E (state)

State of E
鄂国/鄂國
State of E 鄂国/鄂國
~12th century BCE–863 BCE
Status	Kingdom
Capital	Xiangning County; >Nanyang, Henan Province; Ezhou, Hubei Province
Religion	Chinese folk religion, ancestor worship, Taoism
History
• Established	~12th century BCE
• Disestablished	863 BCE
Currency	Chinese coin, gold coins
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Zhou Dynasty
	Warring States Period
[[State of Chu]]
[[Qin Dynasty]]

Template:Chinese text

The State of È (simplified Chinese: 鄂国; traditional Chinese: 鄂國) was a vassal state in present-day central China from the time of the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE) until its overthrow in 863 BCE. E moved from its original location in what is now the southern province of Henan ^[1] into Hubei Province. Its leader was one of the Three Excellencies, high officials appointed by King Zhou of Shang^[2] during the late Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE)

Origin

There are a number of different theories about the origins of E, including that its original inhabitants were descended from the Baiyue ^[3] or the Daxi culture.^[4] Another theory claims that during the Shang Dynasty, descendants of the Yellow Emperor surnamed Jí (姞) were granted land by King Zhou of Shang around modern day Xiangning County, Shanxi Province that became the State of E.

History

King Zhou of Shang wanted to make the daughter of the Marquess of Jiu (九きゅう侯こう) an imperial concubine, but she was a dignified woman who regarded such a role as beneath her. In a fit of anger, King Zhou murdered both the Marquess and his daughter and turned the marquess’ body into mincemeat. The Marquess of E, seeing the injustice in the treatment of the Marquess of Jiu relinquished his vassalage to the Zhou Dynasty and was also murdered by King Zhou.

During the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046–771 BCE) the State of Jin moved into E’s territory forcing the state to move southwards into the northern part of modern day Nanyang City Henan Province. The relocation brought with it a threat from the powerful State of Chu, such that in the middle of the Western Zhou the State of E once more shifted south into Hubei Province, settling to the east of modern day Ezhou City.

Following a rebellion in the State of E, In 863 BCE, the seventh year of the reign of King Yi of Zhou, the ruler of the State of Chu Xiong Qu (熊くま渠みぞ) overthrew the State of E and conferred its former lands on his son Xiong Zhi (熊くま摯). The destruction of the State of E is recorded on an inscribed bronze Ding or tripod cauldron known as the Yu Ding (禹鼎).^[5]

Legacy

Xiong Zhi continued to live in Ezhou, Hubei Province, site of the former State of E, following the death of his father. The following five rulers of the State of Chu all resided in Ezhou whilst the sixth, Xiong E (熊くま鄂) deciding to make the location the alternative capital of Chu. King Gong of Chu (楚すわえ共ども王おう) (reigned 590–560 BC) made his third son Lord of E. In 323 BCE, the sixth year of the reign of King Huai of Chu (楚すわえ懷ふところ王おう), the king made his younger brother Xiong Qu (熊くま启) Lord of E. With the destruction of Chu by the State of Qin in 223, Ezhou became a county of Qin Shihuang’s new dynasty.
Today E (鄂) remains the shortened name for Hubei province.

References

^ "Data on the State of E (有ゆう关 "鄂"的てき部分ぶぶん资料)" (in Chinese). Retrieved October 21, 2010.
^ Sima Qian Records of the Grand Historian • Yin (Shang) Annals (史ふみ记•殷いん本ほん纪) p19.
^ "The States of [[Chu (state)|Chu]], E and the Ancient Yue People (楚すわえ国こく与あずか鄂国及古越えつ族ぞく)" (in Chinese). Retrieved October 22, 2010. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
^ "Investigation into the Origin of Hubei's Abbreviation "鄂" (湖北こほく的てき简称－－"鄂"溯源さくげん)" (in Chinese). {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
^ "Yu Ding: Evidence of the Extermination of the State of E during the Western Zhou Dynasty (禹鼎：西にし周あまね灭鄂国こく的てき见证)" (in Chinese). Retrieved October 23, 2010.

[1] "Data on the State of E (有ゆう关 "鄂"的てき部分ぶぶん资料)" (in Chinese). Retrieved October 21, 2010.

[2] Sima Qian Records of the Grand Historian • Yin (Shang) Annals (史ふみ记•殷いん本ほん纪) p19.

[3] "The States of [[Chu (state)|Chu]], E and the Ancient Yue People (楚すわえ国こく与あずか鄂国及古越えつ族ぞく)" (in Chinese). Retrieved October 22, 2010. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)

[4] "Investigation into the Origin of Hubei's Abbreviation "鄂" (湖北こほく的てき简称－－"鄂"溯源さくげん)" (in Chinese). {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)

[5] "Yu Ding: Evidence of the Extermination of the State of E during the Western Zhou Dynasty (禹鼎：西にし周あまね灭鄂国こく的てき见证)" (in Chinese). Retrieved October 23, 2010.

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