Life

In the summer of 648 BC, the State of Huang was annexed by the state of Chu.

King Cheng's wife was Zheng Mao. Their son was possibly King Mu of Chu.

The Shiji gives a detailed account of the events surrounding King Cheng's succession and untimely end. In the forty-sixth year of his reign (626 BC), Cheng wanted to make Shangchen (商臣), the future King Mu, his crown prince. Lingyin (title for prime minister of Chu) Zishang (子上) advised against this, fearing that there were many contenders for the position and that, if the king were to change his mind and act to replace the crown prince, a disturbance would ensue. He also warned the king that Shangchen was a cruel and fierce man who was unsuitable for the position. Not heeding the advice, King Cheng made Shangchen his crown prince.

Soon, the king did indeed change his mind, and rumors spread that the crown prince was about to be deposed, and another son Zhi (职) was going to be made the new crown prince. The crown prince was unsure whether to believe the rumors. His tutor advised him to throw a banquet for the king's favorite concubine but to treat her disrespectfully during the banquet. The prince did what was suggested, and the concubine, angered by her poor treatment, told the crown prince, "It is suitable that the king wants to kill you and make Zhi his crown prince!" Now sure of the king's intentions, the prince's tutor asked him, "Are you able to serve under Zhi?" "No," he answered. "Are you able to go into exile?" "No," he answered. Finally, he asked, "Are you able to do something big?" "Yes," the prince replied.

During the tenth month, Shangchen led palace troops to surround King Cheng and force him to commit suicide. King Cheng asked to eat a bear paw before dying, but he was rebuffed. On day dingwei, King Cheng hanged himself, and Shangchen ascended the throne.

大事记

• 楚成王十六年（前656年），齐桓公侵楚，成王使将屈完以兵御之，双方会盟。

• 楚成王十八年（前652年），北伐许国，二十二年伐黄国，二十六年灭之。

• 楚成王三十年（前642年），郑文公来朝，成王高兴遂赠一批铜锭予郑文公，但郑文公离开楚宫后，成王突然后悔，派使者拦郑文公车队，并与之约定，此批铜锭仅以造礼器用，而非造兵器。《左传》记载：「郑伯始朝于楚，楚子赐之金，既而悔之，与之盟曰：「无以铸兵。」故以铸三锺。」

• 楚成王三十三年（前639年），袭击宋国至孟，羞辱宋襄公。

• 楚成王三十四年（前638年），郑文公来朝，北伐宋，宋襄公被射伤，次年伤重病逝。

• 楚成王三十五年（前637年），子玉率师伐陈，取焦、夷，城顿而还。子玉继任令尹。同年冬天，晋公子重耳由郑至楚，成王以上公之礼待之。子玉请杀重耳，成王不许。

• 楚成王三十七年（前635年），子玉追秦师。

• 楚成王三十九年（前633年），鲁僖公请求借兵伐齐，取谷。齐桓公七个儿子奔楚国，楚国以七人为上大夫。灭夔。同年夏伐宋，宋救援于晋。

• 楚成王四十年（前632年）将军子玉请战，晋文公依照五年前对楚成王之诺言（参考《左传·僖公二十二年》）「退避三舍」（九十里），以避楚师。同年四月，晋败子玉于城濮，楚师大败，子玉自杀，蒍吕臣继为令尹。

• 楚成王四十六年（前626年），意欲罢黜太子商臣，改立王子职为太子，十月，商臣与潘崇以宫甲围困成王。成王好食熊掌，临死之前不忘食之，「俟其熟而食之，虽死不恨！」商臣说：「熊掌难熟。」最终，成王自缢而死。

家庭

• 夫人：郑瞀

• 子：楚穆王熊商臣。弑父继位成为楚穆王。

• 子：王子职，楚成王庶子，楚成王想杀掉商臣改立王子职，被发现后，商臣弑父继位。

影视作品

• 《东周列国春秋篇》由张山饰演。

注释