Duke Huan of Lu (Chinese:魯桓公;pinyin:Lǔ Huán Gōng, died 14 April 694 BC), personal nameJi Yun orJi Gui, was a ruler of theLu state, reigning from 711 to 694 BC.[1][2]
| Duke Huan of Lu 魯桓公 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Ruler ofLu | |||||||||
| Reign | 711–14 April 694 BC | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Duke Yin of Lu | ||||||||
| Successor | Duke Zhuang of Lu | ||||||||
| Died | 14 April 694 BC | ||||||||
| Spouse | Wen Jiang (daughter ofDuke Xi of Qi) | ||||||||
| Issue | Duke Zhuang of Lu Qingfu (慶父) Shu Ya (叔牙) Ji You (季友) | ||||||||
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| House | Ji | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Lu | ||||||||
| Father | Duke Hui of Lu | ||||||||
| Mother | Zhong Zi (仲子, daughter ofDuke Wu of Song) | ||||||||
Early life
editDuke Huan was the son ofDuke Hui of Lu and his main wife Zhong Zi (仲子), daughter ofDuke Wu of theState of Song. Duke Hui also had another son, Xigu (laterDuke Yin of Lu), whose mother was a concubine. Although Xigu was the older son, Duke Huan was made the crown prince owing to the higher status of his mother.[2][3]
Accession to the throne
editIn 723 BC Duke Hui died after 46 years of reign. Although Duke Huan was the crown prince, he was then a little boy and his older half-brother Duke Yin ascended the throne with the understanding that he would rule as a regent until Duke Huan grew up.[1][2]
In 712 BC, Duke Yin's brother Prince Hui suggested that Duke Yin kill Duke Huan and permanently take the throne, but Duke Yin refused. Afraid that he would be killed if the word leaked out, Prince Hui went to Duke Huan and falsely accused Duke Yin of planning to kill him, offering to kill Duke Yin first. Duke Huan agreed. In the eleventh month of that year Prince Hui had Duke Yin assassinated when he was making sacrificial offerings, and Duke Huan ascended the throne as planned.[1][2]
Reign
editIn 709 BC, Duke Huan marriedWen Jiang, daughter ofDuke Xi ofQi, one of the most powerful states during theSpring and Autumn period. Three years later, Wen Jiang gave birth to a boy. The boy had the same birthday as his father, therefore he was given the name Tong, meaning "the same". Tong was made Crown Prince of Lu.[1][2]
In 696 BC, theState of Zheng was in turmoil. After trying unsuccessfully to kill the powerful minister Zhai Zhong,Duke Li of Zheng fled and Zhai installed Duke Li's half-brotherDuke Zhao of Zheng on the throne. Duke Huan of Lu andDuke Zhuang ofSong attacked Zheng in an attempt to restore Duke Li, but were defeated.[1][2]
Death and succession
editIn 698 BC Wen Jiang's fatherDuke Xi of Qi died and was succeeded by his sonDuke Xiang of Qi. Before her marriage to Duke Huan of Lu,Wen Jiang and her older half-brother Duke Xiang had had an incestuous relationship.[1][2][4]
In 694 BC, the eighteenth year of his reign, Duke Huan visited the State of Qi with his wife, and Duke Xiang and Wen Jiang renewed their sexual liaison. When Duke Huan found out about their relationship, Duke Xiang ordered his half brother Prince Pengsheng to murder Duke Huan when he was drunk.[1][2][4]
The people of Lu were incensed at Duke Xiang's crime, but could not do anything because Qi was a stronger state. To appease Lu, Duke Xiang had Pengsheng executed as a scapegoat. Crown Prince Tong, the son of Duke Huan and Wen Jiang, subsequently succeeded his father as ruler of Lu, to be known asDuke Zhuang of Lu.[1][2][4]
Other children
editBesides Duke Zhuang, Duke Huan and Wen Jiang had two other sons named Shu Ya (叔牙) and Ji You (季友). Duke Huan also had an older son named Qingfu (慶父) with a concubine. Qingfu, Shu Ya, and Ji You were founders of three powerful clans that later controlled the power of Lu. Together they were called theThree Huan for all being descendants of Duke Huan. Ji You's lineage, called Jisun or Ji, eventually formed the splinter state ofFei.[1][2][5]
Duke Huan of Lu was the ancestor ofMencius through Qingfu. He was descended fromDuke Yang of Lu, who was the son ofBo Qin, who was the son of theDuke of Zhou of theZhou dynasty royal family. The genealogy is found in the Mencius family tree (孟子世家大宗世系).[6][7][8]
References
edit- ^abcdefghiSima Qian.鲁周公世家 [House of Duke of Zhou of Lu].Records of the Grand Historian (in Chinese). Guoxue.com. Retrieved14 May 2012.
- ^abcdefghijHan Zhaoqi (韩兆琦), ed. (2010).Shiji(史记) (in Chinese). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. pp. 2639–2646.ISBN 978-7-101-07272-3.
- ^Zuo Qiuming (translated byJames Legge)."Book I. Duke Yin".Zuo Zhuan (in Chinese and English). University of Virginia. Retrieved16 May 2012. Chapter I.
- ^abcZuo Qiuming (translated byJames Legge)."Book II. Duke Huan".Zuo Zhuan (in Chinese and English). University of Virginia. Retrieved16 May 2012. Chapter XII.
- ^Zuo Qiuming (translated byJames Legge)."Book III. Duke Zhuang".Zuo Zhuan (in Chinese and English). University of Virginia. Retrieved16 May 2012.
- ^《三遷志》，（清）孟衍泰續修
- ^《孟子世家譜》，（清）孟廣均主編，1824年
- ^《孟子與孟氏家族》，孟祥居編，2005年
Duke Huan of Lu Cadet branch of theHouse of Ji Died: 694 BC | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Duke ofLu 711–694 BC | Succeeded by |