Son of Xiong Kuang, he was traditionally ascribed descent from the Yellow Emperor and Zhuanxu through his great-grandfather Yuxiong.
At the same meeting, as a result of his ancestors’ loyal service to the former lords of Zhou, Xiong Yi received a grant of land around Danyang (丹阳) (modern day Xichuan County, Henan Province) where he built the first capital of Chu.
He then began the arduous task of clearing the thorny undergrowth from the foothills of the Jingshan Mountains so that his people could build Chu and make sacrifices to the Zhou king.
King Cheng also gave Xiong Yi the hereditary title of Zĭ (子), which in the succeeding centuries became roughly equivalent to a viscount.
At some time during Xiong Yi's reign, vassal state leaders Duke Ding of Qi, Count Kang of Wey (衛康伯), Xie, Marquis of Jin and Bo Qin, Duke of Lu met with King Kang of Zhou.