Duke Li of Chen (; reigned 706 BC – died 700 BC) was the fourteenth ruler of the

ancient Chinese state Ancient Chinese states () were typified by variously sized city-states and territories that existed in China prior to its unification by Qin Shi Huang in 221 BCE. In many cases these were vassal states and fiefs established in the '' fengjian'' s ...

of Chen during the early

Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...

. His ancestral surname was

Gui The GUI ( "UI" by itself is still usually pronounced . or ), graphical user interface, is a form of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and audio indicator such as primary notation, inste ...

, given name Yue (躍), and Li (厲) was his

posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary name given mostly to the notable dead in East Asian culture. It is predominantly practiced in East Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand. Reflecting on the person's accomplishments or ...

. Yue was a son of Duke Huan of Chen, who died under strange circumstances. He was believed to have become demented and went missing in the first month of 707 BC, before his body was found sixteen days later. The uncertainty threw the state into turmoil, and Duke Huan's younger brother

Chen Tuo Chen Tuo (; reigned 707 BC – died 706 BC), also known as Chen Ta (陳他) and Wufu (五父), was the thirteenth ruler of the ancient Chinese state of Chen (state), Chen during the early Spring and Autumn period. His given name was Tuo (佗) or ...

took the opportunity to murder Duke Li's elder brother

Crown Prince Mian Crown Prince Mian (; died 707 BC) was the eldest son and designated successor of Duke Huan of Chen, the twelfth ruler of the ancient Chinese state of Chen during the early Spring and Autumn period. His given name was Mian (免). In the first mont ...

and usurp the throne. Yue's mother was a princess of the neighbouring

State of Cai Cài (; Old Chinese: *s.r̥ˤat-s) was an ancient Chinese state established at the beginning of the Zhou dynasty, rising to prominence during the Spring and Autumn period, and destroyed early in the Warring States period. History Following hi ...

. After Chen Tuo's usurpation, the Cai army attacked Chen and killed Chen Tuo in 706 BC. The marquis of Cai then installed Yue on the Chen throne, to be known as Duke Li. Duke Li died in 700 BC, after a reign of seven years. He was succeeded by two of his younger brothers: Lin, Duke Zhuang of Chen, and Chujiu,

Duke Xuan of Chen Duke Xuan of Chen (; reigned 692 BC – died 648 BC) was the sixteenth ruler of the ancient Chinese state of Chen during the Spring and Autumn period. His ancestral surname was Gui, given name Chujiu (杵臼), and Xuan (宣) was his posthumous na ...

. Duke Li was the father of

Chen Wan Chen may refer to: People *Chen (surname) (陳 / 陈), a common Chinese surname * Chen (singer) (born 1992), member of the South Korean-Chinese boy band EXO * Chen Chen (born 1989), Chinese-American poet * (), a Hebrew first name or surname: * ...

, who later fled to Qi, a major state to the northeast of Chen, and established the Chen (Tian) clan there. The Chen clan of Qi grew increasingly powerful over the centuries, and eventually usurped the Qi throne.

References

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Li of Chen, Duke Monarchs of Chen (state) 8th-century BC Chinese monarchs 700 BC deaths