The State of Lu, 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...

 ducal

Duchy

A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era...

 vassal state before and during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. Founded in the 10th century BC, its dukes used Ji

Ji (surname)

姬=Ji is the family name of the family in control of the Zhou Dynasty , which followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty in China.Thirty-nine members of the family ruled over China during this period.Ji has...

 (姬, which literally means "concubine") as their family name. The first duke was Boqin ' onMouseout='HidePop("17169")' href="/topics/Pinyin">pinyin

Pinyin

Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...

: Bóqín,, whose personal name literally means "Elder Animal," using a generic term for animals and birds. He was a son of Duke of Zhou

Duke of Zhou

The Duke of Zhou played a major role in consolidating the newly-founded Zhou Dynasty . He was the brother of King Wu of Zhou, the first king of the ancient Chinese Zhou Dynasty...

, the then Prime Minister

Prime minister

A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...

 of Zhou

Zhou

Zhou may refer to:*Zhou Dynasty , a Chinese Dynasty *Zhou Predynastic Lineage, the antecedents to the above Zhou Dynasty*Northern Zhou , a Chinese Dynasty...

. The state's capital was in Qufu

Qufu

Qufu is a city in southwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It is located at 35° 36′ northern latitude and 117° 02′ east, about south of the provincial capital Jinan and northeast of the prefecture seat at Jining...

 and its territory mainly covered the central and southwest regions of what is now Shandong Province. It was bordered to the north by the powerful 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....

 and to the south by the powerful 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...

. Although a Qi invasion was defeated in the Battle of Changshao in 684 BCE, the state was in decline during the Spring and Autumn Period. The political power of Lu was eventually split between the three powerful landlords Jisun, Mengsun and Shusun (all of them were descendants of Duke Huan of Lu) until Duke Mu of Lu made a reform, while the land of Mengsun and Shusun was occupied by Qi and the House of Jisun founded their own state named Bi(费). Lu was annexed in 256 BCE 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...

.

Lu was the home state of Confucius

Confucius

Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....

. The Annals of Spring and Autumn was written to record the history of Lu. Another great work of Chinese history, Zuo Zhuan

Zuo Zhuan

The Zuo Zhuan , sometimes translated as the Chronicle of Zuo or the Commentary of Zuo, is among the earliest Chinese works of narrative history and covers the period from 722 BCE to 468 BCE. It is one of the most important sources for understanding the history of the Spring and Autumn Period...

 or Annals of Zuo was also written in Lu.

List of Rulers

• Xiao 796-769;
• Hui 768-723;
• Yin 722-712;
• Huan 711-694;
• Zhuang 693-662;
• Min 661-660;
• Xi 659-627;
• Wen 626-609;
• Xuan 608-591;
• Duke Cheng of Lu
  Duke Cheng of Lu
  Duke Cheng of Lu 鲁成公 was the son of Duke Xuan of Lu 鲁宣公 and the 21st ruler of the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period. He held office for 18 years, from 590 BCE to 573 BCE. His name was Heigong 黑肱 ....
  
  590-573;
• Xiang 572-542;
• Zhao 541-510;
• Ding 509-495; Ai 494-477;

List of surnames

• Min (閔) from Zhuang Gong(莊公) 693-662
• Lu (魯, Ro, No)
• Liu (柳, Lao, Ryu, Yu) from Zhan Huo(展獲)
• Ji (姬, Kei, Ki, Hi), common surname of Zhou Dynasty
• Qi (竒, Ji, Ki, Yi), from son of Zhao Gong(昭公)
• Ji Sun (季孫)
• Shu Sun (叔孫)
• Meng Sun (孟孫), Meng(孟)
• Gong (公)
• Gong Shi (公石)
• Gong Yang (公羊)
• Dong Ye (东野)
• Dong Men (东门)
• Hou (郈)
• Nan Gong (南宮, Nam Gung) from Meng Xi Ji(孟僖子)
• Zhong(中), son of Xiao Gong(孝公)