Xu (state)
Encyclopedia
The State of Xu was a vassal state of ancient China during the Zhou Dynasty
and Spring and Autumn Period ruled by descendants of the Yíng family. Xu was a Dongyi
state also known as Xurong , Xuyi or Xufang , all meaning either "Xu barbarians" or "Xu Proper". Xu was one of the largest and most powerful non-Han
states in eastern China. It led the Huaiyi Confederation of Dongyi tribes. From the time of the Xia Dynasty
until the Zhou Dynasty
the state spread throughout the middle and lower reaches of the Huai River
. Xu submitted to the Zhou Dynasty during the reign of King Mu of Zhou
, and was gradually assimilated into the Han Chinese nation and culture. It gradually lost power and various smaller states branched off, such as the Zhongli (钟离) State. At that time the center of the state lay in the Xizhou region that today forms part of Anhui Province. The State of Xu ceased to exist in 512 BC following attacks by the states of Wu
and State of Chu
.
compilation of information on the origins of Chinese surname
s, as well as the Tong Zhi , a Southern Song Dynasty historical book, state that the Xu peoples were descendants of the ancient Chinese king Zhuanxu
, and that Zhuanxu's grandson Ruomu was enfeoffed as Lord of Xu during the reign of Yu the Great
. The two books' sources for these statements are unknown.
, Yuzhai, Yiwei and Jizha. Shoumeng favoured Jizha, but Jizha insisted that the throne should be inherited by Zhufan. In order to fulfill the will of his father, King Zhufan claimed that the throne should be passed to Yuzhai then Yimei and finally Jizha. However, in 527 BC, when King Yiwei was dying, Jizha renounced the throne again. The new king, named Liao
(born Zhouyu), was the son of Yiwei. He had two younger brothers named Yanyu and Zhuyong. But Guang, son of King Zhufan, was reluctant to support them. In 515 BC, Guang persuaded Liao to instruct troops led by Yanyu and Zhuyong to attack the State of Chu, and then recruited an assassin named Zhuan Zhu
who managed to kill Liao. Although Zhuan Zhu was killed immediately afterwards, Guang eventually usurped the throne and changed his name to Helü. When Yanyu and Zhuyong heard this, they escaped. Yanyu fled to Xu whilst Zhuyong ran to the State of Zhongwu. King Helü of Wu
ordered Xu and Zhongwu to hand over Yanyu and Zhuyong. Viscount Zhangyu of Xu sympathized with Yanyu and let him go. Yanyu met Zhuyong and they both went to Chu for help. However, this gave King Helü a reason to attack Xu. In 512 BC, King Helü conquered Xu and Zhangyu fled to Chu. The state was overthrown.
in asterism Left Wall, Heavenly Market enclosure
(see Chinese constellation
).
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...
and Spring and Autumn Period ruled by descendants of the Yíng family. Xu was a Dongyi
Dongyi
Dongyi was a collective term for people in eastern China and in lands located to the east of ancient China. People referred to as Dongyi vary across the ages.The early Dongyi culture was one of earliest neolithic cultures in China....
state also known as Xurong , Xuyi or Xufang , all meaning either "Xu barbarians" or "Xu Proper". Xu was one of the largest and most powerful non-Han
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
states in eastern China. It led the Huaiyi Confederation of Dongyi tribes. From the time of 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...
until the 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...
the state spread throughout the middle and lower reaches of the Huai River
Huai River
The Huai River is a major river in China. The Huai River is located about mid-way between the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the two largest rivers in China, and like them runs from west to east...
. Xu submitted to the Zhou Dynasty during the reign of King Mu of Zhou
King Mu of Zhou
King Mu of Zhou or King Mu of Chou or Mu Wang or Mu Wang was the fifth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 976-922 BC or 956-918 BC.-Life:...
, and was gradually assimilated into the Han Chinese nation and culture. It gradually lost power and various smaller states branched off, such as the Zhongli (钟离) State. At that time the center of the state lay in the Xizhou region that today forms part of Anhui Province. The State of Xu ceased to exist in 512 BC following attacks by the states of Wu
Wu (state)
The State of Wu , also known as Gou Wu or Gong Wu , was one of the vassal states during the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period. The State of Wu was located at the mouth of the Yangtze River east of the State of Chu. Considered a semi-barbarian state by ancient Chinese...
and 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...
.
Origins
The Yuan He Xing Zuan , a Tang DynastyTang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
compilation of information on the origins of Chinese surname
Chinese surname
Chinese family names have been historically used by Han Chinese and Sinicized Chinese ethnic groups in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and among overseas Chinese communities. In ancient times two types of surnames, family names and clan names , existed.The colloquial expressions laobaixing...
s, as well as the Tong Zhi , a Southern Song Dynasty historical book, state that the Xu peoples were descendants of the ancient Chinese king Zhuanxu
Zhuanxu
Zhuanxu , also known as Gaoyang is a mythological monarch of ancient China.A grandson of the Yellow Emperor, Zhuanxu led the Shi clan in an eastward migration to present-day Shandong, where intermarriages with the Dongyi clan enlarged and augmented their tribal influences...
, and that Zhuanxu's grandson Ruomu was enfeoffed as Lord of Xu during the reign of 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....
. The two books' sources for these statements are unknown.
History
King Shoumeng of Wu had four sons, respectively named ZhufanZhufan
Zhufan，also called West zhufan , is a small village in north to Donghai County of Jiangsu Province, China. Not like the other villages of DonghaiCounty, it lies in the west of Ganyu, a county on the north to DonghaiCounty...
, Yuzhai, Yiwei and Jizha. Shoumeng favoured Jizha, but Jizha insisted that the throne should be inherited by Zhufan. In order to fulfill the will of his father, King Zhufan claimed that the throne should be passed to Yuzhai then Yimei and finally Jizha. However, in 527 BC, when King Yiwei was dying, Jizha renounced the throne again. The new king, named Liao
King Liao of Wu
King Liao of Wu , also named Zhouyu, was king of the state of Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period.-Biography:...
(born Zhouyu), was the son of Yiwei. He had two younger brothers named Yanyu and Zhuyong. But Guang, son of King Zhufan, was reluctant to support them. In 515 BC, Guang persuaded Liao to instruct troops led by Yanyu and Zhuyong to attack the State of Chu, and then recruited an assassin named Zhuan Zhu
Zhuan Zhu
Zhuan Zhu was an assassin in the Spring and Autumn Period. As Prince Guang wanted to kill King Liao of Wu and take the throne himself, Zhuan Zhu was recommended to Prince Guang by Wu Zixu. In 515 BC he managed to kill King Liao in a party with a dagger hidden in a fish...
who managed to kill Liao. Although Zhuan Zhu was killed immediately afterwards, Guang eventually usurped the throne and changed his name to Helü. When Yanyu and Zhuyong heard this, they escaped. Yanyu fled to Xu whilst Zhuyong ran to the State of Zhongwu. King Helü of Wu
King Helü of Wu
King Helü of the state of Wu , a state in ancient China, was initially known as Prince Guang . He reigned towards the end of the Spring and Autumn Period.-Biography:...
ordered Xu and Zhongwu to hand over Yanyu and Zhuyong. Viscount Zhangyu of Xu sympathized with Yanyu and let him go. Yanyu met Zhuyong and they both went to Chu for help. However, this gave King Helü a reason to attack Xu. In 512 BC, King Helü conquered Xu and Zhangyu fled to Chu. The state was overthrown.
Xu in astronomy
Xu is represented with the star Theta SerpentisTheta Serpentis
Theta Serpentis is a star system in the constellation Serpens. It is approximately 132 light years from Earth. Theta Serpentis also has the traditional name Alya, or Alga, from the Arabic الية ’alyah "fat tail ".In the catalogue of stars in the Calendarium of Al Achsasi al Mouakket, this star...
in asterism Left Wall, Heavenly Market enclosure
Heavenly Market enclosure
Tian Shi Yuan, the Heavenly Market Enclosure , is one of the San Yuan or Three enclosures. Stars and constellations of this group are visible during late summer and early autumn in the Northern Hemisphere . The summer triangle lies directly to the northwest.-Asterisms:The asterisms are :...
(see Chinese constellation
Chinese constellation
Chinese constellations are the way the ancient Chinese grouped the stars. They are very different from the modern IAU recognized constellations. This is because the IAU was based on Greco-Roman astronomy instead of Chinese astronomy....
).