Testification of the Legitimacy of Zhou Gong acting as Regent and a Discussion of the Phenomenon of Following Conventions and Traditions in Shang and Zhou Dynasties

Zhou Gong acted as regent although he was not made king.This was not an accidental individual behavior;instead,it represented a historical necessity.The legitimacy of his acting as regent came from the tradition of the Yin-Shang Dynasty.In the Shang Dynasty,priests were highly esteemed in the society,and Zhou Gong was heartily following the past sages.His authority came directly from King Wen of Zhou and led to the rebellion of Guan and Cai,the underlying cause of which was his acting as regent was in conflict with the traditions of the Zhou people.