Zeng (state)
State of Zeng Tằng quốc | |
|---|---|
| Western Zhou(1045–771 BC)[1]–5th century BC[1] | |
 Map showing the state of Zeng during Zhou dynasty | |
| History | |
• Established | Western Zhou(1045–771 BC)[1] |
• Disestablished | 5th century BC[1] |
Zeng(Tằng quốc;Zēngguó) or Tsang was a historical state inChina.The state existed during the time of theZhou dynasty(1046–256 BC) and had territory in the area aroundSuizhouin modernHubeiprovince. Archaeological findings indicate that Zeng could have been the same state asSui.The state of Zeng got attention partly because of the finding ofTomb of Marquis Yi of Zengin 1978.
The center of the territory of Zeng was in the western part of Suizhou[2]and findings indicate that the area reached up to the south west border ofHenanprovince.[1]Suizhou was an important military hub because of its strategic location towards the threatening state ofChu.[3]The area was also an important transport route between Chinese Central Plateau and thecopperfindings at the middleYangtze.[4]All the tombs of the lords of Zeng state were found within 10 km from each other in Suizhou.[4]
A historical record indicate that the state of Zeng was founded during the time ofWestern Zhou(1045 – 771 BC) and had its peak of political ambitions in the beginning ofEastern Zhou(770–256 BC). Zeng still existed in the beginning of theWarring States periodthat started in the early 5th-century BC.[1]
Zeng was mentioned in the historical chronicleSpring and Autumn Annalswhere also another state named Zeng was mentioned that was located in theShandongprovince.[1]
Relations with the state ofSui[edit]
In most of the earliest Chinese historical annals, Sui was the only state mentioned in the actual area around Suizhou in Hubei during the time for Eastern Zhou. Based on a few relics in the 1930s where the state of Zeng was mentioned, historian started to speculate that another state also existed in the area at the same time.[3]
A large number of findings with inscriptions of "Zeng" were found after 1949 in the territory of former Sui; this confirmed the speculation.[3]
After the finding ofTomb of Marquis Yi of Zengin 1978 together with a large number of other well-preserved artefacts from the same area led to discussions around the relationship between Zeng and Sui, and many theories figured. On October 4, 1978, the historian Li Xueqin published the article "The Riddle of the State of Zeng" inGuangming Dailywhere he stated that the state of Zeng and Sui was the same place.[3]
The professor Ren Wei from the Archaeology Department of Zhengzhou University had the theory that Zeng conquered and occupied the state of Sui, but the most supported theory is the one from Li Xueqin[2][3]and it was common during the Eastern Zhou that one state use two names.[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^abcdeFong (1980)."The Bronze Vessel and Eastern Zhou Politics".The Great bronze age of China: An Exhibition from the Peoples Republic of China.Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 253.ISBN978-0870992261.
- ^abFeng, Li (2009)."The Periphery".Landscape and Power in Early China: The Crisis and Fall of the Western Zhou.Cambridge University Press. p. 329.ISBN978-0521108119.
- ^abcdef"History unfolds".China Daily.Retrieved4 November2019.
- ^abLi, Min (2018)."The Rise of the Guanzhong Basin".The Archaeology of China: From the Late Paleolithic to the Early Bronze Age.Cambridge University Press. p. 368.ISBN978-1107141452.
Printed References[edit]
- Li, Min (2018).The Archaeology of China: From the Late Paleolithic to the Early Bronze Age.Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-1107141452.
- Feng, Li (2009).Landscape and Power in Early China: The Crisis and Fall of the Western Zhou.Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0521108119.
- Fong (1980).The Great bronze age of China: An Exhibition from the Peoples Republic of China.Metropolitan Museum of Art.ISBN978-0870992261.