Lu (state)

Not to be confused with Lü (state).

State of Lu
魯國
c. 1042 BC–249 BC
Capital		Qufu
Religion		Chinese folk religion, ancestor worship, Taoism
Government		Monarchy
Marquess		Hereditary dukes of the House of Ji (姬)
History
•	Established	c. 1042 BC
•	Annexed by Chu	249 BC

Lu
Traditional Chinese	魯
Simplified Chinese	鲁
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lǔ Wade–Giles Lu3 IPA [lù] Gwoyeu Romatzyh Luu Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Lou5 Yale Romanization Lóuh Southern Min Tâi-lô Lóo Middle Chinese Middle Chinese Lú Old Chinese Baxter-Sagart *r.ŋˤaʔ

Lu (Chinese: 魯, c. 1042–249 BC) was a vassal state during the Zhou dynasty of ancient China. Founded in the 11th century BC, its rulers were from a cadet branch of the House of Ji (姬) that ruled the Zhou dynasty. The first duke was Boqin, a son of the Duke of Zhou, who was brother of King Wu of Zhou and regent to King Cheng of Zhou.

Lu was the home state of Confucius as well as Mozi, and as such has an outsized cultural influence among the states of the Eastern Zhou and in history. The Annals of Spring and Autumn, for instance, was written with the Lu rulers' years as their basis. Another great work of Chinese history, Zuo Zhuan was also written in Lu.

Geography

The state's capital was in Qufu and its territory mainly covered the central and southwest regions of what is now Shandong Province. It was bordered to the north by the powerful state of Qi and to the south by the powerful state of Chu. The position of Lu on the eastern frontiers of the Western Zhou state, facing the non-Zhou peoples in states such as Lai and Xu, was an important consideration in its foundation.

History

Lu was one of several states founded in eastern China at the very beginning of the Zhou dynasty, in order to extend Zhou rule far from its capital at Zongzhou and power base in the Guanzhong region. Throughout Western Zhou times, it played an important role in stabilising Zhou control in modern-day Shandong.

During the early Spring and Autumn period, Lu was one of the strongest states and a rival of Qi to its north. Under Duke Yin and Duke Huan of Lu, Lu defeated both Qi and Song on several occasions. At the same time, it undertook expeditions against other minor states.

This changed by the middle of the period, as Lu's main rival, Qi, grew increasingly dominant. Although a Qi invasion was defeated in the Battle of Changshao in 684 BC, Lu would never regain the upper hand against its neighbour. Meanwhile, the power of the dukes of Lu was eventually undermined by the powerful feudal clans of Jisun 季孫, Mengsun 孟孫, and Shusun 叔孫 (called the Three Huan because they were descendants of Duke Huan of Lu). The domination of the Three Huan was such that Duke Zhao of Lu, in attempting to regain power, was exiled by them and never returned. It would not be until Duke Mu of Lu's reign, in the early Warring States period, that power eventually returned to the dukes again.

In 249 BC King Kaolie of the state of Chu invaded and annexed Lu. Duke Qing, the last ruler of Lu, became a commoner.

Rulers

Lu, 5th century BC

A remnant of the city wall of Lu's capital city, surviving on the outskirts of Qufu

List of Lu rulers based on the Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian:

Title	Given name	Reign	Relationship
	Boqin	c. 1042–997 BC	son of Duke of Zhou
Duke Kao	You	998–995 BC	son of Boqin
Duke Yang	Xi or Yi	994–989 BC	brother of Duke Kao
Duke You	Zai or Yu	988–975 BC	son of Duke Yang
Duke Wei	Fei	974–925 BC	brother of Duke You
Duke Li	Zhuo or Di	924–888 BC	son of Duke Wei
Duke Xian	Ju	887–856 BC	brother of Duke Li
Duke Shen	Bi or Zhi	855–826 BC	son of Duke Xian
Duke Wu	Ao	825–816 BC	brother of Duke Shen
Duke Yi	Xi	815–807 BC	son of Duke Wu
none	Boyu	806–796 BC	nephew of Duke Yi
Duke Xiao	Cheng	795–769 BC	brother of Duke Yi
Duke Hui	Fuhuang or Fusheng	768–723 BC	son of Duke Xiao
Duke Yin	Xigu	722–712 BC	son of Duke Hui
Duke Huan	Yun	711–694 BC	brother of Duke Yin
Duke Zhuang	Tong	693–662 BC	son of Duke Huan
Ziban	Ban	662 BC	son of Duke Zhuang
Duke Min	Qi	661–660 BC	son of Duke Zhuang
Duke Xi	Shen	659–627 BC	son of Duke Zhuang
Duke Wen I	Xing	626–609 BC	son of Duke Xi
Duke Xuan	Wo	608–591 BC	son of Duke Wen I
Duke Cheng	Heigong	590–573 BC	son of Duke Xuan
Duke Xiang	Wu	572–542 BC	son of Duke Cheng
Ziye	Ye	542 BC	son of Duke Xiang
Duke Zhao	Chou	541–510 BC	son of Duke Xiang
Duke Ding	Song	509–495 BC	brother of Duke Zhao
Duke Ai	Jiang	494–467 BC	son of Duke Ding
Duke Dao	Ning	466–429 BC	son of Duke Ai
Duke Yuan	Jia	428–408 BC	son of Duke Dao
Duke Mu	Xian	407–377 BC	son of Duke Yuan
Duke Gong	Fen	376–353 BC	son of Duke Mu
Duke Kang	Tun	352–344 BC	son of Duke Gong
Duke Jing	Yan	343–323 BC	son of Duke Kang
Duke Ping	Shu	322–303 BC	son of Duke Jing
Duke Wen II	Jia	302–278 BC	son of Duke Ping
Duke Qing	Chou	277–249 BC	son of Duke Wen II