Song (state)

Feudal state in the Zhou dynasty, China

For the later Chinese dynasty, see Song dynasty and song.

Song

11th century BC–286 BC

Map of Zhou dynasty states, including Song

Status| State
Capital| Shangqiu (商丘)
Religion

| Chinese folk religion, ancestor worship, Taoism
Government| Monarchy
History|

• Established

| 11th century BC

• Conquered by Qi

| 286 BC
Currency| Chinese coin

| Succeeded by

|

|  | Qi (state) |

|

Song

"Song" in ancient seal script (top) and modern regular (bottom) Chinese characters

Chinese| 宋
| Transcriptions

Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin| Sòng
Gwoyeu Romatzyh| Sonq
Wade–Giles| Sung4
IPA| [sʊ̂ŋ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization| Sung
Jyutping| Sung3
IPA| [sʊŋ˧]
Southern Min
Tâi-lô| Sòng
Old Chinese
Baxter–Sagart (2014)| *[s]ˤuŋ-s
Chinese states in the 5th century BC

Song was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty with its capital at Shangqiu. The state was founded soon after King Wu of Zhou conquered the Shang dynasty to establish the Zhou dynasty in 1046 BC. It was conquered by the state of Qi in 286 BC, during the Warring States period. Confucius is traditionally considered to have been a descendant of a Song nobleman who moved to the state of Lu.[1]

## Origin

[edit]

King Zhou of Shang, Di Xin was the younger brother of Zi Qi—who was said in legends to have ruled Gija Joseon in the 11th century BCE—and Zi Yan (子衍), later rulers of Zhou's vassal state Song, father of Wu Geng.

After King Wu of Zhou overthrew the last ruler of Shang, marking the transition to the Zhou dynasty, the victor was honor-bound by a stricture of feudal etiquette known as Er Wang San Ke [zh] to allow the defeated house of Shang to continue offering sacrifices to their ancestors. As a result, for a time Shang became a vassal state of Zhou, with the Shang heir Wu Geng allowed to continue ancestor worship at Yin.

However, after King Wu's death, Wu Geng fomented a rebellion with an alliance of eastern states, and was killed by the Duke of Zhou. Another Shang royal family descendant, Weizi, was granted land at Shangqiu, the 'hill of Shang', where the capital of the new state of Song was built.

A sign of its descent from the Shang is that the state of Song in its early period followed the succession principle of agnatic seniority, rather than agnatic primogeniture like the Zhou.

## History

[edit]

In 701 BC, a political marriage between Lady Yong of Song (宋雍氏) and Duke Zhuang of Zheng—as well as the capture of Zhai Zhong (祭仲), a leading warrior—empowered Song to manipulate the administration of Zheng.

In 651, Duke Huan of Song (宋桓公) died, leaving the district to be ruled by Duke Xiang, who reigned from 651 to 637. He was considered a hegemon by some, but was unable to maintain that role. He eventually fell to the troops of Chu.

In 355, Dai Ticheng (戴剔成), a distant relative of the ruling royal line and once a minister of Duke Huan II, managed to usurp the throne. In 328, Dai Yan, a younger brother of Ticheng, took the throne and declared himself to be King Kang of Song, with Ticheng murdered or exiled. The king was ambitious and had succeeded in beating troops from Chu, Wei and Qi and annexing Teng. However, the kingdom was finally annexed by Qi in 286, with troops from Chu and Wei serving on behalf of Qi. Qin, which had been an ally of Song, refused to intervene for strategic and diplomatic reasons after being convinced by Su Dai from Wei. Su's predictions were proven correct and Qin benefited from the downfall of its former ally.

The philosopher Mozi references this state in the chapter "Obvious Existence of Ghosts", in which he mentions a number of Spring and Autumn Annals, including those of the Zhou, Yan, and Qi. The Spring and Autumn Annals of Song has not survived.

## Rulers

[edit]

Unless otherwise indicated, the ruler is the son of his predecessor.

1. Weizi (Qi 啟), brother of the last king of Shang, Di Xin
2. Weizhong 微仲 (Yan 衍), younger brother of the above
3. Ji, Duke of Song 宋公稽
4. Duke Ding 宋丁公 (Shen 申)
5. Duke Min I 宋湣公 (Gong 共), alleged ancestor of Confucius[1]: 14–15
6. Duke Yang 宋煬公 (Xi 熙), younger brother of the above
7. Duke Li 宋厲公 (Fusi 鮒祀), son of Duke Min I
8. Duke Xi 宋僖公 (Ju 舉), 859–831
9. Duke Hui 宋惠公 (Jian 覵), 830–800
10. Duke Ai 宋哀公, 799
11. Duke Dai 宋戴公, 799–766
12. Duke Wu 宋武公 (Sikong 司空), 765–748
13. Duke Xuan 宋宣公 (Li 力), 747–729
14. Duke Mu 宋穆公 (He 和), 728–720, younger brother of the above
15. Duke Shang 宋殤公 (Yuyi 與夷), 719–711
16. Duke Zhuang 宋莊公 (Feng 馮), 710–692
17. Duke Min II 宋閔公 (Jie 捷), 691–682
18. You, Duke of Song 宋公游, assassinated less than 3 months after accession.
19. Duke Huan I 宋桓公 (Yuyue 御說), 681–651, younger brother of Duke Min II
20. Duke Xiang (Zifu 茲父), 650–637
21. Duke Cheng 宋成公 (Wangchen 王臣), 636–620
22. Yu, Duke of Song 宋公禦, younger brother of the above, assassinated less than one month after accession.
23. Duke Zhao I 宋昭公 (Chujiu 杵臼), 619–611, son of Duke Cheng
24. Duke Wen 宋文公 (Bao 鮑), 610–589, younger brother of the above
25. Duke Gong 宋共公 (Xia 瑕), 588–576
26. Duke Ping 宋平公 (Cheng 成), 575–532
27. Duke Yuan 宋元公 (Zuo 佐), 531–517
28. Duke Jing 宋景公 (Touman 頭曼), 516–451
29. Duke Zhao II 宋昭公 (De 得), 450–404, great-grandson of Duke Yuan; possibly 468–404, making him one of the longest-reigning monarchs.
30. Duke Dao 宋悼公 (Gouyou 購由), 403–396
31. Duke Xiu 宋休公 (Tian 田), 395–373
32. Duke Huan II 宋桓公 (Bibing 辟兵), 372–370
33. Lord Ticheng of Song 宋剔成君, 369–329, descendant of the 11th duke, Dai
34. Yan, King of Song 宋王偃, King Kang 宋康王, 328–286, younger brother of the above

### Family tree

[edit]

Song state

| | | | | | | | | | | | |

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| | | | |
| | | | (1) Weizi
微子啟| | (2) Weizhong

| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | □| | (3) Ji
宋公稽
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 腯| | (4) Duke Ding
宋丁公
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | (5) Duke Min I
宋湣公| | (6) Duke Yang
宋炀公
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | 弗父何| | (7) Duke Li
宋厉公
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | (8) Duke Xi
宋僖公
?-859-831BC
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | (9) Duke Hui
宋惠公
?-831-801BC
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | (10) Duke Ai
宋哀公
?-801-800BC
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | (11) Duke Dai
宋戴公
?-800-766BC
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | (12) Duke Wu
宋武公
?-766-748BC| | 好父说| | 乐父衎| | 皇父充石| | □

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | (13) Duke Xuan
宋宣公
?-748-729BC| | (14) Duke Mu
宋穆公
?-729-720BC| | 华父督| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | (15) Duke Shang
宋殇公
?-720-710BC| | (16) Duke Zhuang
宋庄公
?-710-692BC| | 左师勃| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(18) Ziyou

?-682BC| | (17) Duke Min II
宋闵公
?-692-682BC| | (19) Duke Huan I
宋桓公
?-682-651BC| | 右师戊
仲氏| | 公子成| | | | | | | □
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 子鱼| | (20) Duke Xiang
宋襄公
?-651-637BC| | 公子荡| | 公子鳞| | 向父肹| | | 公孙固
?-620BC
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | (21) Duke Cheng
宋成公
?-637-620BC| | (22) Yu

?-620BC| | | | | | □| | | □
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | (23) Duke Zhao I
宋昭公
?-620-611BC| | (24) Duke Wen
宋文公
?-611-589BC| | 公子卬
?-619BC| | 母弟须
?-609BC| | 孔叔
?-619BC| | | 公孙钟离
?-619BC
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | (25) Duke Gong
宋共公
?-589-576BC| | 公子围龟

?-586BC| | 公子肥
?-576BC| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | (26) Duke Ping
宋平公
?-576-532BC| | 褚师段
石氏| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 太子痤
?-547BC| | (27) Duke Yuan
宋元公
?-532-517BC| | 公子城| | 公子御戎

?-522BC| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(28) Duke Jing
宋景公
?-517-469BC| | 公子地| | 母弟辰| | 公子褍秦| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 公孙周| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | (30) Duke Zhao II
宋昭公
?-469-404BC| | (29) Qi

?-469BC-?| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | (31) Duke Dao
宋悼公
?-404-385BC| | | | | | (34) Lord Ticheng
宋剔成君
?-356-329-?| | (35) Yan
宋康王
?-329-286BC-?
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | (32) Duke Xiu
宋休公
?-385-363BC
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | (33) Duke Huan II
宋桓公
?-363-356BC

## Descendants

[edit]

Main article: Family tree of Confucius in the main line of descent

Confucius is traditionally considered to have been a descendant of the Dukes of Song. His descendants hold the honorary title Duke Yansheng.

The title of Duke of Song and "Duke Who Continues and Honours the Yin" (殷紹嘉公) were bestowed upon Kong An [zh] by the Eastern Han dynasty because he was part of the Shang dynasty's legacy.[2][3] This branch of the Kong family is a separate branch from the line that held the title of Marquis of Fengsheng village and later Duke Yansheng.

## Song in astronomy

[edit]

Song is represented by the star Eta Ophiuchi in the asterism Left Wall, Heavenly Market enclosure (see Chinese constellation).[4]

## See also

[edit]

* Marquis of Extended Grace

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Eno, Robert (2003). "The background of the Kong family of Lu and the origins of Ruism". Early China. 28. Cambridge University Press: 1–41\. doi:10.1017/S0362502800000651. JSTOR 23354229. Eno concludes of Confucius's ancestry that the descent from Song nobility has been constructed to serve an ideological purpose. However he rejects the stronger statement that Confucius's immediate parentage is also fabricated, as proposed by Creel and Jensen.

Jensen, Lionel (1995). "Wise man of the wilds: fatherlessness, fertility, and the mythic exemplar Kongzi". Early China. 20. Cambridge University Press: 407–437\. doi:10.1017/S0362502800004570. JSTOR 23351776. p. 409

Creel, Herlee G. (1949). Confucius: the Man and the Myth. New York City: John Day. pp. 297–298.Cited in Eno.
2. ^ de Crespigny, Rafe (28 December 2006). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23-220 AD). Brill. pp. 389–. ISBN 978-90-474-1184-0.
3. ^ 《汉书·杨胡朱梅云传》：初，武帝时，始封周后姬嘉为周子南君，至元帝时，尊周子南君为周承休侯，位次诸侯王。使诸大夫博士求殷后，分散为十余姓，郡国往往得其大家，推求子孙，绝不能纪。时，匡衡议，以为"王者存二王后，所以尊其先王而通三统也。其犯诛绝之罪者绝，而更封他亲为始封君，上承其王者之始祖。《春秋》之义，诸侯不能守其社稷者绝。今宋国已不守其统而失国矣，则宜更立殷后为始封君，而上承汤统，非当继宋之绝侯也，宜明得殷后而已。今之故宋，推求其嫡，久远不可得；虽得其嫡，嫡之先已绝，不当得立。《礼记》孔子曰：'丘，殷人也。'先师所共传，宜以孔子世为汤后。"上以其语不经，遂见寝。
4. ^ (in Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 6 月 23 日

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Ancient Chinese states

Zhou dynasty|

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