A Study On The History Of Zheng In Zhou Dynasty

The history of the state of Zheng is an important part of the history of Zhou Dynasty. Comprehensive study of the history of the Zheng state is rare in academia. This article focuses on the political, economic, cultural and other issues of the state of Zheng. There are seven chapters in this article.Chapter one focuses on the establishment of Zheng state. Conferring states had been finished until Cheng king Kang king period in western Zhou. Zheng state received the dukedom which just a piece of land in King City in the late Western Zhou period. The state of Zheng in the Records of the Grand History contains, Huangong You was conferred in Zheng in the twenty-second year of Xuan King. Although the establishment of Zheng state later, the state played a pivotal role in the plitical arena of the late Western Zhou period. There are few literatures about the establishment of Zheng state. The study probes into the identity Duke Huan of Zheng and the first dukedom of Zheng to complement the study of early history of Zheng state.Chapter two mainly discusses the Moving Eastward of Zheng state. The Moving Easterward of Zheng was an important event in Zhou Dynasty. Eastwood movement was tendancy to most states at that time. Zheng state was a success in the tendacy. It had a full impact on the Moving Eastward of King Ping and even Easterward Zhou. For Zheng state, the Moving Easterward would have been called the second nation-building. Zheng state gained a favorable opportunity for development. Duke Huan's successor Duke Wu completed his father's unfinish business. He protected the fleeing of King Ping from barbarians and rebellions lords. And to this matter for a reason to swallowed Guo state, Kuai state and eight other states. As a result, Zheng state were in a piece of land surrounded by the Huaihe river, the Luo river, the Ji river, the Ying river . All of this laid the foundation of the accomplishment of Duke Zhuang of Zheng.Chapter three recounts Duke Zhuang of Zheng a foreruner of the Five Hegemons. Duke Zhuang of Zheng was the first one to establish the hegemonical system in the Spring and Autumn Period. The heyday of Zheng state was the seventy years during Duke Wu to Duke Zhuang. Duke Wu and Duke Zhuang held the hereditary titile to serve as Minister over the Massess in the court of Zhou King. Using the advantages of privilege position, the state location, Zheng state became a prominent force in the early Spring and Autumn Period. The power of Zheng state reached an apex in the reign of Duke Zhuang. He defeated his brother Gongshu Duan, who had led a rebellion against him. His wise and strong measures to prevent the civil strife for the rank of nobility.Duke Zhuang of Zheng was a masterstroke of diplomacy. As Minister over the Massess of Zhou King, he had the political authority and military power. Thus, he did a series of expansion action in the name of Zhou King and had the aid of King troops. He associated with distant states, Qi and Lu, while attacking two neighbour states, Song and Wei, even other weak states. Eventually, he lost the hereditary position of the court for his arrogant.Chapter four explain the reason for the Zheng state decline. Zheng state got into civil war when Duke of Zhuang was died. The powerful Qi state broke the alliance with Zheng state meanwhile. When the peace came to Zheng state, the newly powerful states rised in succession. Qi state, Chu state, Jin state were overlords. All of them had more people, army and land than Zheng state. They declare and wage wars for hegemony constantly. Any of them considerd controlling Zheng state was a vital part in its own hegemoncial system. Therefore Zheng state suffered the invasion of the powerful states and the internal conflicts. There were no room for Zheng state's expansion. Only in the brief interval of hegemons'wars, Zheng state took a breathe, but could not revive. Finally, Zheng state was eliminated by Han state in the Warring States Period.Chapter five discusses the territory and the captial city of Zheng state. After the Moving Esterward during Duke Wu period, the territory of Zheng state was based on the Central Plains. Annexing the states of Guo and Kuai determined the boundaries of Zheng state. The territory was largest during Duke Zhuang period. By and large, the territory of Zheng state, east to the NiuShou, southeast to the YanLing and FuGou, south to XuChang and LinXing, southwest to YuZhou, west to upper reaches YingShui river, north to the HuLao and Yellow River.Zheng state moved its capital city eastward to a new city also named Zheng. The name was from their old capital city. Later generations called the new city Xinzheng (new Zheng). From 1964, there were so many archaeological excavations in Xinzheng, achieved significant results.Chapter six discusses the economy of Zheng state. Biographies of Usurers in the Records of the Grand History quotes book of Zhou:"Agriculture is the base that provides food,handicraft industry provides tools,business takes charge of circulate."Zheng state was one of the richest states during the Spring and Autumn Period. It mainly relied on the ariculture and had developed handicraft industry and commerce for its central location.Chapter seven discusses the culture of Zheng state. The culture of Zheng state was flouring. It was the elegant part of the East Zhou culture. The culture respected the orthodox, thought it had some distinctive features, inclusive and absorptive. The Odes of Zheng in the Book of Songs are the best source for the people daily lives. The poems are representatives of Zheng's culture. In such an atomosphere, there were some cultural celebrities in Zheng state, such as DengXi,LieZi.