Xu (state)

This article is about the state 徐 in the Huai River valley. For the state 許 in modern Henan, see Xǔ (state).
State of Xu
徐
Unknown–512 BC
Xu at its greatest extent in the mid 8th century BC. 1) dark red: Xu heartland; 2) red: Xu-led Huaiyi confederation; 3) pink: Xu allies or under Xu influence.
Xu at its greatest extent in the mid 8th century BC.
1) dark red: Xu heartland; 2) red: Xu-led Huaiyi confederation; 3) pink: Xu allies or under Xu influence.
CapitalXu
Common languagesOld Chinese (lingua franca),[1] local languages[2]
Religion
Chinese folk religion
GovernmentMonarchy[3]
King 
• fl. 944 BC
Yan
• ?–512 BC
Zhangyu
Historical eraChinese Bronze Age, Spring and Autumn period
• Established
Unknown
c. 1042–1039 BC
• Zhou–Huaiyi War
c. 944–943 BC
• War of Ehou the Border Protector
c. 850 BC
645 BC
• Conquered by Wu
512 BC
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Dapeng (state)
Wu (state)
Chu (state)
Today part ofChina

The State of Xu (Chinese: 徐; pinyin: Xú) (also called Xu Rong (徐戎) or Xu Yi (徐夷)[a] by its enemies)[4][5] was an independent Huaiyi state of the Chinese Bronze Age[6] that was ruled by the Ying family (嬴) and controlled much of the Huai River valley for at least two centuries.[3][7] It was centered in northern Jiangsu and Anhui.

An ancient but originally minor state that already existed during the late Shang dynasty, Xu was subjugated by the Western Zhou dynasty around 1039 BC, and was gradually sinified from then on. It eventually regained its independence and formed a confederation of 36 states that became powerful enough to challenge the Zhou empire for supremacy over the Central Plain. Able to consolidate its rule over a territory that stretched from Hubei in the south, through eastern Henan, northern Anhui and Jiangsu, as far north as southern Shandong,[6] Xu's confederation remained a major power until the early Spring and Autumn period.[8][9] It reached its apogee in the mid 8th century BC, expanding its influence as far as Zhejiang in the south.[9] By that time, however, Xu's confederation began to break up as result of internal unrest. As its power waned, Xu was increasingly threatened by neighboring states, losing control over the Huai River to Chu. Reduced to its heartland, Xu was eventually conquered by Wu in 512 BC.[10]

  1. ^ Brindley (2015), p. 42.
  2. ^ Brindley (2015), pp. 41–44.
  3. ^ a b Shaughnessy (1999), pp. 323–325.
  4. ^ Bergeton (2006), pp. 12, 13.
  5. ^ "Chinese History - Yi 夷". Ulrich Theobald. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  6. ^ a b Shaughnessy (1999), p. 324.
  7. ^ Li (2006), pp. 103–105.
  8. ^ Li (2006), pp. 135–137.
  9. ^ a b Brindley (2015), p. 70.
  10. ^ Deng (2008), p. 33.


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