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 Zha ...

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 Yang may refer to: * Yang, in yin and yang, one half of the two symbolic polarities in Chinese philosophy * Korean yang, former unit of currency of Korea from 1892 to 1902 * YANG, a data modeling language for the NETCONF network configuration pr ...

, 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'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 HU or Hu may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Hu Sanniang, a fictional character in the ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature * Tian Hu, one of the antagonists in the ''Water Margin'' * Hollywood Unde ...

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 Wey may refer to: Places *Wey (state) (衞), or Wei, ancient Chinese state during the Zhou Dynasty *River Wey, river in Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex, England *River Wey (Dorset), river of Dorset, south west England *Wey and Arun Canal, canal ...

. 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 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 Han Jue (; died after 566 BC), posthumously known as Han Xianzi (), was the fifth head of the House of Han and a Jin politician and general. He was the son of Ziyu of Han.司马贞·史记索隐 “万生赇伯，赇伯生定伯简，简生舆， ...

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 Jin (Chinese state), the state of Jin. He was the son of Zhao Dun (Spring and Autumn), Zhao Dun. Life In 597 BCE, Zhao Shuo participated ...

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

disaster of Xiagong A disaster is a serious problem occurring over a short or long period of time that causes widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources ...

References

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