Yuan Taotu 轅濤塗 (died c. 625 BC, posthumous title "Xuanzhong" 宣仲) was a nobleman and diplomat of the Spring and Autumn state of Chen. He is regarded as the ancestor of those surnamed Yuan (袁). Yuan Taotu was a distant relative of the Chen royal family, with a fief at Yangxia (Taikang,

Henan Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...

province). He is mentioned in passing in the ''

Spring and Autumn Annals The ''Spring and Autumn Annals'' () is an ancient Chinese chronicle that has been one of the core Chinese classics since ancient times. The ''Annals'' is the official chronicle of the State of Lu, and covers a 241-year period from 722 to 481 ...

'', '' Zuo Zhuan'' and '' Historical Records''. In 656 BC, he accompanied

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 ...

on an expedition against the southern state of Cai and was present at the historic covenant of alliance between the various states of the

Yellow River The Yellow River or Huang He (Chinese: , Standard Beijing Mandarin, Mandarin: ''Huáng hé'' ) is the second-longest river in China, after the Yangtze River, and the List of rivers by length, sixth-longest river system in the world at th ...

valley at

Shaoling Shaoling District () is a district of the city of Luohe, Henan Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which liter ...

. On the return journey to the north, however, he suggested that the army of Qi pass by Chen and take a detour to the eastern regions. For this advice he was arrested and only released after an abortive invasion of Chen ended the next year. The state of Chen supported the neighbouring state of Chu at the Battle of Chengpu in 632 BC, and was defeated. The next year, Yuan Taotu was sent as representative of Chen to Diquan, to renew the state's allegiance to the King of Zhou and to consult about an invasion of

Zheng Zheng may refer to: *Zheng (surname), Chinese surname (鄭, 郑, ''Zhèng'') *Zheng County, former name of Zhengzhou, capital of Henan, China *Guzheng (), a Chinese zither with bridges *Qin Shi Huang (259 BC – 210 BC), emperor of the Qin Dynasty, ...

. In the winter of that same year, the Chen heir-apparent met with other princes, witnessing the investiture of the Duke of Jin as hegemon. Yuan probably died shortly thereafter.

References

Zhou dynasty nobility 620s BC deaths Year of birth unknown Chen (state) 7th-century BC Chinese people {{China-politician-stub