Cai (state)

The State of Cài (zh-cpw|c=蔡國|p=Càiguó|w=Ts'ai Kuo) was a Chinese state during the Zhōu Dynasty (1122–256 BC), prominent in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) before being extinguished early in the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

History

The first king of the Zhōu, Wŭ (?-1043 BC) granted titles and territories to his younger brothers. One, Jī Dù, was crowned at present-day Shàngcài (上蔡), Zhùmǎdiàn, Hénán, China, and became known as Cài Shúdù ("Uncle Cai"). His son, Jī Hú (Cài Zhòng), established a capital at Shàngcài.

With only nominal central authority during the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Cài was forced to relocate several times after being invaded by State of Chǔ, first to Xīncài (新蔡) in 531 BC and eventually to Zhōulái (州來, in present-day Fèngtái [鳳台] , Huáinán, Ānhuī) at a place called Xiàcài (下蔡). King Huì of Chǔ State conquered Cài in 447 BC and its territory becme part of Chǔ's northern military frontier.

The Cài marquesses were allowed to migrate south of the Yangtze River to the area that is now Chángdé, Húnán and settle at a location called Gāocài (高蔡) but this rump state was abolished 80 years later.

Legacy

With the spread of surnames to all social classes in the Qín Empire established in 221 BC, many people of the former State of Cài took the surname of Cài in memory of their former state.

Since the end of the Cài state, its descendants have undertaken two major migrations. During the Huáng Cháo Rebellion (黃巢起義, AD 875) at the end of the Táng Dynasty (AD 618-907), the Cài clan migrated to Guǎngdōng and Fújiàn provinces. Another later migration occurred when Míng Dynasty loyalist Koxinga moved military officials surnamed Cài and their families to Taiwan in the 17th century. As a result, the surname Cài is far more common in these areas and in areas settled by their descendants than in other parts of China.

Rulers of Cài

Rulers of Cài were all of the Zhōu imperial Ji family and held the rank of "hóu" (marquis).

#Cài Shúdù (蔡叔度) (Jī Dù 姫度)
#Cài Zhòng (蔡仲) (Jī Hú 姫胡)
#Cài Bóhuāng (蔡伯荒) (Jī Bóhuāng 姫伯荒)
#Cài Gōnghóu (蔡宮侯)
#Cài Lìhóu (蔡厲侯)
#Cài Wǔhóu (蔡武侯) (863-837 BC)
#Cài Yíhóu (蔡夷侯) (837-809)
#Cài Líhóu (蔡釐侯) (Jī Suǒshì 姫所事) (809-761)
#Cài Gònghóu (蔡共侯) (Jī Xìng 姫興) (761-760)
#Cài Dàihóu (蔡戴侯) (759-750)
#Cài Xuānhóu (蔡宣侯) (Jī Cuòfù 姫措父) (749-715)
#Cài Huánhóu (蔡桓侯) (Jī Fēngrén 姫封人) (714-695)
#Cài Āihóu (蔡哀侯) (Jī Xiànwǔ 姫獻舞) (694-675)
#Cài Mùhóu (蔡穆侯) (Jī Xì 姫肸) (674-646)
#Cài Zhuānghóu (蔡莊侯) (Jī Jiǎwǔ 姫甲午) (645-612)
#Cài Wénhóu (蔡文侯) (Jī Shēn 姫申) (611-592)
#Cài Jǐnghóu (蔡景侯) (Jī Gù 姫固) (591-543)
#Cài Línghóu (蔡靈侯) (Jī Bān 姫般) (542-531)
#Cài Pínghóu (蔡平侯) (Jī Lú 姫廬) (530-522)
#Cài Dàohóu (蔡悼侯) (Jī Dōngguó 姫東國) (521-519)
#Cài Zhāohóu (蔡昭侯) (Jī Shēn 姫申) (518-491)
#Cài Chénghóu (蔡成侯) (Jī Shuò 姫朔) (490-472)
#Cài Shēnghóu (蔡聲侯) (Jī Chuǎn 姫産) (471-457)
#Cài Yuánhóu (蔡元侯) (456-451)
#Cài Hóuqí (蔡侯齊) (Jī Qí 姫齊) (450-447 BC)

References

* [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200609/20/eng20060920_304626.html "History of Chinese surnames: Cai"] at People's Daily Online. Accessed 10 December 2007.
* [http://www.dhcwz.com/zsyf/hzhn/jdzmd/cggc2.htm 古蔡国，走过坎坷六百年] zh icon