Lu (; 249 BC) was a vassal state during the Zhou dynasty of ancient China located around modern southwest Shandong. Founded in the 11th century BC, its rulers were from a cadet branch of the House of Ji () that ruled the Zhou dynasty. The first duke was Boqin, a son of the Duke of Zhou, who was brother of King Wu of Zhou and regent to King Cheng of Zhou.

Lu was the home state of Confucius as well as Mozi, and, as such, has an outsized cultural influence among the states of the Eastern Zhou and in history. The Annals of Spring and Autumn, for instance, was written with the Lu rulers' years as their basis. Another great work of Chinese history, the Zuo Zhuan or Commentary of Zuo, was traditionally considered to have been written in Lu by Zuo Qiuming.

Geography

The state's capital was in Qufu and its territory mainly covered the central and southwest regions of what is now Shandong Province. It was bordered to the north by the powerful state of Qi and to the south by the powerful state of Chu. The position of Lu on the eastern frontiers of the Western Zhou state, facing the non-Zhou peoples in states such as Lai and Xu, was an important consideration in its foundation.

Etymology William H. Baxter (apud Matisoff, 1995) suggests a semantic connection between the toponym 魯 Lǔ and its homophone lǔ "salty, rock salt" (< OC *C-rāʔ) since that region was a salt marsh in ancient times.Matisoff, James A. (1995). “Sino-Tibetan Palatal Suffixes Revisited”. In: Nishi, Y., Matisoff, J. A. and Nagano, Y. (editors), Senri Ethnological Studies. 41: p. 52, n. 40 of 35–91.

History Lu was one of several states founded in eastern China at the very beginning of the Zhou dynasty, in order to extend Zhou rule far from its capital at Zongzhou and power base in the Guanzhong region. Throughout Western Zhou times, it played an important role in stabilising Zhou control in modern-day Shandong.

During the early Spring and Autumn period, Lu was one of the strongest states and a rival of Qi to its north. Under Duke Yin and Duke Huan of Lu, Lu defeated both Qi and Song on several occasions. At the same time, it undertook expeditions against other minor states.

This changed by the middle of the period, as Lu's main rival, Qi, grew increasingly dominant. Although a Qi invasion was defeated in the Battle of Changshao in 684 BC, Lu would never regain the upper hand against its neighbour. Meanwhile, the power of the dukes of Lu was eventually undermined by the powerful feudal clans of Jisun (), Mengsun (), and Shusun (called the Three Huan because they were descendants of Duke Huan of Lu). The domination of the Three Huan was such that Duke Zhao of Lu, in attempting to regain power, was exiled by them and never returned. It would not be until Duke Mu of Lu's reign, in the early Warring States period, that power eventually returned to the dukes again.

In 249 BC King Kaolie of the state of Chu invaded and annexed Lu. Duke Qing, the last ruler of Lu, became a commoner.

The main line of the Duke of Zhou's descendants came from his firstborn son, the State of Lu ruler Bo Qin's third son Yu () whose descendants adopted the surname Dongye (). The Duke of Zhou's offspring held the title of Wujing Boshi ().

Mencius was a descendent of Qingfu (), one of Duke Huan of Lu's sons. The genealogy is found in the Mencius family tree (孟子世家大宗世系).

Rulers

List of Lu rulers based on the Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian:

Title Given name Reign Relationship Duke Tai Boqin c. 1042–997 BC son of Duke of Zhou Duke Kao You 998–995 BC son of Boqin Duke Yang Xi or Yi 994–989 BC brother of Duke Kao Duke You Zai or Yu 988–975 BC son of Duke Yang Duke Wei Fei 974–925 BC brother of Duke You Duke Li Zhuo or Di 924–888 BC son of Duke Wei Duke Xian Ju 887–856 BC brother of Duke Li Duke Shen Bi or Zhi 855–826 BC son of Duke Xian Duke Wu Ao 825–816 BC brother of Duke Shen Duke Yi Xi 815–807 BC son of Duke Wu none Boyu 806–796 BC nephew of Duke Yi Duke Xiao Cheng 795–769 BC brother of Duke Yi Duke Hui Fuhuang or Fusheng 768–723 BC son of Duke Xiao Duke Yin Xigu 722–712 BC son of Duke Hui Duke Huan Yun or Gui 711–694 BC brother of Duke Yin Duke Zhuang Tong 693–662 BC son of Duke Huan Ziban Ban 662 BC son of Duke Zhuang Duke Min Qi 661–660 BC son of Duke Zhuang Duke Xi Shen 659–627 BC son of Duke Zhuang Duke Wen I Xing 626–609 BC son of Duke Xi Duke Xuan Tui or Wo 608–591 BC son of Duke Wen I Duke Cheng Heigong 590–573 BC son of Duke Xuan Duke Xiang Wu 572–542 BC son of Duke Cheng Ziye Ye 542 BC son of Duke Xiang Duke Zhao Chou 541–510 BC son of Duke Xiang Duke Ding Song 509–495 BC brother of Duke Zhao Duke Ai Jiang 494–467 BC son of Duke Ding Duke Dao Ning 466–429 BC son of Duke Ai Duke Yuan Jia 428–408 BC son of Duke Dao Duke Mu Xian 407–377 BC son of Duke Yuan Duke Gong Fen 376–353 BC son of Duke Mu Duke Kang Tun 352–344 BC son of Duke Gong Duke Jing Yan 343–323 BC son of Duke Kang Duke Ping Shu 322–303 BC son of Duke Jing Duke Wen II Jia 302–278 BC son of Duke Ping Duke Qing Chou 277–249 BC son of Duke Wen II Rulers family tree

See also Lu Commandery Qilu culture

References

External links