Zhongshan (state)
Encyclopedia
Zhongshan was a Di
(狄) state created by the nomadic Xianyu
(鮮虞) tribe in China during the later Zhou Dynasty
, in the Chinese written sources it is referred to as a state of the Bai Di (白狄).). It was located about 80 miles southwest of Beijing
, on the plain just east of the Shanxi
plateau near the modern city of Baoding
in Hebei
.
" who had been driven from Shaanxi
into Hebei, where with assistance from the State of Wei
they founded their first city. By around 300 BC Zhongshan's capital was at either Pingshan
or Lingshou
, both about 75 miles southwest of Baoding and 25 miles northwest of Shijiazhuang
. It was surrounded by the State of Zhao
on the west and the State of Yan
to the east. By around 400 BC it had adopted much of Chinese culture, but it was not considered fully Chinese
. It had fortified cities and 1,000 war chariot
s in its army. Archeology shows a material culture similar to the rest of China at that time.
, invaded the State of Yan and captured tens of its cities. Later, King Cuo invaded the State of Zhao and broke it into two parts. In 307 BC Zhao annexed parts of Zhongshan. After King Cuo died, his descendants proved less capable leading to the overthrow of Zhongshan by the State of Zhao
in (probably ) 296 BC.
. The commandery capital, Zhongshan, was an economic center from the Eastern Han Dynasty until the Tang Dynasty
. It was the capital of Later Yan
during the reign of its first emperor, Murong Chui
. In the 1970s the tomb of King Cuo was excavated.
Di (ethnic group)
The Di were an ethnic group in China from the 8th century BCE to approximately the middle of the 6th century CE. Note that the character Di is used to differentiate this group from the Beidi , a generic term for "northern barbarians". They lived in areas of the present-day provinces of Gansu,...
(狄) state created by the nomadic Xianyu
Xianyu
Xianyu is a township-level division situated in Baoding, Hebei, China....
(鮮虞) tribe in China during the later 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...
, in the Chinese written sources it is referred to as a state of the Bai Di (白狄).). It was located about 80 miles southwest of Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, on the plain just east of the Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
plateau near the modern city of Baoding
Baoding
-Administrative divisions:Baoding prefecture-level city consists of 3 municipal districts, 4 county-level cities, 18 counties:-Demographics:The Baoding urban area has a population of around 1,006,000 . The population of the Baoding administrative area is 10,890,000. The considerable majority are...
in Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
.
Origins and location
The state was founded in the sixth century BC (or 414 BC) by descendants of the Bai Di, literally "White DiBeidi
Beidi or Northern Di were groups of people who lived to the north of what was then China during the Zhou Dynasty. By the end of the dynasty they were mostly conquered or absorbed by the Chinese....
" who had been driven from Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
into Hebei, where with assistance from the State of 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...
they founded their first city. By around 300 BC Zhongshan's capital was at either Pingshan
Pingshan District
Pingshan District is a District under the administration of Benxi City, Liaoning, People's Republic of China. It has a total area of , and a population of approximately 350,000 people as of 2002.-Administrative Divisions:...
or Lingshou
Lingshou County
Lingshou County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of the Shijiazhuang city.-Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Lingshou Town , Qingtong , Tashang , Ciyu , Chatou , Chenzhuang Townships:...
, both about 75 miles southwest of Baoding and 25 miles northwest of Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...
. It was surrounded by the State of Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
on the west and the State of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
to the east. By around 400 BC it had adopted much of Chinese culture, but it was not considered fully Chinese
Huaxia
Huaxia is a name often used to represent China or Chinese civilization.-Etymology:According to the historical record, Zuo Zhuan, the ancient Xia Dynasty of central China was a state that held propriety and justice in high esteem...
. It had fortified cities and 1,000 war chariot
Chariot (Ancient China)
The ancient Chinese chariot was used as an attack and pursuit vehicle on the open fields and plains of Ancient China during the Shang The ancient Chinese chariot was used as an attack and pursuit vehicle on the open fields and plains of Ancient China during the Shang The ancient Chinese chariot ...
s in its army. Archeology shows a material culture similar to the rest of China at that time.
Historical events
In 408 BC Zhongshan was attacked by Marquis Wen of Wei who first had to get permission to cross the territory of the State of Zhao. It was conquered by Wei in 406 but regained its independence in 377 BC. It reached the peak of its power during the reign of King Cuo of Zhongshan (323-309) who had proclaimed himself king in 323 BC. Zhongshan forces, together with the State of QiQi (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....
, invaded the State of Yan and captured tens of its cities. Later, King Cuo invaded the State of Zhao and broke it into two parts. In 307 BC Zhao annexed parts of Zhongshan. After King Cuo died, his descendants proved less capable leading to the overthrow of Zhongshan by the State of Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
in (probably ) 296 BC.
Legacy
The area of today's Ding County later became part of the ancient Zhongshan Commandery during the Han DynastyHan 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...
. The commandery capital, Zhongshan, was an economic center from the Eastern Han Dynasty until the Tang Dynasty
Tang 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...
. It was the capital of Later Yan
Later Yan
The Later Yan was a Murong-Xianbei state, located in modern day northeast China, during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.All rulers of the Later Yan declared themselves "emperors". Later Yan fell to the Goguryeo dynasty.-Rulers of the Later Yan:...
during the reign of its first emperor, Murong Chui
Murong Chui
Murong Chui , courtesy name Daoming , formally Emperor Wucheng of Yan was a great general of the Chinese/Xianbei state Former Yan who later became the founding emperor of Later Yan...
. In the 1970s the tomb of King Cuo was excavated.
See also
- Di (ethnic group)Di (ethnic group)The Di were an ethnic group in China from the 8th century BCE to approximately the middle of the 6th century CE. Note that the character Di is used to differentiate this group from the Beidi , a generic term for "northern barbarians". They lived in areas of the present-day provinces of Gansu,...
- Tomb of King Cuo of ZhongshanTomb of King Cuo of ZhongshanKing Cuo of Zhongshan was the fifth ruler of the state of Zhongshan during the Warring States Period in ancient China. He reigned for 15 years....