Marquess Jing of Han

Marquess Jing of Han
韓景侯
Marquess of Han
Reign403–400 BC
PredecessorNew title
SuccessorMarquess Lie
Leader of Han clan
Reign408–403 BC
PredecessorViscount Wu of Han (韓武子)
SuccessorBecame Marquess of Han
Died400 BC
Names
Ancestral name: (姬)
Lineage name: Hán (韓)
Given name: Qián (虔)
Posthumous name
Marquess Jing (景侯)
HouseJi
DynastyHan
FatherViscount Wu of Han
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese韓景侯
Simplified Chinese韩景侯
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHán Jǐng Hóu

Marquess Jing of Han (Chinese: 韓景侯; pinyin: Hán Jǐng Hóu; died 400 BC), personal name Han Qian, was leader of the Han clan in the Jin state from 408 BC to 403 BC, and the founding marquess of the Han state from 403 BC until his death in 400 BC. Marquess Jing was the son of Viscount Wu of Han (韓武子), whom he succeeded as leader of the Han clan. It was during Marquess Jing's rule that the Han state became a recognized vassal state of the Zhou dynasty.

In the first year of his reign, Marquess Jing attacked the Zheng state and took over Yongqiu (modern-day Qi County, Henan). The next year, his army lost to Zheng at Fushu (today's Dengfeng, Henan). In 403 BC, Marquess Jing, along with Marquess Wen of Wei and Marquess Lie of Zhao partitioned the powerful Jin state into the Han, Wei, and Zhao states, marking the beginning of the Warring States period of Chinese history and Han as an independent polity. King Weilie of Zhou was forced to elevate Marquess Jing's title from viscount (子) to marquess (侯). Marquess Jing then moved the capital of Han from Pingyang to Yangzhai. In 400 BC, Yangzhai was subject to a siege by the Zheng army. Marquess Jing died later that year and was succeeded by his son, Marquess Lie.