Zhao Dun (; died 601 BCE), posthumously known as Zhao Xuanzi(; Xuanzi of Zhao), was a Chinese monarch and politician. He was a nobleman and minister of the State of Jin. He was the son of

Zhao Cui Zhao Cui (died 622 BCE), posthumously known as Zhao Chengzi (; Chengzi of Zhao), courtesy name Ziyu (子餘), was a Chinese monarch. He was a dafu of Duke Wen of the Jin state during the Spring and Autumn period. He was the clan leader of Zh ...

and Shu Kui of Qionggaoru. He led the Zhao clan between 621 and 601 BCE.

Life

After his father

's death, Zhao Dun first appeared in the political theatre of Jin in 621 BCE when Jin army was having a military parade in Yi. Yang Chufu, his father's acquaintance, recommended Dun to the duke of Jin. Later, Dun's power was secured and the duke entrusted him the regency. Upon

Duke Xiang of Jin Duke Xiang of Jin (, died 621 BC) was from 627 to 621 BC the ruler of the State of Jin, a major power during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. His ancestral name was Ji, given name Huan, and Duke Xiang was his posthumous title. He ...

's death in the autumn of 621 BCE, Dun installed his young son Yigao as the duke of Jin. Before the installation, Jin's nobles favored Duke Xiang's younger brother Yong. The mother of Yigao, Consort Muying of Qin, feared the possible persecution after Yong's accession. She came to Dun's house and begged him of his support of Yigao. Dun unwillingly accepted her request and made Yigao the next duke of Jin. In this year, Hu Juju of Hu clan(a kin of the Jin duke) executed Yang Chufu because Yang threatened Hu clan's political interests. Dun in turn executed Juju. In the autumn of 620 BCE, Zhao participated the league of Hu. He represented the state of Jin since the young duke was not able to perform such task. In the same year, he returned some of the lands occupied by Jin to the state of Wey. In the spring of 618 BCE, Chu invaded the state of Zheng, Dun reinforced Zheng with other states. In 615 BCE,

Duke Kang of Qin Duke Kang of Qin (, died 609 BC) was from 620 to 609 BC the fifteenth ruler of the Zhou Dynasty state of Qin that eventually united China to become the Qin Dynasty. His ancestral name was Ying ( 嬴), personal name Ying (罃), and Duke Kang was ...

invaded Jin's Jima. Dun, along with Xun Linfu, Xi Que, Fan Wuxu, and Luan Dun encountered the Qin force in the battle of Hequ. The two sides were not able to best each other and the battle resulted a draw. During the battle of Hequ, a Jin noble named Han Jue was intentionally tested by Zhao Dun, Han proved himself to be an upright person in the battle and Zhao promoted him to the position of Sima(司馬). Guoyu, Volume 11, Jinyu 5. When the young duke Yigao grew older, Dun gradually lost his control over him. He tried altering the duke's misbehaviors by remonstrating with him. In 607, duke Ling of Jin attempted to assassinate Zhao Dun but failed. After knowing the duke's intention, Dun fled. His cousin Zhao Chuan killed the duke in a peach plantation while Dun was fleeing. Upon his return to Jin, Dun installed Duke Ling's uncle Heitun as the new duke of Jin. Zhao Dun died in 601 BCE and was succeeded by his son

Zhao Shuo Zhao Shuo (; died 597 BCE), posthumously known as Zhao Zhuangzi(; Zhuangzi of Zhao), was a vassal lord of the state of Jin. He was the son of Zhao Dun. Life In 597 BCE, Zhao Shuo participated in the Battle of Bi between the states of Jin and ...

. Not long after his death, the Zhao clan was severely damaged during the disaster of Xiagong.

References

{{Monarchs of Zhao (state) Monarchs of Zhao (state) Zhao (state) Zhongjunjiang of Jin Zhou dynasty nobility