04/03/2025, 19:50 Zeng (state) - Wikipedia
Zeng (state)
Zeng (Chinese: 曾 ; pinyin: Zēng) was a historical
state in China. The state existed during the time of Zeng
the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) and had territory 曾
in the area around Suizhou in modern Hubei
Western Zhou (1045–771 BC)[1]–
province. Archaeological findings indicate that Zeng 5th century BC[1]
could have been the same state as Sui. The state of
Zeng got attention partly because of the finding of
Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in 1978.
The center of the territory of Zeng was in the western
part of Suizhou[2] and findings indicate that the area
reached up to the south west border of Henan
province.[1] Suizhou was an important military hub
because of its strategic location towards the
threatening state of Chu.[3] The area was also an
Map showing the state of Zeng during Zhou
important transport route between Chinese Central dynasty
Plateau and the copper findings at the middle History
Yangtze.[4] All the tombs of the lords of Zeng state
• Established Western Zhou (1045–
were found within 10 km from each other in
771 BC)[1]
Suizhou.[4] • Disestablished 5th century BC[1]
A historical record indicate that the state of Zeng was
founded during the time of Western Zhou (1045 – 771 BC) and
had its peak of political ambitions in the beginning of Eastern
Zhou (770–256 BC). Zeng still existed in the beginning of the
Warring States period that started in the early 5th-century
BC.[1]
Zeng was mentioned in the historical chronicle Spring and Bronze bells from Tomb of Marquis
Autumn Annals where also another state named Zeng was Yi of Zeng.
mentioned that was located in the Shandong province.[1]
Relations with the state of Sui
In most of the earliest Chinese historical annals, Sui was the only state mentioned in the actual
area around Suizhou in Hubei during the time for Eastern Zhou. Based on a few relics in the 1930s
where the state of Zeng was mentioned, historian started to speculate that another state also
existed in the area at the same time.[3]
A large number of findings with inscriptions of "Zeng" were found after 1949 in the territory of
former Sui; this confirmed the speculation.[3]
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04/03/2025, 19:50 Zeng (state) - Wikipedia
After the finding of Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in 1978
together with a large number of other well-preserved artefacts
from the same area led to discussions around the relationship
between Zeng and Sui, and many theories figured. On October
4, 1978, the historian Li Xueqin published the article "The
Riddle of the State of Zeng" in Guangming Daily where he
stated that the state of Zeng and Sui were the same place.[3]
The professor Ren Wei from the Archaeology Department of
Zhengzhou University had the theory that Zeng conquered and
occupied the state of Sui, but the most supported theory is the
one from Li Xueqin[2][3] and it was common during the Eastern
Zhou that one state use two names.[3]
See also
Triple dagger-axe ji from the state of
Sui (state) Zeng
References
Notes
1. Fong (1980). "The Bronze Vessel and Eastern Zhou Politics" (https://books.google.com/books?
id=vJAK1qI6MVgC&q=state%20on%20zeng%20estern%20zhou%20dynasty%20sui&pg=PA2
53). The Great bronze age of China: An Exhibition from the Peoples Republic of China.
Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 253. ISBN 978-0870992261.
2. Feng, Li (2009). "The Periphery" (https://books.google.com/books?id=d_qOvs0WjPcC&q=stat
e%20on%20zeng%20estern%20zhou%20dynasty%20sui&pg=PA329). Landscape and Power
in Early China: The Crisis and Fall of the Western Zhou. Cambridge University Press. p. 329.
ISBN 978-0521108119.
3. "History unfolds" (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2013-03/06/content_16282573_2.htm).
China Daily. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
4. Li, Min (2018). "The Rise of the Guanzhong Basin" (https://books.google.com/books?id=48FW
DwAAQBAJ&q=Social%20Memory%20and%20State%20Formation%20in%20Early%20China
&pg=PA368). The Archaeology of China: From the Late Paleolithic to the Early Bronze Age.
Cambridge University Press. p. 368. ISBN 978-1107141452.
Printed References
Li, Min (2018). The Archaeology of China: From the Late Paleolithic to the Early Bronze Age.
Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1107141452.
Feng, Li (2009). Landscape and Power in Early China: The Crisis and Fall of the Western
Zhou. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521108119.
Fong (1980). The Great bronze age of China: An Exhibition from the Peoples Republic of
China (https://archive.org/details/greatbronzeageof0000unse). Metropolitan Museum of Art.
ISBN 978-0870992261.
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