Nangong Kuo (Chinese:南宮适;pinyin:Nángōng Kuò; fl. 11th century BC) was a top official ofKing Wen ofZhou during the lateShang and earlyWestern Zhou dynasties. In the "Jun Shi" (君奭) chapter of theClassic of History, theDuke of Zhou names him as one of the five key advisers of King Wen,[1] together with Guo Shu, Hong Yao, Tai Dian, andSan Yisheng. After King Wen's death, Nangong Kuo became a key adviser of his sonKing Wu.[2]
Nangong Kuo was the founder of a major aristocratic lineage of the Western Zhou.[1] His eldest son probably died early, and his second son Nangong Mao (南宫毛) inherited his title.[2] The famousDa Yuding, now anational treasure of China, was cast by Nangong Kuo's grandson Yu (盂), and dedicated to him. Thebronze inscription on the vessel traces Yu's lineage back to Nangong (南公, Duke of Nan), who is identified by scholars, includingLi Xueqin andLi Feng, with Nangong Kuo.[1] Inscriptions on other unearthed bronze vessels indicate that during the late Western Zhou period, the Nangong lineage continued to produce important military leaders like Nangong Liu, and civil administrators such as Nangong Hu, Supervisor of Land.[1]
Inscriptions on excavated bronzes from the tombs of the marquises ofZeng inHubei Province indicate that Kang (犺) of the Nangong clan was enfeoffed with the Zeng state by eitherKing Cheng orKing Kang of Zhou. Kang, the first Marquis of Zeng, was either Nangong Kuo's son or great-grandson (Yu's son).[2]
Nangong Kuo is a character in theMing dynasty classic novelFengshen Yanyi. In this novel, Nangong Kuo is a renowned general that had loyally served underJi Chang (King Wen of Zhou) of Mount Singing Phoenix. Nangong generally seems to be more of an aggressive individual, and will rush to rather impulsive conclusions at times. Following the death of Ji Chang's first son,Bo Yikao, Nangong would swear eternal revenge againstKing Zhou. Due to Nangong's continuous lust to attackZhaoge at any possible moment,San Yisheng develops a negative liking towards him.[3]
Following King Wen's attack upon Tiger Town, the capital ofChong Houhu, Nangong is the first to charge the gates of the capital. When GeneralHuang Yuanji stands before him, Nangong yells, "Huang Yuanji, you small potato, get out of my way! I only want to fight the real Chong Houhu himself!" With these words, Nangong, with his great knife, cuts Huang Yuanji down with relative ease. Later on following GeneralZhang Guifang's attack upon Phoenix City during theHuang Feihu retrieval arc, Nangong duels it out against VanguardFeng Lin. After defeating Feng with great ease, he is captured by Feng's magic technique; only later due toNezha's assistance would he be saved.[3]