Yuan Taotu
Encyclopedia
Yuan Taotu 轅濤塗 was a nobleman and diplomat of the Spring and Autumn state of Chen
. He is regarded as the ancestor of those surnamed Yuan
(袁).
Yuan Taotu was a distant relative of the Chen royal family, with a fief at Yangxia (Taikang, Henan
province). He is mentioned in passing in the Spring and Autumn Annals
, Zuo Zhuan
and Historical Records
. In 656 BC, he accompanied Duke Huan of Qi on an expedition against the southern state of Cai and was present at the historic covenant of alliance between the various states of the Yellow River
valley at Shaoling. On the return journey to the north, however, he suggested that the army of Qi pass by Chen and take a detour to the eastern regions. For this advice he was arrested and only released after an abortive invasion of Chen ended the next year.
The state of Chen supported the neighbouring state of Chu at the Battle of Chengpu
in 632 BC, and was defeated. The next year, Yuan Taotu was sent as representative of Chen to Diquan, to renew the state's allegiance to the King of Zhou
and to consult about an invasion of Zheng
. In the winter of that same year, the Chen heir-apparent met with other princes, witnessing the investiture of the Duke of Jin as hegemon. Yuan probably died shortly thereafter.
Chen (state)
Chen was a minor Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese History. It was a relatively minor state based on a single urban centre near what is now Huaiyang County in the plains of eastern Henan province...
. He is regarded as the ancestor of those surnamed Yuan
Yuan (surname)
Yuan is a Chinese surname ranked 37th in China by population. In Standard Chinese, the surname is transliterated "Yuán" or "Yüen2" . Regional variants include "Yeu" , "Ion" , "Yuen" , "Oan" , "Won" , and "Viên"...
(袁).
Yuan Taotu was a distant relative of the Chen royal family, with a fief at Yangxia (Taikang, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
province). He is mentioned in passing in the Spring and Autumn Annals
Spring and Autumn Annals
The Spring and Autumn Annals is the official chronicle of the State of Lu covering the period from 722 BCE to 481 BCE. It is the earliest surviving Chinese historical text to be arranged on annalistic principles. The text is extremely concise and, if all the commentaries are excluded, about 16,000...
, 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...
and Historical Records
Records of the Grand Historian
The 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...
. In 656 BC, he accompanied Duke Huan of Qi on an expedition against the southern state of Cai and was present at the historic covenant of alliance between the various states of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
valley at Shaoling. On the return journey to the north, however, he suggested that the army of Qi pass by Chen and take a detour to the eastern regions. For this advice he was arrested and only released after an abortive invasion of Chen ended the next year.
The state of Chen supported the neighbouring state of Chu at the Battle of Chengpu
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...
in 632 BC, and was defeated. The next year, Yuan Taotu was sent as representative of Chen to Diquan, to renew the state's allegiance to the King of Zhou
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 to consult about an invasion of Zheng
Zheng (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...
. In the winter of that same year, the Chen heir-apparent met with other princes, witnessing the investiture of the Duke of Jin as hegemon. Yuan probably died shortly thereafter.