Tan (; 1046–684 BCE) was an ancient state located in present-day

Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...

Province, China. It is the first state reported to be "extinguished" during the Spring and Autumn period.

Foundation

In 1046 BCE, Zhou, the last king of the Shang Dynasty, was defeated at the Battle of Muye by King Wu, founder of the Zhou Dynasty. Following this victory, he founded a number of small subordinate vassal states It is estimated that there were some 170 vassal states established during the reign of the Zhou dynasty. to be ruled by his brothers and generals. One of these was the State of Tan, which was located just east of present-day

Jinan Jinan (), Postal Map Romanization, alternately romanization of Chinese, romanized as Tsinan, is the Capital (political), capital of Shandong province in East China, Eastern China. With a population of 9.2 million, it is the second-largest city i ...

, the capital of the present-day

Shandong Province Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizatio ...

. The Tan rulers, who were reputed to be descendants of Yu the Great (the legendary ancient king and founder of the Xia Dynasty), were given the then-new heredity title of ''zijue'' (''tzu-chueh'' - 子爵) or viscount.''Tan Genealogy: Heritage and Lineage'' by Henry Tom, privately published, Frederick (MD) 2009.

Demise

In February 684 BCE, when rulers of neighboring states went to congratulate

Duke Huan of Qi Duke Huan of Qi (; died 643 BC), personal name Xiǎobái (小白), was the ruler of the State of Qi from 685 to 643 BC. Living during the chaotic Spring and Autumn period, as the Zhou dynasty's former vassal states fought each other for supremacy ...

, ruler of the neighboring State of Qi, on defeating the

State of Lu Lu (, c. 1042–249 BC) was a vassal state during the Zhou dynasty of ancient China located around modern Shandong province. Founded in the 11th century BC, its rulers were from a cadet branch of the House of Ji (姬) that ruled the Zhou dyn ...

and the State of Song, Xian Li, the ruler of Tan declined to go. Later in October of that year, the ruler of Qi used this discourtesy as an excuse to attack Xian Li and his three brothers. After ten days, his siege was successful, and Xian Li fled with 200 members of the royal court to the

State of Ju Ju () was a Dongyi state in modern Shandong province during the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE) of ancient China. The rulers of Ju had the surname of Ji 己. According to the '' Shuowen Jiezi'', "Ju" means taro or a wooden tool. It was weaken ...

, where his son, Qi Yi (), was the ruler. Qi Yi was the first to change his clan name to Tan in memory of their defeated state.''In Search of Your Asian Roots: Genealogical Research on Chinese Surnames'' by Sheau-yueh J Chao, published by Clearfield Co, Baltimore 2000. Today, Tancheng claims to be the ancient capital of this State of Tan. However, it has also been argued that it is actually the capital of a State of Tan established during the Tang Dynasty. Others argue that the ancient capital is the present-day Mingshui Sub-district of the city of Zhangqiu in Shandong Province.

References

{{Zhou Dynasty topics History of Shandong Ancient Chinese states States and territories established in the 11th century BC Zhou dynasty