Western Guo (state)
Encyclopedia
The State of Western Guo was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty
. "Guo" seems to have been a kinship group that held at least five pieces of territory within the Zhou realm at various times.
After King Wu of Zhou
destroyed the Shang Dynasty in 1046 BCE, his two uncles received grants of land from King Wu’s father, King Wen of Zhou
. One, known as the State of Eastern Guo
was at Zhidi and the other, the State of Western Guo at Yongdi. The rulers of Western Guo held administrative positions in the court of the Zhou Kings through successive generations.
Due to harassment
and invasion by the Quanrong tribe
the State of Western Guo moved eastwards, eventually migrating to Sanmenxia
(三門峽/三门峡) in the Yellow River valley between Xi'an and Luoyang. A new capital was built at Shangyang (上阳) straddling both banks of the Yellow River
. Of the original land grant made to one of the uncles, Shangyang was called “Southern Guo” (南虢) and Xiayang (下阳) “Northern Guo” (北虢). Although Northern Guo was separated from Western Guo, they were still considered one state.
In 655 BCE the State of Western Guo was destroyed by the Duke Xian of Jin
. (Jin first asked permission of the state of Yu to pass through its territory. After conquering Guo it conquered Yu. This was one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems). The Guo leader Guo Gongchou fled to the Zhou capital Luoyang
along with some of the Guo nobility.
Some time later they arrived in the State of Wen at the home of Guo Gongchou’s father in law. Afterwards some of the nobility along with a number of civilians were captured by the Jin Army and taken to the area of what is now Fenyang City
, Shanxi Province
where they became a prominent family The remainder of the group either settled down in the locality or fled elsewhere.
At the same time, people in the State of Western Guo, with the help of the Qiang ethnic group, were attempting to build a new state amongst the ruins of the old one, known historically as Xiao Guo (小虢). This was the last in a total of five states called Guo.
In 687 BCE, during the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Qin
wiped out Xiao Guo.
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
. "Guo" seems to have been a kinship group that held at least five pieces of territory within the Zhou realm at various times.
After King Wu of Zhou
King Wu of Zhou
King Wu of Zhōu or King Wu of Chou was the first sovereign, or ruler of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1046-1043 BCE or 1049/45-1043. Various sources quoted that he died at the age of 93, 54 or 43. He was considered a just and able leader. Zhou Gong Dan was one of his...
destroyed the Shang Dynasty in 1046 BCE, his two uncles received grants of land from King Wu’s father, King Wen of Zhou
King Wen of Zhou
King Wen of Zhou family name : Ji , Clan name : Zhou Personal name: Chang, known as Zhou Chang or Xibo Chang was the founder of the Zhou Dynasty and the first epic hero of Chinese history....
. One, known as the State of Eastern Guo
Eastern Guo (state)
The State of Eastern Guo was an important Chinese vassal state in the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty .After King Wu of Zhou destroyed the Shang Dynasty in 1046 BCE, his two uncles received grants of land from King Wu’s father, King Wen of Zhou...
was at Zhidi and the other, the State of Western Guo at Yongdi. The rulers of Western Guo held administrative positions in the court of the Zhou Kings through successive generations.
Due to harassment
Harassment
Harassment covers a wide range of behaviors of an offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behaviour intended to disturb or upset, and it is characteristically repetitive. In the legal sense, it is intentional behaviour which is found threatening or disturbing...
and invasion by the Quanrong tribe
Quanrong
The Quǎnróng , literally "Dog Rong", were an ethnic group active in the north western part of China during the Zhōu and later dynasties. Their language is classified as part of the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages family....
the State of Western Guo moved eastwards, eventually migrating to Sanmenxia
Sanmenxia
-Administration:The prefecture-level city of Sanmenxia administers one district, two county-level cities and three counties.*Hubin District*Lingbao City*Yima City*Lushi County*Shan County*Mianchi County*Sanmenxia Development Zone...
(三門峽/三门峡) in the Yellow River valley between Xi'an and Luoyang. A new capital was built at Shangyang (上阳) straddling both banks of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
. Of the original land grant made to one of the uncles, Shangyang was called “Southern Guo” (南虢) and Xiayang (下阳) “Northern Guo” (北虢). Although Northern Guo was separated from Western Guo, they were still considered one state.
In 655 BCE the State of Western Guo was destroyed by the Duke Xian of Jin
Duke Xian of Jin
Duke Xian of Jin , Ancestral name is Ji, given name is Guizhu , was the nineteenth ruler of the State of Jin. He was also the ninth ruler of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period and the second duke of Jin. When his father, Duke Wu of Jin, died in 677 BC, Guizhu ascended the throne of Jin and became...
. (Jin first asked permission of the state of Yu to pass through its territory. After conquering Guo it conquered Yu. This was one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems). The Guo leader Guo Gongchou fled to the Zhou capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
along with some of the Guo nobility.
Some time later they arrived in the State of Wen at the home of Guo Gongchou’s father in law. Afterwards some of the nobility along with a number of civilians were captured by the Jin Army and taken to the area of what is now Fenyang City
Fenyang
Fenyang city , formerly as Fenyang County before 1996, is a county-level city under the administration of Lüliang prefecture-level city, in Shanxi Province, China....
, Shanxi Province
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
where they became a prominent family The remainder of the group either settled down in the locality or fled elsewhere.
At the same time, people in the State of Western Guo, with the help of the Qiang ethnic group, were attempting to build a new state amongst the ruins of the old one, known historically as Xiao Guo (小虢). This was the last in a total of five states called Guo.
In 687 BCE, during the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
wiped out Xiao Guo.
Rulers
| Name | Other Names | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Guo Shu (虢叔) | Younger brother of King Wen of Zhou King Wen of Zhou King Wen of Zhou family name : Ji , Clan name : Zhou Personal name: Chang, known as Zhou Chang or Xibo Chang was the founder of the Zhou Dynasty and the first epic hero of Chinese history.... |
|
| Intermediate Lineage Lost | ||
| Guo Cheng Gong (虢城公) | Contemporary with King Mu of Zhou King Mu of Zhou King Mu of Zhou or King Mu of Chou or Mu Wang or Mu Wang was the fifth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 976-922 BC or 956-918 BC.-Life:... (reigned c. 976 BC to c. 922 BCE) |
|
| Intermediate Lineage Lost | ||
| Duke Guo (虢公) | Contemporary with King Yi of Zhou King Yi of Zhou (Ji Xie) King Yi of Zhou or King I of Chou was the ninth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. Estimated dates of his reign are 885–878 BC or 865–858 BC.... (reigned c. 885 to c. 878 BCE) |
|
| Duke Li of Guo (虢厉公) | Patriach Guo Gong Chang (虢公長父), Guo Zhong (虢仲) | In the third year of the reign of King Li of Zhou King Li of Zhou King Li of Zhou was the tenth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. Estimated dates of his reign are 877–841 BC or 857–842 BC .... c. 874 BC-841 Duke Li suppressed the barbarian Huaiyi tribe (淮夷). The move to Sanmenxia Sanmenxia -Administration:The prefecture-level city of Sanmenxia administers one district, two county-level cities and three counties.*Hubin District*Lingbao City*Yima City*Lushi County*Shan County*Mianchi County*Sanmenxia Development Zone... begins. |
| Duke Xuan of Guo (虢宣公) | Guo Ji-zi Bai (虢季子白) | King Xuan of Zhou King Xuan of Zhou King Xuan of Zhou was the eleventh sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. Estimated dates of his reign are 827-782 BC or 827/25-782 BC.He worked to restore royal authority after the Gong He interregnum. He fought the 'Western Barbarians' and another group on the Huai River to the southeast. In... sent a punitive expedition against the Xianyun Xianyun The Xianyun is the name of an ancient nomadic tribe that invaded China during legenary times.They are usually associated with the Xiongnu.-Overview:... tribe (猃狁) and won an overwhelming victory. The move to Sanmenxia continues. |
| Duke Wen of Guo (虢文公) | Guo Ji (虢季) | Reprimanded by King Xuan of Zhou for failing to register ten thousand mu of land. |
| Guo Shi Fu (虢石甫) | Patriarch Guo Shi (虢石父), Guo Gong Gu (虢公鼓) | King You of Zhou King You of Zhou King You of Zhou was the twelfth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty and the last of Western Zhou Dynasty. He reigned from 781 to 771 BCE.In 780 BCE, a major earthquake hit Guanzhong... 's court was rife with corruption. |
| Guo Gong Han (虢公翰) | King Xie of Zhou King Xie of Zhou King Xie of ZhouChinese NamePinyin Zhōu Xié Wáng Traditional Chinese周攜王Simplified Chinese周攜王Family nameJī Personal nameYú Chén DynastyZhou Dynasty Livedto 760 or 750 BCE Reignedc. 770 to 760 or 750 BCE... set up his court at Xieyong (攜擁). |
|
| Patriarch Guo Gong Ji (虢公忌父) | Reinstated as a Titled Retainer (卿士) during the later years of King Ping of Zhou. | |
| Patriarch Guo Gong Lin (虢公林父) | Guo Zhong (虢仲) | Accompanied King Huan of Zhou King Huan of Zhou King Huan of Zhou was the fourteenth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty and the second of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.-Personal information: Family name Jī Given name Lín Era name none Grandfather... during the armed suppression of Duke Zhuang of Zheng Duke Zhuang of Zheng Duke Zhuang of Zheng was the third ruler of the State of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn Period in ancient China. His ancestral name is Ji,given name is Wusheng , which means "a difficult birth". In 743 BC, he became the duke of Zheng, and later defeated his brother Gongshu Duan, who had led a... . |
| Guo Gong Chou (虢公醜) | Guo Shu (虢叔) | In 655 BCE the State of Western Guo was destroyed by the State of Jin. |