Qi (state)

This article is about the major Zhou Dynasty state of Qí (齊). For the minor state Qǐ (杞), see Qi (Henan). For other uses of "Qi", see Qi (disambiguation).

Qi 齊
Kingdom
←   ← 1046 BC–221 BC →   →
Map of State of Qi in 260 BC
Capital		Linzi
Religion		Chinese folk religion, ancestor worship
Government		Monarchy
Chancellor
-	685–645 BCE	Guan Zhong
History
-	Enfeoffment of Jiang Ziya	1046 BC
-	Conquered by Qin	221 BC
Currency		Chinese coin

Great Wall of Qi on the Da Feng Mountain

Qi (state)
Traditional Chinese	齊國
Simplified Chinese	齐国
Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Qí guó Min - Hokkien POJ chê-kok / chôe-kok - Min-dong BUC Cà̤-guók Wu - Romanization Zi/zhi koh/kueh

Qi (Chi; Chinese: 齊; pinyin: Qí; Wade–Giles: Ch'i²) was a powerful state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, in present-day Zibo, Shandong Province.

Qi was founded around in 1046 BC as one of the many vassal states of the Zhou Dynasty. The first ruler of Qi was Jiang Ziya, the most powerful official during that time. The Jiang family ruled Qi for several centuries before it was replaced by the Tian family in 386 BC. In 221 BC, Qi was the last state of pre-Imperial China to be conquered by the State of Qin, which became the Qin Dynasty, the first centralized empire of China.

History

Bronze knife-shaped coins of State of Qi, collected in Shandong Museum

Western Zhou (1046–771 BC): With the founding of the Zhou dynasty in 1046 BC, King Wu of Zhou assigned the conquered lands as hereditary fiefs to his relatives and ministers. Territory in the area of modern day Shandong was given to Jiang Ziya, his most important general from which the state of Qi arose. Little information survives from this period. King Yi of Zhou (r. 865–858) attacked Qi and boiled Duke Ai of Qi to death. At the time of King Xuan of Zhou (r. 827–782) there was a succession struggle. During this time many of the native Dongyi peoples were absorbed into the Qi state.

Spring and Autumn Period: In 706 BC Qi was attacked by the Shan Rong. Qi rose to prominence under Duke Huan of Qi (685–643). He and his minister Guan Zhong strengthened the state by centralizing it. He annexed 35 neighboring states including Tan and brought others into submission. In 667 Duke Huan met with the rulers of Lu, Song, Chen and Zheng and was elected leader. Subsequently King Hui of Zhou made him the first Hegemon. He attacked Wei for supporting a rival of the Zhou king and intervened in the affairs of Lu. In 664 he protected Yan from the Rong. In 659 he protected Xing and in 660, Wei, from the Red Di. In 656 he blocked the northward expansion of Chu. After his death, his sons quarrelled and the hegemony passed to Jin.

In 632 Qi helped Jin defeat Chu at the Battle of Chengpu. In 589 Qi was defeated by Jin. In 579 the four great powers of Qin (west), Jin (center), Chu (south) and Qi (east) met to declare a truce and limit their military strength. In 546 a similar four-power conference recognized several smaller states as satellites of Qi, Jin and Qin.

Warring States Period: The many wars of this age are described in the appropriate article. This section covers domestic affairs. Early in the period Qi annexed a number of smaller states. Qi was one of the first states to patronize scholars. In 532 the Tian (田) clan destroyed several rival families and came to dominate the state. In 485 the Tian killed the ducal heir and fought several rival clans. In 481 the Tian chief killed a puppet duke, most of the ruler's family and a number of rival chiefs. He took control of most of the state and left the Duke with only the capital of Linzi and the area around Mount Tai. In 386 the House of Tian replaced the House of Jiang as rulers of Qi. In 221 Qi was the last of the warring states to be conquered by Qin, thereby putting an end to the wars and uniting China under the Qin Dynasty.

Rulers

Sacrificial horses discovered in the tomb of Duke Jing of Qi

House of Jiang (姜)

Title	Name	Period of reign	Relationship	Notes
Duke Tai 齊太公	Lü Shang 吕尚	11th century BC		Enfeoffed by King Wu of Zhou, with capital at Yingqiu.
Duke Ding 齊丁公	Lü Ji 吕伋	10th century BC	5th-generation descendant of Duke Tai	Traditionally believed to be son of Duke Tai.
Duke Yǐ 齊乙公	De 得	10th century BC	Son of Duke Ding
Duke Gui 齊癸公	Cimu 慈母	c. 10th century BC	Son of Duke Yǐ
Duke Ai 齊哀公	Buchen 不辰	9th century BC	Son of Duke Gui	Boiled to death by King Yi of Zhou.
Duke Hu 齊胡公	Jing 靜	9th century BC	Son of Duke Gui	Moved capital to Bogu, killed by Duke Xian.
Duke Xian 齊獻公	Shan 山	859?–851 BC	Son of Duke Gui	Moved capital back to Linzi
Duke Wu 齊武公	Shou 壽	850–825 BC	Son of Duke Xian
Duke Li 齊厲公	Wuji 無忌	824–816 BC	Son of Duke Wu	Killed by supporters of Duke Hu's son.
Duke Wen 齊文公	Chi 赤	815–804 BC	Son of Duke Li
Duke Cheng 齊成公	Yue 說	803–795 BC	Son of Duke Wen
Duke Zhuang I 齊前莊公	Gou 購	794–731 BC	Son of Duke Cheng	Reigned for 64 years.
Duke Xi 齊僖公	Lufu 祿甫	730–698 BC	Son of Duke Zhuang I
Duke Xiang 齊襄公	Zhu'er 諸兒	697–686 BC	Son of Duke Xi	Committed incest with sister Wen Jiang, murdered her husband Duke Huan of Lu, conquered the state of Ji, murdered by cousin Wuzhi.
none	Wuzhi 無知	686 BC	Cousin of Duke Xiang, grandson of Duke Zhuang I	Killed by Yong Lin.
Duke Huan 齊桓公	Xiaobai 小白	685–643 BC	Younger brother of Duke Xiang	First of the Five Hegemons, when Qi reached zenith of its power. Starved to death by ministers.
none	Wukui or Wugui 無虧 or 無詭	643 BC	Son of Duke Huan	Killed by supporters of Duke Xiao.
Duke Xiao 齊孝公	Zhao 昭	642–633 BC	Son of Duke Huan	Crown prince of Qi.
Duke Zhao 齊昭公	Pan 潘	632–613 BC	Son of Duke Huan	His supporters murdered the son of Duke Xiao.
none	She 舍	613 BC	Son of Duke Zhao	Murdered by uncle, Shangren.
Duke Yì 齊懿公	Shangren 商人	612–609 BC	Uncle of She, son of Duke Huan	Killed by two ministers.
Duke Hui 齊惠公	Yuan 元	608–599 BC	Son of Duke Huan	Defeated Long Di invaders.
Duke Qing 齊頃公	Wuye 無野	598–582 BC	Son of Duke Hui	Defeated by Jin at the Battle of An.
Duke Ling 齊靈公	Huan 環	581–554 BC	Son of Duke Qing	Annexed the State of Lai; defeated by Jin at the Battle of Pingyin, capital Linzi burned.
Duke Zhuang II 齊後莊公	Guang 光	553–548 BC	Son of Duke Ling	Ascended throne by killing Prince Ya with the help of Cui Zhu; committed adultery with Cui's wife, killed by Cui Zhu.
Duke Jing 齊景公	Chujiu 杵臼	547–490 BC	Half brother of Duke Zhuang II	Killed Cui Zhu. Had famous statesman Yan Ying as prime minister.
An Ruzi 安孺子	Tu 荼	489 BC	Youngest son of Duke Jing	Deposed by Tian Qi, killed by Duke Dao. Also called Yan Ruzi.
Duke Dao 齊悼公	Yangsheng 陽生	488–485 BC	Son of Duke Jing	Killed by minister, possibly Tian Heng.
Duke Jian 齊簡公	Ren 壬	484–481 BC	Son of Duke Dao	Killed by Tian Heng.
Duke Ping 齊平公	Ao 驁	480–456 BC	Brother of Duke Jian
Duke Xuan 齊宣公	Ji 積	455–405 BC	Son of Duke Ping
Duke Kang 齊康公	Dai 貸	404–386 BC	Son of Duke Xuan	Deposed by Duke Tai of Tian Qi, died in 379 BC.

House of Tian (田)

Subject to the House of Jiang

Posthumous name	Personal name	Period as leader	Relationship	Notes
Tian Jingzhong 田敬仲	Chen Wan 陳完		Son of Duke Li of Chen	Exiled to Qi from the State of Chen
Tian Mengyi 田孟夷	Tian Zhi 田穉		Son of Chen Wan
Tian Mengzhuang 田孟莊	Tian Min 田湣		Son of Mengyi
Tian Wenzi 田文子	Tian Xuwu 田須無		Son of Mengzhuang
Tian Huanzi 田桓子	Tian Wuyu 田無宇		Son of Wenzi
Tian Wuzi 田武子	Tian Kai 田開	?–516 BC	Son of Huanzi
Tian Xizi 田僖子	Tian Qi 田乞		Brother of Wuzi	Deposed An Ruzi
Tian Chengzi 田成子	Tian Heng 田恆		Son of Xizi	Killed Duke Jian, became de facto ruler of Qi
Tian Xiangzi 田襄子	Tian Pan 田盤		Son of Chengzi
Tian Zhuangzi 田莊子	Tian Bai 田白	?–411 BC	Son of Xiangzi
Tian Daozi 田悼子	unknown	410–405 BC	Son of Zhuangzi

Replaced House of Jiang

Title	Name	Period of reign	Relationship	Notes
Duke Tai 齊太公	Tian He 田和	404–384 BC	Son of Tian Bai	Officially recognized as Qi ruler in 386 BC.
none	Tian Yan 田剡	383–375 BC	Son of Duke Tai	Killed by Duke Huan.
Duke Huan 齊桓公	Tian Wu 田午	374–357 BC	Brother of Tian Yan
King Wei 齊威王	Tian Yinqi 田因齊	356–320 BC	Son of Duke Huan	Most powerful Qi ruler of the Warring States.
King Xuan 齊宣王	Tian Bijiang 田辟彊	319–300 BC	Son of King Wei
King Min 齊愍王	Tian Di 田地	300–283 BC	Son of King Xuan	Temporarily declared himself "Emperor of the East".
King Xiang 齊襄王	Tian Fazhang 田法章	283–265 BC	Son of King Min
none	Tian Jian 田建	264–221 BC	Son of King Xiang	Qi conquered by Qin.

Qi in astronomy

Qi is represented by the star Chi Capricorni in asterism Twelve States, Girl mansion. Qi is also represented by the star 112 Herculis in asterism Left Wall, Heavenly Market enclosure (see Chinese constellation).^{[citation needed]}

Further reading

• Michael Loewe, ed. (2006). The Cambridge history of ancient China: from the origins of civilization to 221 B.C. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-521-47030-8; 0-521-47030-7 . 
• Glessner Creel, Herrlee (1979). The birth of China: a study of the formative period of Chinese civilization. New York: Ungar Publ. ISBN 0-8044-6093-0; 0-8044-1205-7 . 

See also

• Guan Zhong
• Sun Bin