E (state)
State of E 鄂国/鄂國 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ~12th century BCE–863 BCE | |||||||||||||
| Status | Kingdom | ||||||||||||
| Capital | Xiangning County >Nanyang, Henan Province Ezhou, Hubei Province | ||||||||||||
| Religion | Chinese folk religion, ancestor worship, Taoism | ||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||
• Established | ~12th century BCE | ||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 863 BCE | ||||||||||||
| Currency | Chinese coin, gold coins | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
The State of È (simplified Chinese: 鄂国; traditional Chinese: 鄂國) was a vassal state in present-day central China from the time of the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE) until its overthrow in 863 BCE. E moved from its original location in what is now the southern province of Henan [1] into Hubei Province. Its leader was one of the Three Excellencies, high officials appointed by King Zhou of Shang[2] during the late Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE)
Origin
There are a number of different theories about the origins of E, including that its original inhabitants were descended from the Baiyue [3] or the Daxi culture.[4] Another theory claims that during the Shang Dynasty, descendants of the Yellow Emperor surnamed Jí (姞) were granted land by King Zhou of Shang around modern day Xiangning County, Shanxi Province that became the State of E.
History
King Zhou of Shang wanted to make the daughter of the Marquess of Jiu (九侯) an imperial concubine, but she was a dignified woman who regarded such a role as beneath her. In a fit of anger, King Zhou murdered both the Marquess and his daughter and turned the marquess’ body into mincemeat. The Marquess of E, seeing the injustice in the treatment of the Marquess of Jiu relinquished his vassalage to the Zhou Dynasty and was also murdered by King Zhou.
During the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046–771 BCE) the State of Jin moved into E’s territory forcing the state to move southwards into the northern part of modern day Nanyang City Henan Province. The relocation brought with it a threat from the powerful State of Chu, such that in the middle of the Western Zhou the State of E once more shifted south into Hubei Province, settling to the east of modern day Ezhou City.
Following a rebellion in the State of E, In 863 BCE, the seventh year of the reign of King Yi of Zhou, the ruler of the State of Chu Xiong Qu (熊渠) overthrew the State of E and conferred its former lands on his son Xiong Zhi (熊摯). The destruction of the State of E is recorded on an inscribed bronze Ding or tripod cauldron known as the Yu Ding (禹鼎).[5]
Legacy
Xiong Zhi continued to live in Ezhou, Hubei Province, site of the former State of E, following the death of his father. The following five rulers of the State of Chu all resided in Ezhou whilst the sixth, Xiong E (熊鄂) deciding to make the location the alternative capital of Chu. King Gong of Chu (楚共王) (reigned 590–560 BC) made his third son Lord of E. In 323 BCE, the sixth year of the reign of King Huai of Chu (楚懷王), the king made his younger brother Xiong Qu (熊启) Lord of E. With the destruction of Chu by the State of Qin in 223, Ezhou became a county of Qin Shihuang’s new dynasty.
Today E (鄂) remains the shortened name for Hubei province.
References
- ^ "Data on the State of E (有关 "鄂"的部分资料)" (in Chinese). Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ^ Sima Qian Records of the Grand Historian • Yin (Shang) Annals (史记•殷本纪) p19.
- ^ "The States of [[Chu (state)|Chu]], E and the Ancient Yue People (楚国与鄂国及古越族)" (in Chinese). Retrieved October 22, 2010.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "Investigation into the Origin of Hubei's Abbreviation "鄂" (湖北的简称－－"鄂"溯源)" (in Chinese).
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Yu Ding: Evidence of the Extermination of the State of E during the Western Zhou Dynasty (禹鼎：西周灭鄂国的见证)" (in Chinese). Retrieved October 23, 2010.