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State of Zheng

鄭國
806 BC–375 BC
Map of states in Zhou dynasty including Zheng
Map of states in Zhou dynasty including Zheng
Status Duchy
Capital Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭)
Common languages Old Chinese
Religion
Taoism, Animism, ancestor worship
Government Monarchy
Duke  
• 806–771 BC
Duke Huan of Zheng
• 743–701 BC
Duke Zhuang of Zheng
• 395–375 BC
Duke Kang of Zheng
History  
• King Xuan of Zhou granting land to Prince You
806 BC
• Conquest of the State of Han
375 BC
Currency Chinese coin; Spade coin
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Zhou Dynasty
Han (Warring States)
Zheng
Zheng (Chinese characters).svg
"Zheng" in seal script (top), Traditional (middle), and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Zhèng
Gwoyeu Romatzyh Jenq
Wade–Giles Chêng4
IPA [ʈʂə̂ŋ]
Wu
Suzhounese Zên
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization Jehng
IPA [tsɛ̀ːŋ]
Jyutping Zeng6
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ n
Tâi-lô Tēnn
Old Chinese
Baxter–Sagart (2014) *[d]reŋ-s

Zheng (/ɛŋ/; Chinese: ; Old Chinese: *[d]reng-s) was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–221 BCE) located in the centre of ancient China in modern-day Henan Province on the North China Plain about 75 miles (121 km) east of the royal capital at Luoyang. It was the most powerful of the vassal states at the beginning of the Eastern Zhou (771–701 BCE), and was the first state to clearly establish a code of law in its late period of 543 BCE. Its ruling house had the ancestral name Ji (姬), making them a branch of the Zhou royal house, who held the rank of Bo (), a kinship term meaning "elder".

Foundation

Zheng was founded in 806 BC when King Xuan of Zhou, the penultimate king of the Western Zhou, made his younger brother Prince You (王子友) Duke of Zheng and granted him lands within the royal domain in the eponymous Zheng in modern-day Hua County, Shaanxi on the Wei River east of Xi'an. Prince You, known posthumously as Duke Huan of Zheng, established what would be the last bastion of Western Zhou. He went on to serve as Situ under King You of Zhou. When the Quanrong tribes sacked the Zhou capital Haojing in 771 BC, Duke Huan was killed along with his nephew King You of Zhou.

Duke Huan was succeeded by his son Duke Wu (鄭武公). Along with Marquis Wen of Jin, Duke Wu supported King Ping of Zhou against a rival, thereby helping to establish the Eastern Zhou. He re-established the state of Zheng in modern-day Xinzheng (meaning New Zheng), Henan, and annexed the state of Eastern Guo and defeated Kuai. The Zheng rulers served as high ministers of the Zhou kings for several generations.

Spring and Autumn period

Early dominance

The state of Zheng was one of the strongest at the beginning of the Spring and Autumn period. Zheng was the first Zhou state to annex another state, Xi, sometime between 684 and 680 BC. Throughout the Spring and Autumn period, Zheng was one of the wealthiest states, relying on its central location for inter-state commerce and having the largest number of merchants of any state. Zheng often used its wealth to bribe itself out of difficult situations.

Duke Zhuang of Zheng (743–701 BC) was arguably a forerunner of the Five Hegemons, though Zheng derived its dominance by dramatically different means compared to those of the later hegemons by defeating an alliance of feudal states led by Zhou itself and wounding King Huan of Zhou. When Duke Zhuang died there was a civil war between his sons and Zheng ceased to be a powerful state.

Zheng Wen Gong wen Tai Bo

This bamboo manuscript records a conversation about Zheng history between Duke Wen of Zheng (r. 672–628 BCE) and the elderly Tai Bo. Zheng state's beginning under Duke Huan (r. 806–771) is recalled by Tai Bo. Duke Huan's son Duke Wu (r. 770–744) moved Zheng state east. Its neighboring states acknowledged Zheng as a paramount power. Duke Zhuang (r. 743–701) furthered Zheng state's position of dominance.

When Duke Zhuang died his elder son Duke Zhao (r. 701, 697–695) took his place. Yet the powerful Zhai Zhong favored his younger son Duke Li (r. 701–697, 680–673) and deposed Zhao to install him. Li, however, later failed to wrest control from Zhai Zhong and was pushed into exiled. After a few years Duke Zhengzi Ying (r. 694–680), Li's younger brother, became the nominal ruler of Zheng, until he was assassinated. Duke Li then returned to rule.

Zheng Wen Gong was the son of Duke Li. At his father's death, Wen's succession was fraught with difficulties. He tells of the help given him by Tai Bo. It allowed Wen to reside in the traditional shed of mourning for his father, and so begin his 45-year rule [672-628].

Yet Tai Bo criticized Duke Wen for his seeking the ease of domestic pleasure. The Duke's principle consort Lady Mi came from Chu state. At times during the rule of Duke Wen, the affairs of Zheng fell under the influence of this powerful state to the south, Chu.

Later period

Chinese plain 5c. BC-en
Chinese states, 5th century BCE

As competition between states intensified, Zheng had no room to expand. Due to its central location, Zheng was hemmed in on all sides by larger states.

During the later stages of the Spring and Autumn period, its territory became of pivotal interest in the rivalry of more powerful states. Zheng was often compelled to switch its diplomatic alliances. It had become a focus of contention between Chu and Qi, then later Chu and Jin. By the 7th century BCE Zheng found itself forced into a minor role.

Notwithstanding, Zheng remained quite strong into the middle and later years of the Spring and Autumn. Under Duke Mu (r. 628 – 606) Zheng managed to defeat a combined alliance of Jin, Song, Chen and Wei in 607 BCE.

Zheng's prime minister Zichan (543–522) became widely known as a leading statesman among the rival states of the era. Zichan was a grandson of Duke Mu. Zheng was also widely recognized as the first state of China to publish its laws, in bronze in 536 BCE.

Zheng later declined, due to disorders from conflicts among as its feuding clans. In 375 BCE during the following Warring States period Zheng was annexed by Han state.

Xingyang

The Zheng family of Xingyang 荥阳郑氏 claim descent from the Zhou dynasty kings through the rulers of the State of Zheng.

The Marquis of Xingyang rank was created for Zheng Xi. The Xingyang Zheng descendants included Zheng Daozhao and Zheng Xi. Zheng Wanjun was a member of the Xingyang Zheng. Other Xingyang Zheng descendants were Zheng Yuzhong (Zheng Qiao) and Zheng Jiong.

List of rulers

Title Given name Reign
Duke Huan of Zheng
鄭桓公
Yǒu
806-771 BC
Duke Wu of Zheng
鄭武公
Juétú
掘突
770-744 BC
Duke Zhuang of Zheng
鄭莊公
Wùshēng
寤生
743-701 BC
Duke Zhao of Zheng
鄭昭公

701 BC
Duke Li of Zheng
鄭厲公

700-697 BC
Duke Zhao of Zheng (second reign)
鄭昭公

696-695 BC
Zheng-zi Wei
鄭子亹
Wěi
694 BC
Zheng-zi Ying
鄭子嬰
Yīng
693–680 BC
Duke Li of Zheng (second reign)
鄭厲公

679–673 BC
Duke Wen of Zheng
鄭文公
Jié
672–628 BC
Duke Mu of Zheng
鄭穆公
Lán
627–606 BC
Duke Ling of Zheng
鄭靈公

605 BC
Duke Xiang of Zheng
鄭襄公
Jiān
604–587 BC
Duke Dao of Zheng
鄭悼公
Fèi
586–585 BC
Duke Cheng of Zheng
鄭成公
Gùn
584–581 BC
Prince Xu of Zheng
公子繻

581 BC
Duke Xi of Zheng
鄭僖公
Yùn
581 BC
Duke Cheng of Zheng (second reign)
鄭成公
Gùn
581–571 BC
Duke Xi of Zheng (second reign)
鄭僖公
Yùn
570–566 BC
Duke Jian of Zheng
鄭簡公
Jiā
565–530 BC
Duke Ding of Zheng
鄭定公
Níng
529–514 BC
Duke Xian of Zheng
鄭獻公
Dǔn
513–501 BC
Duke Sheng of Zheng
鄭聲公
Shèng
500–463 BC
Duke Ai of Zheng
鄭哀公

462–455 BC
Duke Gong of Zheng
鄭共公
Chǒu
455–424 BC
Duke You of Zheng
鄭幽公

423 BC
Duke Xu of Zheng
鄭繻公
Tái
422–396 BC
Duke Kang of Zheng
鄭康公

395–375 BC

Rulers family tree

Zheng state
Seven Mu
Duke Huan of Zheng
郑桓公
806-771BC
Duke Wu of Zheng
郑武公
770-744BC
Duke Zhuang of Zheng
郑庄公
757-743-701BC
Gongshu Duan
共叔段
Duke Zhao of Zheng
郑昭公
700
696-695BC
Duke Li of Zheng
郑厉公
700-697
679-673BC
Zheng-zi Wei
鄭子亹
694BC
Zheng-zi Ying
鄭子嬰
693-680BC
子人
Duke Wen of Zheng
郑文公
672-628BC
叔詹
太子华 Duke Mu of Zheng
郑穆公
627-606BC
子臧 公子士 公子瑕 子俞弥
Duke Ling of Zheng
郑灵公
605BC
Duke Xiang of Zheng
郑襄公
604-587BC
子良 子游 子罕 子驷 子国 子孔
孔氏
子印 子丰 士子孔
大季氏
子然 子羽
Duke Dao of Zheng
郑悼公
586-585BC
Prince Xu of Zheng
公子繻
581BC
Duke Cheng of Zheng
郑成公
584-571BC
Zichan
Duke Xi of Zheng
郑僖公
570-566BC
Duke Jian of Zheng
郑简公
570-565-530BC
Duke Ding of Zheng
郑定公
529-514BC
Duke Xian of Zheng
郑献公
513-501BC
Duke Sheng of Zheng
郑声公
500-463BC
Duke Gong of Zheng
郑共公
455-424BC
Duke Ai of Zheng
郑哀公
462-455BC
Duke You of Zheng
郑幽公
423BC
Duke Kang of Zheng
郑康公
395-375BC
Duke Xu of Zheng
郑繻公
422-396BC


Other people from Zheng

  • Zichan, celebrated philosopher and statesman
  • Zheng Mao (鄭瞀), exemplary woman of the Lienü zhuan
  • Shen Buhai 申不害, future Prime Minister of Han and "Legalist" philosopher.
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