Pi (state)
Encyclopedia
The State of Pī was a Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...

 vassal state during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. Also known as the State of Xue , Pi was ruled by members of the Ren (任) family. It’s progenitor Xi Zhong (奚仲), had been the Minister of Chariots (车正) for Yu the Great
Yu the Great
Yu the Great , was a legendary ruler of Ancient China famed for his introduction of flood control, inaugurating dynastic rule in China by founding the Xia Dynasty, and for his upright moral character....

 during the Xia Dynasty
Xia Dynasty
The Xia Dynasty is the first dynasty in China to be described in ancient historical chronicles such as Bamboo Annals, Classic of History and Records of the Grand Historian. The Xia Dynasty was established by the legendary Yu the Great after Shun, the last of the Five Emperors gave his throne to him...

 (~2070–1600 BCE) who was given land at the confluence of the Dan
Dan River (China)
The Dan River , formerly known as the Dan Shui or 800 Li Black River , is a river located in Shaanxi province in the People’s Republic of China...

 (丹水) and Yi Rivers (沂水) in the southern part of modern day Shandong Province with the State of Song
Song (state)
Sòng was a state during the Eastern Zhou Spring and Autumn Period . Its capital was Shangqiu . In 701 BC, a political marriage between Lady Yong of Song and Duke Zhuang of Zheng empowered Song to manipulate the management of Zheng.- Origin :After King Wu of Zhou overthrew King Zhou of Shang,...

 to the east and the State of Tan (郯国) to the north.

History

Oracle bone
Oracle bone
Oracle bones are pieces of bone normally from ox scapula or turtle plastron which were used for divination chiefly during the late Shang Dynasty. The bones were first inscribed with divination in oracle bone script by using a bronze pin, and then heated until crack lines appeared in which the...

 inscriptions dating to the Shang Dynasty
Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty was, according to traditional sources, the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the area known as "China proper" in the Yellow River valley...

 (1600–1046 BCE) show the Chinese characters“丕”and“邑” (literally: grand city) side by side; these were later combined into the single form “邳”.

History

In the Shang Dynasty, Pi was at war with the imperial court in order to resist their attempts to govern the state. Later on Pi was defeated by the State of Peng. In 418 BCE the State of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....

 moved into Xue’s territory forcing its inhabitants to move south into Lower Pi (邳下), which was located on the lower reaches of the Si River
Si River
The Si River is a watercourse located in Shandong Province, China. It rises in the southern foothills of the Mengshan Mountains then flows through Sishui County, and the cities of Qufu and Yanzhou before emptying into Lake Nanyang...

. Upper Pi (邳上) lay to the north along the same river. The state was eventually overthrown by the State of Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...

.

With its history of more than 1,500 years Pi made an important contribution to the development of the eastern Xuzhou
Xuzhou
Xuzhou , otherwise known as Pengcheng in ancient times, is a major city in and the fourth largest prefecture-level city of Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China...

region.
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