Princes In The Spring And Autumn Period:A Study On Their Appellations,Living Space And Political Involvement

Aristocracy was widely practiced over the vassal states in the Spring and Autumn period.Princes,brothers and sons of the feudal lords,played major roles in political issues.For them,there were several confusing titles in early historical texts,such as Gongzi??,Dazi??,Xiaozi??,Guozi??,etc.This thesis will firstly analyze the usage of those words based on historical materials and former studies.Gongzi was applied to the sons and brothers of feudal lords,especially the ones who had little right of inheritance.Dazi and Xiaozi were special titles for the successor.Da? means elder,which indicated the priority to succession among the princes.Xiao ? means younger,which told the humility of the new lord.The word Guozi was originally used to address the sons and brothers of the King of Zhou ??,then used to describe the sons and brothers of feudal lords and state senior ministers.Therefore the character Zi ? should firstly be understood as a word referred to the noble ties of blood.The development of feudal system and patriarchal clan system had not only made some kinship appellations used among clan members turn to be the titles used in political situations but also made semantic extension of all those appellations.Princes lived around their lord in the capital of states.Palaces could be used as chambers or official buildings.Some palaces were named after nouns of locality,such as Eastern Palace ??,Northern Palace ??,and so on.And the name of such palaces could then be used as a surname of nobleman.The impressing use of Eastern and Western Palace might have connection with the ancient adoration of left and right sides.Princes paid little visit to the field part of their states except for rites and political activities.Historical texts has provided with hundreds of records showing the stories about how princes took part in various political activities,for examples,inheritance,ceremony of worship,war and meetings.Patriarchal clan system came to the class of state senior ministers while the TianDi?? worship got into the class of feudal lords,both reflecting the fact of power shift.Meanwhile,princes and grandsons of feudal lords could get a job in foreign states,leading to the campaign of scholars ? in Warring States period.Spring and Autumn period saw the decrease of prince's political involvement.In other words,it revealed the weakening of patriarchal clan system and strengthening of monarchy.