Ying (Chu)
Encyclopedia
Yǐng was a capital city of the State of Chu
during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period
s of Chinese History.
In the early years of Chu’s development, the state capital was located at Danyang
, near modern day Xichuan County
in Henan Province. Following a number of battles with neighboring states the Chu capital moved to Ying, near modern day Jingzhou
City on the Jianghan Plain (江汉平原) in the western part of Hubei Province.
As can be seen above, the four theories do not differ widely in their dating of the relocation. According to traditional sources, Ying remained the capital of Chu from the time of its establishment by King Wen in 689 BCE until 278 BCE, the 21st year of the reign of King Qingxiang of Chu (楚顷襄王) when an attack by an army from the State of Qin
led by General Bai Qi
forced the capital to move to Chen (陈/陳). Not counting the short term relocation of the capital during the reign of King Zhao of Chu
(reigned 515 – 489 BCE), Ying served as the Chu capital for a total of 411 years.
and Han Dynasty
Jiangling City (modern day Jiangling County, Jingzhou), between the Ju (沮水) and Zhang (漳水) rivers. He further states that the city lay in the lower reaches of the modern day Man River (蛮河) basin to the west of the Han River so that today, the ruins of the Chu State Capital lie here.
Historian Zhang Zhengming argues that King Wen established Ying and that it was located within the boundaries of Yicheng City, Hubei
. In 506 BCE the State of Wu invaded Chu and destroyed Ying, and King Zhao of Chu
fled only to return to the city without an armistice being declared. After a further attack by Wu in 504 CE the king moved the capital to Ruo. This lay in the eponymous former State of Ruo
(鄀国）on the borders of Qin which had been previously annexed by Chu and that the residents continued to call Ying.. Some years later, King Zhao moved the capital to Jiangling County, Hubei which was also known as Jinan (纪南) and Ying.
Between the reigns of King Xuan of Chu (reigned 369-340 BCE) and King Qingxiang of Chu (reigned 298-263 BCE), Chu had a further temporary capital that was also called Ying.
Ying occupied a strategic location with Yunmeng
to the East, Erwuba (扼巫巴) to the west, access to the Central China Plain
to the north and the natural defenses of the Yangtze River
protecting its southern approaches.
when they attacked the hinterland around the Jiangyan Plain, King Wen’s relocation of the capital to Ying allowed him to continue with his father’s military strategy.
Before King Wen moved the capital he already had control of the Jiangyan Plain and afterwards dispatched his armies northwards as part of his plan to take control of China. At this time, he also held sway over the eastern approach to the State of Han and subsequently attacked the north of the state, giving him control of the Central China Plain.
In 688 BCE, King Wen wiped out the States of Shen
and Deng
, whereupon his power base became the former Shen capital at Nanyang, Henan
.
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...
during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
s of Chinese History.
In the early years of Chu’s development, the state capital was located at Danyang
Danyang (Chu)
Danyang was the first capital of the State of Chu. It is located near modern day Xichuan County in Henan Province. Following a number of battles with neighboring states the Chu capital moved to Ying, near modern day Jingzhou City on the Jianghan Plain in the western part of Hubei...
, near modern day Xichuan County
Xichuan County
Xichuan County is a county of Nanyang, Henan, China.Xichuan has an area of 2,798 square kilometers and a population of 746,000.Both of the Danjiangkou Reservoir and the Central route of South–North Water Transfer Project's canal head are located in Xichuan...
in Henan Province. Following a number of battles with neighboring states the Chu capital moved to Ying, near modern day Jingzhou
Jingzhou
Jingzhou is a prefecture-level city in Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. The city is located on the banks of the Yangtze River.Its population is 5,691,707 at the 2010 census whom 1,154,086 in the built up area made of 3 urban districts.-Geography:Jingzhou occupies an area of...
City on the Jianghan Plain (江汉平原) in the western part of Hubei Province.
Date of relocation
There are four separate theories as to the date that relocation of the capital took place:- Some sources believe that King Wu of ChuKing Wu of ChuKing Wu of Chu was a ruler of the Zhou Dynasty vassal State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. He was the second son of Xiao'ao , and brother of former ruler Fenmao whom he is rumored to have murdered in 740 BCE in order to usurp the throne.-Biographical sketch:King Wu...
(楚武王) relocated the capital to Ying in 706 BCE. Qing Dynasty historian Song Xiangfeng (宋翔风) in his Dynastic records • Research on relocation of Chu Yuxiong’s residence at Danyang to Ying by King Wu (过庭录•楚鬻熊居丹阳武王徙郢考) infers the date of the move from the timing of King Wu’s wars with the States of SuiSui (state)The State of Suí was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state located in Hubei Province, China during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods located in the Han River Basin...
(随国/隨國) and Yun (郧国/鄖國). Song argues that with wars waging all around and his rule of the Eastern Han just beginning, King Wu was forced to move. Today many historians consider this theory old fashioned and it has few adherents. - The second theory postulates that the capital’s relocation took place sometime between 703 and 699 BCE. Historian Shi Quan’s Movement date of the Chu capital based on the Zuo ZhuanZuo ZhuanThe 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...
• 13th Year of Duke Huan of Lu records: “The Mo'Ao (莫敖) was hanged at Huangyu (荒谷) (modern Jiangling County in Hubei Province), the army were prisoners at Yefu (冶父) awaiting punishment.” In his commentary on the Book of HanBook of HanThe Book of Han, Hanshu or History of the Former Han Dynasty |Fan Ye]] . Various scholars have estimated that the earliest material covered in the book dates back to between 206 and 202 BCE...
, Liu Zhao (刘昭) writes: More than three lǐLi (unit)The li is a traditional Chinese unit of distance, which has varied considerably over time but now has a standardized length of 500 meters or half a kilometer...
to the east of Jiangling there are three lakes and a river called Changyu (苌谷). To the northwest there is a small town called Yefu (冶父). The Commentary on the Waterways ClassicShui Jing ZhuShui Jing Zhu is a work on the ancient geography of China. It is an annotated and much expanded version of an older text, the Shui Jing , which has been lost.The annotated version was compiled by Li Daoyuan Shui Jing Zhu is a work on the ancient geography of China. It is an annotated and much...
in its chapter on floods notes that to the northwest of Jiangling lay Jinan City (纪南城) with its three lakes and river and Huangyu (荒谷) to the east. These sources are used to justify the earlier move to Ying yet none of them mention the town by name making the claim implausible. - A further viewpoint states that the capital moved in 689 BCE in the first year of the reign of King Wen of Chu. According to Records of the Grand HistorianRecords of the Grand HistorianThe Records of the Grand Historian, also known in English by the Chinese name Shiji , written from 109 BC to 91 BC, was the Magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the Yellow Emperor until his own time...
• Chu Family Annals: "Xiong Zi (熊赀), King Wen of Chu began the capital at Ying." Chinese historian Fan Wenlan (范文瀾 1893–1969) writes in his Narrative History of China (中国通史): "During the initial stages of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Chu was a large and powerful state. In 704 BCE, Xiong Tong (熊通) proclaimed himself King Wu of Chu and his son King Wen moved the capital to Ying some 1000 lǐ away." This view supports the theory that it was King Wen who moved the capital. - The final theory suggests that the move to Ying took place in 690 BCE on the death of King Wu and the succession of King Wen to the throne. According to the Zuo Zhuan 11th Year of Duke Huan of Lu: "The army of the State of Yun were at Pusao (蒲骚/蒲騷) together with the armies of the States of Sui, Jiao (绞国/绞國), Zhou (州国/州國) and LiaoLiao (state)The State of Liǎo was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese History . There were two actual states called Liao at this time...
(蓼国/蓼國) ready to attack Chu. The Chu Mo'Ao, Qu Xia (屈瑕) was on the outskirts of Ying." However, at this time Ying was merely a command post on the Chu’s military front and had not yet become the capital. The Zuo Zhuan 4th Year of Duke Zhuang of Lu records that King Wu died aged 51 in 689 BCE on a punitive expedition to the State of Sui. The people of Chu and Sui crossed the Han River (汉水) at Jiangyou (江油) to hold the king’s funeral. Since Ying is close by this was probably the location of the funeral. King Wen ascended the throne within a few months of his father’s death whereupon Ying became the capital of Chu.
As can be seen above, the four theories do not differ widely in their dating of the relocation. According to traditional sources, Ying remained the capital of Chu from the time of its establishment by King Wen in 689 BCE until 278 BCE, the 21st year of the reign of King Qingxiang of Chu (楚顷襄王) when an attack by an army from the State of Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
led by General Bai Qi
Bai Qi
Bái Qǐ was an outstanding military leader of the State of Qin during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Born in Mei , as commander of the Qin army for more than 30 years, Bai Qi was responsible for the deaths of a total over 890,000 enemy soldiers, earning him the nickname Ren Tu...
forced the capital to move to Chen (陈/陳). Not counting the short term relocation of the capital during the reign of King Zhao of Chu
King Zhao of Chu
King Zhao of Chu was from 515 – 489 BCE the king of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China. Documents unearthed in the former state also show his title as King Shao. Born Xiong Zhen , King Zhao was the son of King Ping of Chu .-Life:In 506 BCE, King Helü of the...
(reigned 515 – 489 BCE), Ying served as the Chu capital for a total of 411 years.
Location
According to historian Shi Quan (石泉) Ying was located at the same place as the QinQin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
and Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
Jiangling City (modern day Jiangling County, Jingzhou), between the Ju (沮水) and Zhang (漳水) rivers. He further states that the city lay in the lower reaches of the modern day Man River (蛮河) basin to the west of the Han River so that today, the ruins of the Chu State Capital lie here.
Historian Zhang Zhengming argues that King Wen established Ying and that it was located within the boundaries of Yicheng City, Hubei
Yicheng, Hubei
Yicheng is a city district of Hubei, China. It is under the administration of Xiangfan city....
. In 506 BCE the State of Wu invaded Chu and destroyed Ying, and King Zhao of Chu
King Zhao of Chu
King Zhao of Chu was from 515 – 489 BCE the king of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China. Documents unearthed in the former state also show his title as King Shao. Born Xiong Zhen , King Zhao was the son of King Ping of Chu .-Life:In 506 BCE, King Helü of the...
fled only to return to the city without an armistice being declared. After a further attack by Wu in 504 CE the king moved the capital to Ruo. This lay in the eponymous former State of Ruo
Ruo (state)
The State of Ruò was a small vassal state during the Chinese Zhou Dynasty whose rulers used the title Zǐ , roughly equivalent to a Viscount. Located between the States of Qin and Chu, Ruo was eventually annexed by the State of Chu....
(鄀国）on the borders of Qin which had been previously annexed by Chu and that the residents continued to call Ying.. Some years later, King Zhao moved the capital to Jiangling County, Hubei which was also known as Jinan (纪南) and Ying.
Between the reigns of King Xuan of Chu (reigned 369-340 BCE) and King Qingxiang of Chu (reigned 298-263 BCE), Chu had a further temporary capital that was also called Ying.
Ying occupied a strategic location with Yunmeng
Yunmeng County
Yunmeng County is a county in Hubei Province, People's Republic of China administered by Xiaogan City.-History:...
to the East, Erwuba (扼巫巴) to the west, access to the Central China Plain
Central Plain (China)
Zhongyuan or the Central Plain of China refers to the area on the lower reaches of the Yellow River which formed the cradle of Chinese civilization. It forms part of the North China Plain....
to the north and the natural defenses of the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
protecting its southern approaches.
Historical impact of Ying
Although King Wu of Chu’s power base was shaken by the State of HanHan (state)
Han was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China, located in modern-day Shanxi and Henan. Not to be confused with South Korea which shares the same character....
when they attacked the hinterland around the Jiangyan Plain, King Wen’s relocation of the capital to Ying allowed him to continue with his father’s military strategy.
Before King Wen moved the capital he already had control of the Jiangyan Plain and afterwards dispatched his armies northwards as part of his plan to take control of China. At this time, he also held sway over the eastern approach to the State of Han and subsequently attacked the north of the state, giving him control of the Central China Plain.
In 688 BCE, King Wen wiped out the States 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 Deng
Deng (state)
The State of Deng was a Chinese vassal state during the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and the Spring and Autumn Period ruled by the Màn family .-Territory:...
, whereupon his power base became the former Shen capital at Nanyang, Henan
Nanyang, Henan
Nanyang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Henan province, People's Republic of China. The city with the largest administrative area in Henan, Nanyang borders Xinyang to the southeast, Zhumadian to the east, Pingdingshan to the northeast, Luoyang to the north, Sanmenxia to the...
.