Life
In 597 BCE, Zhao Shuo participated in the Battle of Bi between the states of Jin and Chu. He was the commander of the lower army; one of the three armies of Jin. [1]
He was presumably murdered during the disaster of Xiagong. However, no other mentions of Zhao Shuo were found in Zuo Zhuan, the primary historical record of the Spring and Autumn period.
In 583 BCE, Duke Jing of Jin attacked the vassal State of Zhao. Xuanzi's brothers Zhao Tong and Zhao Kuo were killed. Han Jue lamented Zhao's imminent fall. He reasoned with Duke Jing by arguing that Xuanzi served loyally the state of Jin. According to Han Jue, Zhao Shuo had died before the year of 583 BCE. The only remaining successor was Zhao Wu, Zhao Shuo's son.
With the help of Han Jue, Zhao's power was restored and Zhao Wu succeeded his father. [2]
Jin, originally known as Tang (唐), was a major state during the middle part of the Zhou dynasty, based near the centre of what was then China, on the lands attributed to the legendary Xia dynasty: the southern part of modern Shanxi. Although it grew in power during the Spring and Autumn period, its aristocratic structure saw it break apart when the duke lost power to his nobles. In 403 BC, the Zhou court recognized Jin's three successor states: Han, Zhao, and Wei. The Partition of Jin marks the end of the Spring and Autumn period and the beginning of the Warring States period.
Zichan (c.581-522) was a Chinese statesman during the late Spring and Autumn period. From 543 until his death in 522 BCE, he served as the chief minister of the State of Zheng. Also known as Gongsun Qiao (traditional Chinese: 公孫僑; simplified Chinese: 公孙侨, he is better known by his courtesy name Zichan.
Marquess Wen of Wei, personal name Wei Si, was the founding marquess of the Wei state. He belonged to the Wei clan, one of the noble houses that dominated Jin politics in the 5th and 6th centuries BC.
The Five Hegemons, also referred to as the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period, refers to several especially powerful rulers of Chinese states of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history, sometimes alternatively referred to as the "Age of Hegemons". There are various lists of five hegemon rulers of those certain states which rose to power over the other states of this time period, states which were also formed during the period of dissolution of a once real and strong central state, namely the empire of the Zhou dynasty. The Hegemons mobilized the remnants of the Zhou empire, according to shared mutual political and martial interests. An especially prominent Hegemon was Duke Huan of Qi.
Duke Cheng of Lu, personal name Ji Heigong, was a ruler of the Lu state. A son of Duke Xuan of Lu and Mu Jiang, he reigned for 18 years from 590 BC to 573 BC. He was described as a weak ruler under the influence of his mother.
The Partition of Jin, the watershed between the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, refers to the division of the State of Jin between rival families into the three states of Han, Zhao and Wei. As a result, the three states were often referred to as the "Three Jins".
The State of Shen was a Chinese vassal state during the Zhou dynasty ruled by the Jiāng family (姜) as an earldom. At the beginning of the Spring and Autumn period the State of Shen was annexed by the State of Chu and became one of its counties.
Ying was a capital city of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods of Chinese history.
Sacrifice is a 2010 Chinese historical drama film directed by Chen Kaige, starring Ge You, Wang Xueqi, Huang Xiaoming, Fan Bingbing and Vincent Zhao. It is based on the Yuan dynasty play The Orphan of Zhao by Ji Junxiang. It was distributed in the United States by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
The Battle of An was fought during the Spring and Autumn period in 589 BC at Hua Hill in the area of the present-day city of Jinan, Shandong between the states of Qi and Jin. It ended in a victory for the state of Jin and eventually resulted in an alliance between the two states.
Duke Jing of Jin was the ruler of the State of Jin, a major power during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China, from 599 to 581 BC. His ancestral name was Ji, given name Ju and Duke Jing was his posthumous title. He succeeded his father Duke Cheng of Jin, who died in 600 BC.
Duke Ding of Jin was from 511 to 475 BC the ruler of the state of Jin, a major power during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. His ancestral name was Ji, given name Wu, and Duke Ding was his posthumous title. He succeeded his father, Duke Qing of Jin, who died in 512 BC.
Han Jue, also known by his posthumous name as the Viscount Xian of Han, was a leader of the Han clan in the Jin state, where he served as dafu (大夫). He was the son of Han Yu, whom he succeeded as Han clan leader.
Duke Qing of Qi was from 598 to 582 BC ruler of the State of Qi, a major power during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. His personal name was Lü Wuye (呂無野), ancestral name Jiang, and Duke Qing was his posthumous title.
Zhi Yao, also known as Xun Yao or Yao, Count of Zhi, also known by his posthumous name as the Viscount Xiang of Zhi, was the last leader of the Zhi clan in the Jin state. He was the son of Zhi Shen. He was the last zhongjunjiang of Jin before the state's partition.
Zhao Cui, also known by his posthumous name as the Viscount Cheng of Zhao, also known as Chengji (成季), was leader of the Zhao clan in the Jin state from 636 BC to 622 BC. He served as dafu (大夫) during the reign of Duke Wen of Jin.
Zhao Dun, also known by his posthumous name as the Viscount Xuan of Zhao (趙宣子), also known as Zhao Meng (趙孟), was a leader of the Zhao clan in the Jin state, where he served as dafu (大夫). He was a son of Zhao Cui, whom he succeeded as clan leader.
Zhao Wu, also known by his posthumous name as the Viscount Wen of Zhao, was a leader of the Zhao clan in the Jin state. He was the only son of Zhao Shuo, whom he succeeded as clan leader. The Chinese folktale The Orphan of Zhao was based on the story of Zhao Wu, which was adapted into the 18th century French play L'Orphelin de la Chine.
Han Qi, also known by his posthumous name as the Viscount Xuan of Han, was a leader of the Han clan in the Jin state. He was the son of Han Jue, and served as zhengqing (正卿) and zhongjunjiang of Jin between 541 and 514 BCE.
The State of Ni (郳國), also known as the state of Xiao Zhu (小邾國) or the state of Xiao Zhulou (小邾婁國), was segregated from Zhu (Zhulou), a vassal state of Lu, during Zhou dynasty. It was destroyed by Chu during the Warring States period.
