Wang Gen, family name Zi (), was a ruler of Predynastic Shang, succeeding his brother Wang Hai. His existence is reflected in oracle bone inscriptions. He was succeeded by Shang Jia, Wang Hai's son.
Wang Gen's name is written as â¿°å¼Â亠or 亠in oracle bone inscriptions.
Transmitted texts such as the Bamboo Annals list Wang Gen's name as Wang Heng (), which is not attested in oracle bone inscriptions at all. Similar scribal errors can be seen with Wang Hai. Heng æ has also been used in some transcriptions of Oracle Bones, but does not reflect Wang Gen's identity.
Wang Gen is mentioned in scant few oracle bones, much unlike his brother, Wang Hai. Some examples include a you sacrifice and debates as to Wang Gen's trustworthiness. Another text involves whether the sun will come out, but the last character is indecipherable.
Examples include: <blockquote> è²Âä¾ÂäºÂçÂÂ亠<br> Test: Should we do a you sacrifice for Wang Gen? </blockquote>
<blockquote> è²ÂçÂÂäºÂæÂÂå <br> Test: Has Wang Gen become trustworthy? <b>or</b> Could Wang Gen bestow trustworthiness upon us? </blockquote>
In the Bamboo Annals, Wang Gen is mentioned as having been consulted by his brother Wang Hai regarding what to do with the overproduction of cattle in Shang. In the end, they decide to take the cattle to the neighbouring tribe of the Youyin (modern-day Yi County, Hebei), which would result in Wang Hai's assassination as a result of a love quarrel. He is said to have reigned from the 12th year of Xie of Xia's reign until the 16th year.