Song (state)

Sòng (宋國) was a state during the Eastern Zhou Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). Its capital was Shangqiu (商丘). 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 management of Zheng.

Origin

After King Wu of Zhou overthrew King Zhou of Shang, marking the transition from the Shang to the Zhou Dynasty, according to feudal etiquette, even though the Shang had been destroyed, the new rulers were bound to permit them to continue offering sacrifices to their ancestors. As a result for a time Shang became a vassal state of Zhou with King Zhou’s son Wu Geng (武庚) allowed to continue ancestor worship at Yin (殷). After King Wu’s death, Wu Geng fomented a rebellion and was killed by the Duke of Zhou. King Zhou of Shang’s illegitimate elder brother was granted land at Shangqiu (商邱) where the capital of the new State of Song was built.

History

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

In 355 BC, Dai Ticheng(戴剔成), a descendant of Duke Dai of Song who used to serve as a minister of Duke Pi of Song (also referred as Duke Huan of Song (latter) or Marquis Huan of Song) managed to replace his lord and take the throne. In 317 BC, 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 at first, but the kingdom was finally annexed by Qi in 286 BC, while troops from Chu and Wei served in behalf of Qi. Qin, which had been an ally of Song, gave up saving the kingdom for strategic and diplomatic sakes after being convinced by Su Dai from Wei, and what Su Dai said later turned out all right and Qin got a benefit from the downfall of its ally.

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

Rulers of Song 宋

1. Weizi Qi, Ruler of Song 宋微啟 (brother of King Zhou 紂 of Shang)
2. Weizhong, Ruler of Song 宋微仲 (personal name Yan 子衍)
3. Ji, Duke of Song 宋公稽
4. Song Dinggong 宋丁公 ( Shen 申)
5. Song Mingong (1) 宋湣公 ( Gong 共)
6. Song Shanggong 宋煬公 (Xi 熙)
7. Song Ligong 宋厲公 ( Fusi 鮒祀)
8. Song Xigong 宋釐公 (or 僖公, Ju 舉), 859-831
9. Song Huigong 宋惠公 ( Jian 覵), 830-800
10. Song Aigong 宋哀公, 799
11. Song Daigong 宋戴公, 799-766
12. Song Wugong 宋武公 ( Sikong 司空), 765-748
13. Song Xuangong 宋宣公 ( Li 力), 747-729
14. Song Mugong 宋穆公 ( He 和), 728-720
15. Song Shanggong 宋殤公 ( Yuyi 與夷), 719-711
16. Song Zhuanggong 宋莊公 (Feng 馮), 710-692
17. Song Mingong 宋閔公 ( Jie 捷), 691-682
18. Song Huangong 宋桓公 ( Yuyue 御說), 681-651
19. Song Xianggong 宋襄公 ( Zifu 茲父), 650-637
20. Song Chenggong 宋成公 ( Wangcheng 王臣), 636-620
21. Song Zhaogong (1) 宋昭公 (Chujiu 杵臼), 619-611
22. Song Wengong 宋文公 ( Bao 鮑), 610-589
23. Song Gonggong 宋共公 ( Xia 瑕), 588-576
24. Song Pinggong 宋平公 ( Cheng 成), 575-532
25. Song Yuangong 宋元公 ( Zuo 佐), 531-517
26. Song Jinggong 宋景公 (Touman 頭曼), 516-451
27. Song Zhaogong (2) 宋昭公 ( De 得), 450-404
28. Song Daogong 宋悼公 ( Gouyao 購繇), 403-396
29. Song Xiugong 宋休公 ( Tian 田), 395-373
30. Song Bigong 宋辟公 ( Bibing 辟兵), 372-370
31. Ticheng, Lord of Song 宋君剔成, 369-329
32. Yan, Lord of Song 宋君偃, Song Kangwang 宋康王, 328-286

Song in astronomy

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