Xi (state)
Encyclopedia
The State of Xi was a Chinese vassal state during the Shang
and Zhou Dynasties and the Spring and Autumn Period (1600 – 475 BCE) ruled by members of the Jī family (姬). Sometime between 680 and 684 BCE the State of Xī was annexed by the State of Chu
and ceased to exist as an independent state.
. At that time, Duke Zhuāng of Zhèng
had for many years repeatedly attacked large States such as Sòng
and Wei
amongst others and Zhèng was at the height of its military power. In assessing the timing of the State of Xi’s campaign which at face value involves criticism of Zhèng’s overestimation of its strength, some scholars believe that at the time its military was quite powerful and a match for Sòng
In 684 BCE, Duke Aī of Cài was rude to Xī Guī, wife of the Duke of Xī. As a result, the Duke of Xī asked the State of Chŭ
to feign an attack on his own country so that when the State of Cài
came to the rescue, Chŭ could strike the State of Cài and humiliate Duke Ai of Cài. King Wén of Chŭ agreed, attacked Cài and his army captured the Duke.
Although he harboured a deep grudge, in front of King Wen, Duke Ai praised Xī Guī’s beauty. Consequently, King Wén overthrew the State of Xī and married Xī Guī. The two sons she bore subsequently became the Chŭ kings Dŭ Áo and King Chéng of Chŭ. King Wén of Chŭ doted on Xī Guī and in 680 BCE, at her behest, overthrew the State of Cài. King Wen subsequently set up the counties of Shen
and Xi in the areas of the former eponymous states.
During the State of Chǔ's struggle for hegemony
in the Spring and Autumn Period, Xi County played an important role. At the Battle of Chéngpú
, Chǔ Prime minister
Chéng Déchén
(成得臣) did not lead the main Chǔ army but a smaller force composed of troops from the counties of Shēn and Xī. As a result, Chéng Déchén lost the battle whereupon King Chéng of Chŭ said ‘’If you return home, what will the elders of the counties of Shēn and Xī do?’’
In 585 BCE, the State of Jìn attacked the State of Cài. Chǔ sent troops from Shēn and Xī to assist Cài. The high ranking military leaders of Jìn knew that if they won this battle it would only mean the defeat of Shēn and Xī counties, not the entire State of Chǔ, but that if they lost it would be a major humiliation, so the army decided to retreat. Gu Jiegang
points out that since the two counties of Shēn and Xī had enough troops and were sufficiently powerful to deal with the State of Jin’s army, it is clear that the counties were both rich and populous.
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...
and Zhou Dynasties and the Spring and Autumn Period (1600 – 475 BCE) ruled by members of the Jī family (姬). Sometime between 680 and 684 BCE the State of Xī was annexed 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...
and ceased to exist as an independent state.
History
In 712 BCE the State of Xi sent a punitive expedition against the State of ZhèngZheng (state)
Zheng （) was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty located in the centre of ancient China in modern day Henan Province on the North China Plain about east of the royal capital at Luoyang. It was the most powerful of the vassal states at the beginning of the Eastern Zhou...
. At that time, Duke Zhuāng of Zhèng
Duke Zhuang of Zheng
Duke Zhuang of Zheng was the third ruler of the State of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn Period in ancient China. His ancestral name is Ji,given name is Wusheng , which means "a difficult birth". In 743 BC, he became the duke of Zheng, and later defeated his brother Gongshu Duan, who had led a...
had for many years repeatedly attacked large States such as Sòng
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,...
and Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
amongst others and Zhèng was at the height of its military power. In assessing the timing of the State of Xi’s campaign which at face value involves criticism of Zhèng’s overestimation of its strength, some scholars believe that at the time its military was quite powerful and a match for Sòng
In 684 BCE, Duke Aī of Cài was rude to Xī Guī, wife of the Duke of Xī. As a result, the Duke of Xī asked the State of Chŭ
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...
to feign an attack on his own country so that when the State of Cài
Cai (state)
The State of Cài was a Chinese state during the Zhōu Dynasty , prominent in the Spring and Autumn Period before being extinguished early in the Warring States Period .-History:...
came to the rescue, Chŭ could strike the State of Cài and humiliate Duke Ai of Cài. King Wén of Chŭ agreed, attacked Cài and his army captured the Duke.
Although he harboured a deep grudge, in front of King Wen, Duke Ai praised Xī Guī’s beauty. Consequently, King Wén overthrew the State of Xī and married Xī Guī. The two sons she bore subsequently became the Chŭ kings Dŭ Áo and King Chéng of Chŭ. King Wén of Chŭ doted on Xī Guī and in 680 BCE, at her behest, overthrew the State of Cài. King Wen subsequently set up the counties of Shen
Shen (state)
The State of Shen was a Chinese vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty ruled by the Jiāng family as an earldom. At the beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period the State of Shen was annexed by the State of Chu and became one of its counties.-Territory:Located around the states of Chén and Zhèng,...
and Xi in the areas of the former eponymous states.
During the State of Chǔ's struggle for hegemony
Hegemony
Hegemony is an indirect form of imperial dominance in which the hegemon rules sub-ordinate states by the implied means of power rather than direct military force. In Ancient Greece , hegemony denoted the politico–military dominance of a city-state over other city-states...
in the Spring and Autumn Period, Xi County played an important role. At the Battle of Chéngpú
Battle of Chengpu
The Battle of Chengpu took place in 632 BC between the State of Jin and the State of Chu and its allies during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. It was the first great battle in the protracted conflict between the states of the Yellow River valley, and the states of the Yangtze...
, Chǔ Prime minister
Prime minister (Chu State)
The post of Prime Minister of Chu was an official government position established in the vassal State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history ....
Chéng Déchén
Cheng Dechen
Chéng Déchén , also known by his honorific title Zǐ Yù , was a Prime minister of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history...
(成得臣) did not lead the main Chǔ army but a smaller force composed of troops from the counties of Shēn and Xī. As a result, Chéng Déchén lost the battle whereupon King Chéng of Chŭ said ‘’If you return home, what will the elders of the counties of Shēn and Xī do?’’
In 585 BCE, the State of Jìn attacked the State of Cài. Chǔ sent troops from Shēn and Xī to assist Cài. The high ranking military leaders of Jìn knew that if they won this battle it would only mean the defeat of Shēn and Xī counties, not the entire State of Chǔ, but that if they lost it would be a major humiliation, so the army decided to retreat. Gu Jiegang
Gu Jiegang
Gu Jiegang was a Chinese historian who is known best for his seven volume work Gushi Bian . He was a leading force in the Doubting Antiquity school.-Biography:...
points out that since the two counties of Shēn and Xī had enough troops and were sufficiently powerful to deal with the State of Jin’s army, it is clear that the counties were both rich and populous.
See also
- (In Chinese) Yang Bojun, Annotated Zuo Zhuan ISBN 7101002625
- (In Chinese) Tong Shuye, Research on the Zuo Zhuan ISBN 7101051448