Cai. His title was "Shu," and he was responsible for monitoring the remnants of the Yin-Shang people.
* Rebellion of the Three Guards: After the death of King Wu of Zhou, King Cheng was young, and the Duke of Zhou acted as regent. Guan Shuxian and Cai Shudu were dissatisfied with the Duke of Zhou's concentration of power. They allied with Wu Geng, the son of King Zhou of Shang, to launch a rebellion, historically known as the "Rebellion of the Three Guards." This severely threatened the rule of the Western Zhou.
* Outcome and Rehabilitation: After the Duke of Zhou conducted the Eastern Expedition and pacified the rebellion, Cai Shudu was exiled and died shortly thereafter in his place of exile. His son, Cai Zhong, due to his good virtue, had his title restored by King Kang of Zhou, allowing the State of Cai to continue.
* Historical Significance: Cai Shudu's rebellion and subsequent rehabilitation reflect the power struggle between the central authority and local royal clans in the early Western Zhou period, as well as the Duke of Zhou's political philosophy of "Manifesting Virtue and Caution in Punishment."

Connection with "Records of the Grand Historian" Content

In the Records of the Grand Historian, Cai Shudu's deeds are primarily concentrated in two chapters:
1. 《Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Zhou》: This chapter records the overall rise and fall of the Western Zhou dynasty. It briefly mentions the occurrence of the Rebellion of the Three Guards and the process of the Duke of Zhou's Eastern Expedition, establishing Cai Shudu's historical positioning as a rebel.
2. 《Records of the Grand Historian: Hereditary Houses of Guan and Cai》: This is a chapter dedicated to recording the genealogy of Guan Shu and Cai Shu. Sima Qian describes in detail how Cai Shudu was exiled for "causing disorder" and how his son Cai Zhong was re-enfeoffed due to his "loyalty and trustworthiness." By contrasting the fates of the father and son, the text emphasizes the importance of "virtue" in patriarchal inheritance. Sima Qian uses this to express the historical view that "good deeds bring surplus blessings, evil deeds bring surplus calamities," making Cai Shudu a carrier of moral lessons.

Conclusion

Cai Shudu was not only the progenitor of the State of Cai but also a witness to the political turmoil of the early Western Zhou period. Through the record of his life's ups and downs, the Records of the Grand Historian reveals the arduous process of consolidating the early Zhou regime. For understanding the ancient Chinese patriarchal clan system, the feudal system, and the narrative logic of the Records of the Grand Historian, Cai Shudu is an indispensable key node. His story reminds later generations that the stability of political power cannot be separated from the support of morality.