Template:Short description {{#invoke:Infobox|infoboxTemplate |templatestyles = Template:Infobox country/styles.css | bodyclass = ib-country vcard | aboveclass = adr | above = {{#if:ZhengTemplate:Aut

    | {{#if:Zheng

|

Zheng
       }}{{#if:Template:Aut

|

              }}{{#ifeq:|yes
              |Micronation
       }}

|

}}

| subheader = {{#if: | {{{life_span}}} | {{#if:806 BC|806 BC{{#if:375 BC|–375 BC }} }} }}

| image1 = {{#if:

 |Template:Infobox country/imagetable }}

| data1 = {{#if:

|Motto: Template:If empty{{#if:|

{{{englishmotto}}}

}}

   }}

| class2 = anthem | data2 = {{#if:

       |Anthem: Template:If empty
       }}{{#if:
       |Anthems: {{{anthems}}}
       }}{{#if:
       |
Royal anthem: {{{royal_anthem}}}
       }}{{#if:
       |
Flag anthem: {{{flag_anthem}}}
       }}{{#if:
       |
National march: {{{national_march}}}
       }}{{#if:
       |
Territorial anthem: {{{territorial_anthem}}}
       }}{{#if:
       |
Regional anthem: {{{regional_anthem}}}
       }}{{#if:
       |
State anthem: {{{state_anthem}}}
       }}{{#if:
       |
March: {{{march}}}
       }}

| data3 = {{#if:

    |{{#if:
              | Template:If empty
}}Template:If empty }}

| data4 = {{#if:States of Zhou Dynasty.png

|{{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=States of Zhou Dynasty.png|size=|upright=1.15|alt=|title=Map of states in Zhou dynasty including Zheng }}{{#if:Map of states in Zhou dynasty including Zheng|

Map of states in Zhou dynasty including Zheng

}} }}

| data5 = {{#if:

|{{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|size=|upright=1.15|alt=|title=Location of Zheng }}{{#if:|

}} }}

| label6 = Status | data6 = {{#if:Duchy|Template:Infobox country/status text }}

| label7 = Location | data7 =

| label8 = {{#if: | {{{capital_type}}} | Capital }}{{#ifeq: {{#ifeq:|capital

                        |capital|{{#switch:Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭) | [[]] = capital | = capital | not capital

}}}}|capital |

and largest city
             }}

| data8 = {{#if:Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭)|Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭){{#if:|
{{#invoke:Coordinates|coordinsert|{{{coordinates}}}|type:city}}}} }}

| rowclass9 = {{#if:Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭)|mergedrow}} | label9 = Capital-in-exile | data9 = {{#ifexist:|[[]]|}}

| rowclass10 = {{#if:Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭)|mergedrow}} | label10 = {{#if:| {{{admin_center_type}}} | Administrative center }} | data10 = {{#switch:

 |capital | =
 |[[Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭)]] = |Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭) = |#default = {{{admin_center}}}{{#if:Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭)||{{#if:|
{{#invoke:Coordinates|coordinsert|{{{coordinates}}}|type:city}}}} }} }}

| rowclass11 = {{#if:Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭)|mergedbottomrow}} | label11 = Largest city | data11 = {{#ifeq: {{#ifeq:|capital

                        |capital|{{#switch:Zheng (鄭)
Xinzheng (新鄭) | [[]] = capital | = capital | not capital }}}}|capital | | Template:If empty }}

| rowclass12 = mergedtoprow | label12 = Official languages | data12 = | rowclass13 = mergedrow | label13 = {{#if:|Recognized|Recognised}} languages | data13 = Template:If empty | rowclass14 = mergedrow | label14 = {{#if:|Recognized|Recognised}} national languages | data14 = Template:If empty | rowclass15 = mergedrow | label15 = {{#if:|Recognized|Recognised}} regional languages | data15 = Template:If empty | label16 = Common languages | data16 = Old Chinese


| rowclass17 = {{#ifeq:|yes

          |{{#ifeq:|yes |mergedrow}}
          |{{#ifeq:|yes |mergedbottomrow}} }}

| label17 ={{#ifeq:|yes

|

 |Template:If empty
 }}

| data17 =

| rowclass18 = {{#ifeq:|yes |mergedbottomrow}} | label18 = {{#ifeq:|yes

|

 |Template:If empty
 }}

| data18 =

| label19 = Ethnic groups {{#if: |

({{{ethnic_groups_year}}})

|

}}

| data19 =

| label20 = Religion {{#if: |

({{{religion_year}}})

|

}}

| data20 = Taoism, Animism, ancestor worship

| label21 = Demonym(s) | data21 = {{#if:

 |{{#ifexist:{{{demonym}}} people
    | [[{{{demonym}}} people|{{{demonym}}}]]
    | {{{demonym}}}
   }}
 }}

| label22 = Type | data22 =

| label23 = Template:If empty | data23 =

| label24 = {{#if:Monarchy

    | {{#if:
              | [[{{{politics_link}}}|{{#ifeq:|yes|Organizational structure|Government}}]]| {{#ifexist:Politics of Zheng
                 | {{#ifeq:|yes|Organizational structure|Government}}| {{#ifeq:|yes|Organizational structure|Government}}}}}}}}

| data24 = Monarchy

| header25 = {{#if:Monarchy || {{#if:

       | {{#if:
          | Leaders          
          | Government 
         }} 
       }} }}

| rowclass26 = mergedrow | data26 = {{#if:|Template:Infobox country/multirow }}

| rowclass27 = mergedrow | label27 = {{#if:Duke| Duke }} | data27 = {{#if:Duke| }} | rowclass28 = mergedrow | data28 = {{#if:806–771 BC | Template:Infobox country/multirow }}

| rowclass29 = mergedrow | label29 = {{#if:| {{{title_representative}}} }} | data29 = {{#if:| }} | rowclass30 = mergedrow | data30 = {{#if:|Template:Infobox country/multirow }}

| rowclass31 = mergedrow | label31 = {{#if:| }} | data31 = {{#if:| }} | rowclass32 = mergedrow | data32 = {{#if:|Template:Infobox country/multirow }}

| label40 = Legislature | data40 = | rowclass41 = mergedrow

| label41 =

• {{#if:|{{{type_house1}}}|Upper house}}

| data41 = | rowclass42 = mergedbottomrow

| label42 =

• {{#if:|{{{type_house2}}}|Lower house}}

| data42 =

| rowclass43 = {{#if: |mergedtoprow}} | header43 = {{#if:

  |{{#if:

| {{{sovereignty_type}}}{{#if: | 

{{{sovereignty_note}}}

}}

     | {{#if:| | Establishment }}
 }} }}

| label44 = Establishment | data44 = {{#if:

     |
     |
     }}

| label45 = {{#if:|Historical era|History}} | data45 = {{#if: |{{#ifexist:|[[]]|}} | {{#if:806 BC| }}}}

| rowclass46 = {{#if: |mergedrow |mergedbottomrow}} | data46 = {{#if:|Template:Infobox country/multirow }}

| rowclass47 = {{#if:806 BC |mergedrow |mergedbottomrow}} | data47 = {{#if:806 BC|Template:Infobox country/multirow }}

| rowclass60 = mergedtoprow | header60 = {{#if:

 | {{#if:
              | [[{{{area_link}}}|Area {{#ifeq:|yes|claimed|}}]]
              | {{#ifexist:Geography of Zheng
                 | Area {{#ifeq:|yes|claimed|}}
                 | Area {{#ifeq:|yes|claimed|}}}}}} }}

| rowclass61 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}}

| label61 =

• Total

| data61 = {{#if:

 |{{#if:
    |Template:Convinfobox
    |{{#if:
       |Template:Convinfobox
     }}
  }}{{#if: | ({{{area_rank}}}) }}
 }}

| rowclass62 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}}

| label62 =

• Land

| data62 = {{#if:

 |{{#if:
    |Template:Convinfobox
    |{{#if:
       |Template:Convinfobox
     }}
  }}
 }}

| rowclass63 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}}

| label63 =

• Water

| data63 = {{#if:

 |{{#if:
    |Template:Convinfobox
    |{{#if:
       |Template:Convinfobox
     }}
  }}
 }}

| rowclass64 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}}

| label64 =

• Water (%)

| data64 =

| rowclass65 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}}

| label65 =

• 

| data65 = {{#if:| }}

| rowclass66 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}}

| label66 =

• 

| data66 = {{#if:| }}

| rowclass67 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}} | label67 = | data67 = {{#if: | Template:Convinfobox }}

| rowclass68 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}} | label68 = | data68 = {{#if: | Template:Convinfobox }}

| rowclass69 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}} | label69 = | data69 = {{#if: | Template:Convinfobox }}

| rowclass70 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}} | label70 = | data70 = {{#if: | Template:Convinfobox }}

| rowclass71 = {{#if:|mergedrow|mergedbottomrow}} | label71 = | data71 = {{#if: | Template:Convinfobox }}

| rowclass72 = mergedrow

| label72 =

• {{{FR_metropole}}}

| data72 = {{#if:| }}

| rowclass73 = mergedrow

| label73 =

• IGN

| data73 = {{#if:

 |{{#if:
    |Template:Convinfobox{{#if:| ([[List of countries and dependencies by area|]])}}
  }}
}}

| rowclass89 = mergedbottomrow

| label89 =

| data89 = {{#if:

 |{{#if:
    | Template:Convinfobox{{#if:| ([[List of countries and dependencies by area|]])}}
  }}
}}

| rowclass90 = mergedtoprow | header90 = {{#if:

    |{{#if:
              | {{#ifeq:{{{population_link}}}|no|Population|[[{{{population_link}}}|Population]]}}| {{#ifexist:Demographics of Zheng
                 | Population| Population}}}} }}

| rowclass91 = mergedrow

| label91 =

• {{#if: |{{{population_estimate_year}}} estimate|Estimate}}

| data91 = {{#if:

       |{{{population_estimate}}}{{#if: | ({{{population_estimate_rank}}})}}
       }}

| rowclass92 = mergedrow

| label92=

• 

| data92= {{#if:|}}

| rowclass93= mergedrow

| label93=

• 

| data93= {{#if:|}}

| rowclass94= mergedrow | data94= {{#if:|Template:Infobox country/multirow }}


| rowclass95= mergedrow

| label95=

• {{#if: |{{{population_census_year}}} census|Census}}

| data95= {{#if:

 |{{{population_census}}}{{#if: | ({{{population_census_rank}}})}}
 }}

| rowclass96= mergedrow | label96 = {{#if:|{{#if:|Template:Nobold}}}} | data96 = {{#if:|{{#if:|}}}}

| rowclass97 = mergedrow

| label97=

• Total

| data97= {{#if:|{{#if:

|{{{FR_total_population_estimate}}}{{#if:| ({{{FR_total_population_estimate_rank}}})}}
 }} }}

| rowclass98 = mergedrow

| label98=

• {{{FR_metropole}}}

| data98= {{#if:|{{{FR_metropole_population}}}{{#if:

| ({{{FR_metropole_population_estimate_rank}}})}}
}}

| rowclass99 = mergedbottomrow

| label99=

• Density

| data99= {{#if:

    | Template:Convinfobox{{#if: | ({{{population_density_rank}}})}}
    }}

| rowclass100 = {{#if:|mergedbottomrow|mergedtoprow}} | label100 = Membership | data100=

| rowclass101= mergedtoprow | label101= {{#ifeq:|yes|Claimed|}} GDP Template:Nobold | data101= {{#if:

    |{{#if: |{{{GDP_PPP_year}}} }}estimate
    }}

| rowclass102= mergedrow

| label102=

• Total

| data102= {{#if:

    |{{{GDP_PPP}}}{{#if: | ({{{GDP_PPP_rank}}})}}
    }}

| rowclass103= mergedbottomrow

| label103=

• Per capita

| data103= {{#if:

    |{{{GDP_PPP_per_capita}}}{{#if: | ({{{GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank}}})}}
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| rowclass104= mergedtoprow | label104= {{#ifeq:|yes|Claimed|}} GDP Template:Nobold | data104= {{#if:

  |{{#if: |{{{GDP_nominal_year}}} }}estimate
  }}

| rowclass105= mergedrow

| label105=

• Total

| data105= {{#if:

    |{{{GDP_nominal}}}{{#if: | ({{{GDP_nominal_rank}}})}}
    }}

| rowclass106= mergedbottomrow

| label106=

• Per capita

| data106= {{#if:

       | {{{GDP_nominal_per_capita}}}{{#if: | ({{{GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank}}})}}
      }}

| label107= Gini{{#if: | Template:Nobold}} | data107= {{#if:

    | {{#switch:
             |increase = Template:IncreaseNegative |decrease = Template:DecreasePositive |steady = Template:Steady }}{{{Gini}}}
Template:Nowrap{{#if: | ({{{Gini_rank}}})}}}}

| label108= HDI{{#if: | Template:Nobold}} | data108= {{#if:

    | {{#switch:
             |increase = Template:Increase |decrease = Template:Decrease |steady = Template:Steady }}{{{HDI}}}
Template:Nowrap{{#if: | ({{{HDI_rank}}})}}}}

| label109= {{#ifeq:|yes|Purported currency|Currency}} | data109= {{#if:Chinese coin; Spade coin

    | Chinese coin; Spade coin {{#if: |({{{currency_code}}})}}
  }}

| rowclass119= {{#if: |mergedtoprow}} | label119= Time zone | data119= {{#if:

    |Template:Nowrap {{#if:|({{{time_zone}}})}}
    |
    }}

| rowclass120= {{#if: |mergedrow |mergedbottomrow}}

| label120=

• Summer (DST)

| data120= {{#if:

    |Template:Nowrap {{#if:|({{{time_zone_DST}}})|{{#if:|({{{DST}}})}}}}
    |{{#if:|{{{time_zone_DST}}}|}}
    }}

| rowclass121= mergedbottomrow | label121= | data121=

| label122 = Antipodes | data122=

| label123 = Date format | data123=


| label126= {{#if:

   |{{#ifexist:Telephone numbers in Zheng
              | Calling code
              | Calling code
             }}
  }}

| data126=

| label127= ISO 3166 code | data127= {{#switch:

    |omit = 
    | = {{#if:Zheng
             | {{#if:Template:ISO 3166 code
                | [[ISO 3166-2:Template:ISO 3166 code|Template:ISO 3166 code]]
               }}
            }}
    |#default = [[ISO 3166-2:{{{ISO3166CODE}}}|{{{ISO3166CODE}}}]]
   }}

| label128= Internet TLD | data128=

| data129 = {{#if:

|

Website
{{{official_website}}}
    }}

| data130= {{#if:

| {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|size=|upright=1.15|alt=|title=Location of Zheng }}{{#if:|

}}

 }}

| data134 = {{#if:Zhou dynastyHan (Warring States)

             |Template:Infobox country/formernext

}}

| label135 = Today part of | data135 =

| data136 = {{#if:

|

    {{#if:|
  1. }}{{#if:|
  2. }}{{#if:|
  3. }}{{#if:|
  4. }}{{#if:|
  5. }}{{#if:|
  6. }}{{#if:|
  7. }}{{#if:|
  8. }}

}}

| data137 = {{#if:

|

    {{#if:|
  1. }}{{#if:|
  2. }}{{#if:|
  3. }}{{#if:|
  4. }}{{#if:|
  5. }}{{#if:|
  6. }}{{#if:|
  7. }}{{#if:|
  8. }}

}} | data138 = {{#if:|

{{{footnotes}}}{{#if:|
{{{footnotes2}}}}}

}}

| belowclass = mergedtoprow noprint | below = {{#if:| Template:Navbar }} }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox country with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| admin_center_type | admin_center | alt_coat | alt_flag | alt_flag2 | alt_map | alt_map2 | alt_map3 | alt_symbol | anthem | anthems | antipodes | area_acre | area_data2 | area_data3 | area_footnote | area_ha | area_km2 | area_label | area_label2 | area_label3 | area_land_acre | area_land_footnote | area_land_ha | area_land_km2 | area_land_sq_mi | area_link | area_rank | area_sq_mi | area_water_acre | area_water_footnote | area_water_ha | area_water_km2 | area_water_sq_mi | regexp1 = border_[ps][%d]+ | calling_code | capital_exile | capital_type | capital | cctld | coa_size | coat_alt | common_languages | common_name | conventional_long_name | coordinates | currency_code | currency | date_end | regexp2 = date_event[%d]+ | date_format | date_post | date_pre | date_start | demonym | regexp3 = deputy[%d]+ | drives_on | DST_note | DST | empire | englishmotto | era | regexp4 = established_date[%d]+ | regexp5 = established_event[%d]+ | established | ethnic_groups_ref | ethnic_groups_year | ethnic_groups | event_end | event_post | event_pre | event_start | regexp6 = event[%d]+ | flag| flag_alt | flag_alt2 | flag_border | flag_caption | flag_caption | regexp7 = flag_[ps][%d]+ | flag_size | flag_type | flag_type_article | flag_width | flag2_border | regexp8 = footnote_[a-h] | regexp9 = footnote[%d]+ | footnotes | footnotes2 | FR_cadastre_area_km2 | FR_cadastre_area_rank | FR_cadastre_area_sq_mi | FR_foot | FR_foot2 | FR_foot3 | FR_foot4 | FR_foot5 | FR_IGN_area_km2 | FR_IGN_area_rank | FR_IGN_area_sq_mi | FR_metropole_population_estimate_rank | FR_metropole_population | FR_metropole | FR_total_population_estimate_rank | FR_total_population_estimate_year | FR_total_population_estimate | GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank | GDP_nominal_per_capita | GDP_nominal_rank | GDP_nominal_year | GDP_nominal | GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank | GDP_PPP_per_capita | GDP_PPP_rank | GDP_PPP_year | GDP_PPP | Gini_change | Gini_rank | Gini_ref | Gini_year | Gini | government_type | HDI_change | HDI_rank | HDI_ref | HDI_year | HDI | house1 | house2 | image_coat | image_flag | image_flag2 | image_map_alt | image_map_caption | image_map_size | image_map | image_map2_alt | image_map2_caption | image_map2_size | image_map2 | image_map3 | regexp10 = image_[ps][%d]+ | image_symbol | iso3166code | languages_sub | languages_type | languages | languages2_sub | languages2_type | languages2 | largest_city | largest_settlement_type | largest_settlement | regexp11 = leader_name[%d]+ | regexp12 = leader_title[%d]+ | regexp13 = leader[%d]+ | legislature | life_span | linking_name | location_map | loctext | lower_house | map_caption | map_caption2 | map_caption3 | map_width | map2_width | map3_width | membership_type | membership | micronation | motto | name | national_anthem | national_languages | national_motto | native_name | navbar | nummembers | official_languages | official_website | org_type | other_symbol_type | other_symbol | regexp14 = [ps][%d]+ | patron_saint | patron_saints | percent_water | politics_link | pop_den_footnote | population_census_rank | population_census_year | population_census | population_data2 | population_data3 | population_density_km2 | population_density_rank | population_density_sq_mi | population_estimate_rank | population_estimate_year | population_estimate | population_label2 | population_label3 | population_link | recognised_languages | recognised_national_languages | recognised_regional_languages | recognized_languages | recognized_national_languages | regexp15 = ref_area[%d]+ | regexp16 = ref_pop[%d]+ | regional_languages | recognized_regional_languages | religion_ref | religion_year | religion | regexp17 = representative[%d]+ | royal_anthem | flag_anthem | march | national_march | regional_anthem | territorial_anthem | state_anthem | sovereignty_note | sovereignty_type | regexp18 = stat_area[%d]+ | regexp19 = stat_pop[%d]+ | regexp20 = stat_year[%d]+ | status_text | status | symbol| symbol_type_article | symbol_type | symbol_width | text_symbol_type | text_symbol | time_zone_DST | time_zone | title_deputy | title_leader | title_representative | today | type_house1 | type_house2 | upper_house | utc_offset_DST | utc_offset | regexp21 = year_deputy[%d]+ | year_end | year_exile_end | year_exile_start | regexp22 = year_leader[%d]+ | regexp23 = year_representative[%d]+ | year_start}}Template:Main other{{#if:|{{#ifeq:Duchy|Colony|Template:Main other|{{#ifeq:Duchy|Exile|Template:Main other}}}} }}

Template:Infobox Chinese

Zheng (Template:IPAc-en; Template:Zh; Old Chinese: *{{#invoke:IPA|main}}) was a vassal state in China during the Zhou dynasty (1046–221 BCE) located in the centre of ancient China in modern-day Henan Province on the North China Plain about Template:Convert east of the royal capital at Luoyang. It was the most powerful of the vassal states at the beginning of the Eastern Zhou (771–701 BCE), and was the first state to clearly establish a code of law in its late period of 543 BCE. Its ruling house had the ancestral name Ji (姬), making them a branch of the Zhou royal house, who held the rank of Bo ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), a kinship term meaning "elder".

FoundationEdit

Zheng was founded in 806 BC when King Xuan of Zhou, the penultimate king of the Western Zhou, made his younger brother Prince You ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) Duke of Zheng and granted him lands within the royal domain in the eponymous Zheng in modern-day Hua County, Shaanxi on the Wei River east of Xi'an. Prince You, known posthumously as Duke Huan of Zheng, established what would be the last bastion of Western Zhou. He went on to serve as Situ under King You of Zhou. When the Quanrong tribes sacked the Zhou capital Haojing in 771 BC, Duke Huan was killed along with his nephew King You of Zhou.

Duke Huan was succeeded by his son Duke Wu ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}). Along with Marquis Wen of Jin, Duke Wu supported King Ping of Zhou against a rival, thereby helping to establish the Eastern Zhou. He re-established the state of Zheng in modern-day Xinzheng (meaning New Zheng), Henan, and annexed the state of Eastern Guo and defeated Kuai. The Zheng rulers served as high ministers of the Zhou kings for several generations.<ref name="BaiShouyi">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="HGCreel">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="RLWalker">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="chinaKnowledge">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Spring and Autumn periodEdit

Early dominanceEdit

The state of Zheng was one of the strongest at the beginning of the Spring and Autumn period. Throughout the Spring and Autumn period, Zheng was one of the wealthiest states, relying on its central location for inter-state commerce and having the largest number of merchants of any state. Zheng often used its wealth to bribe itself out of difficult situations.

Duke Zhuang of Zheng (743–701 BC) was arguably a forerunner of the Five Hegemons, though Zheng derived its dominance by dramatically different means compared to those of the later hegemons by defeating an alliance of feudal states led by Zhou itself and wounding King Huan of Zhou. When Duke Zhuang died there was a civil war between his sons and Zheng ceased to be a powerful state.<ref>Hsu Cho-yun, "The Spring and Autumn period", pp. 551-552, in Cambridge History of Ancient China (1999).</ref>

Zheng Wen Gong wen Tai BoEdit

This bamboo manuscript records a conversation about Zheng history between Duke Wen of Zheng (Template:Reigned 672–628 BCE) and the elderly Tai Bo. Zheng state's beginning under Duke Huan (Template:Reigned 806–771) is recalled by Tai Bo. Duke Huan's son Duke Wu (Template:Reigned 770–744) moved Zheng state east. Its neighboring states acknowledged Zheng as a paramount power. Duke Zhuang (Template:Reigned 743–701) furthered Zheng state's position of dominance.

When Duke Zhuang died his elder son Duke Zhao (Template:Reigned 701, 697–695) took his place. Yet the powerful Zhai Zhong favored his younger son Duke Li (Template:Reigned 701–697, 680–673) and deposed Zhao to install him. Li, however, later failed to wrest control from Zhai Zhong and was pushed into exiled. After a few years Duke Zhengzi Ying (Template:Reigned 694–680), Li's younger brother, became the nominal ruler of Zheng, until he was assassinated. Duke Li then returned to rule.

Zheng Wen Gong was the son of Duke Li. At his father's death, Wen's succession was fraught with difficulties. He tells of the help given him by Tai Bo. It allowed Wen to reside in the traditional shed of mourning for his father, and so begin his 45-year rule [672-628].

Yet Tai Bo criticized Duke Wen for his seeking the ease of domestic pleasure. The Duke's principle consort Lady Mi came from Chu state. At times during the rule of Duke Wen, the affairs of Zheng fell under the influence of this powerful state to the south, Chu.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Shaughnessy (2023) refers to an episode in the Zuo Zhuan for Lady Mi: Duke Xi, 22 (638 BCE), i.e., Legge (1983), p.183: "the ladies Me and Këang, wives of Wǎn, the earl of Ch'ing" [that is: Mi, Wen, Zheng].</ref>

Later periodEdit

File:Chinese plain 5c. BC-en.svg
Chinese states, 5th century BCE

As competition between states intensified, Zheng had no room to expand. Due to its central location, Zheng was hemmed in on all sides by larger states.

During the later stages of the Spring and Autumn period, its territory became of pivotal interest in the rivalry of more powerful states. Zheng was often compelled to switch its diplomatic alliances. It had become a focus of contention between Chu and Qi, then later Chu and Jin. By the 7th century BCE Zheng found itself forced into a minor role.

Notwithstanding, Zheng remained quite strong into the middle and later years of the Spring and Autumn. Under Duke Mu (Template:Reigned) Zheng managed to defeat a combined alliance of Jin, Song, Chen and Wei in 607 BCE.

Zheng's prime minister Zichan (543–522) became widely known as a leading statesman among the rival states of the era. Zichan was a grandson of Duke Mu. Zheng was also widely recognized as the first state of China to publish its laws, in bronze in 536 BCE.

Zheng later declined, due to disorders from conflicts among as its feuding clans. In 375 BCE during the following Warring States period Zheng was annexed by Han state.<ref name="BaiShouyi" /><ref name="HGCreel" /><ref name="RLWalker" /><ref name="chinaKnowledge">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

XingyangEdit

The Zheng family of Xingyang 荥阳郑氏 claim descent from the Zhou dynasty kings through the rulers of the State of Zheng.

The Marquis of Xingyang rank was created for Zheng Xi.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Xingyang Zheng descendants included Zheng Daozhao and Zheng Xi.<ref name="Harrist2008">Template:Cite book</ref> Zheng Wanjun was a member of the Xingyang Zheng.<ref name="Chen2007">Template:Cite book</ref> Other Xingyang Zheng descendants were Zheng Yuzhong (Zheng Qiao)<ref name="Si2008">Template:Cite book</ref> and Zheng Jiong.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

List of rulersEdit

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Title Given name Reign
Duke Huan of Zheng
鄭桓公
Yǒu
806–771 BC
Duke Wu of Zheng
鄭武公
Juétú
掘突
770–744 BC
Duke Zhuang of Zheng
鄭莊公
Wùshēng
寤生
743–701 BC
Duke Zhao of Zheng
鄭昭公

701 BC
Duke Li of Zheng
鄭厲公

700–697 BC
Duke Zhao of Zheng (second reign)
鄭昭公

696–695 BC
Zheng-zi Wei
鄭子亹
Wěi
694 BC
Zheng-zi Ying
鄭子嬰
Yīng
693–680 BC
Duke Li of Zheng (second reign)
鄭厲公

679–673 BC
Duke Wen of Zheng
鄭文公
Jié
672–628 BC
Duke Mu of Zheng
鄭穆公
Lán
627–606 BC
Duke Ling of Zheng
鄭靈公

605 BC
Duke Xiang of Zheng
鄭襄公
Jiān
604–587 BC
Duke Dao of Zheng
鄭悼公
Fèi
586–585 BC
Duke Cheng of Zheng
鄭成公
Gùn
584–581 BC
Prince Xu of Zheng
公子繻

581 BC
Duke Xi of Zheng
鄭僖公
Yùn
581 BC
Duke Cheng of Zheng (second reign)
鄭成公
Gùn
581–571 BC
Duke Xi of Zheng (second reign)
鄭僖公
Yùn
570–566 BC
Duke Jian of Zheng
鄭簡公
Jiā
565–530 BC
Duke Ding of Zheng
鄭定公
Níng
529–514 BC
Duke Xian of Zheng
鄭獻公
Dǔn
513–501 BC
Duke Sheng of Zheng
鄭聲公
Shèng
500–463 BC
Duke Ai of Zheng
鄭哀公

462–455 BC
Duke Gong of Zheng
鄭共公
Chǒu
455–424 BC
Duke You of Zheng
鄭幽公

423 BC
Duke Xu of Zheng
鄭繻公
Tái
422–396 BC
Duke Kang of Zheng
鄭康公

395–375 BC

Rulers family treeEdit

Template:Family tree of Zheng state

Other people from ZhengEdit

  • Zichan, celebrated philosopher and statesman
  • Zheng Mao ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), exemplary woman of the Lienü zhuan
  • Shen Buhai 申不害, future Prime Minister of Han and "Legalist" philosopher.

ReferencesEdit

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Further readingEdit

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Template:Refend Template:Zhou Dynasty topics