Zhongjunjiang () or Jiangzhongjun was the military leader and the prime minister of the ancient Chinese state of
Jin. Literally, the word Zhongjunjiang means "General of central army". The post originally was named "Situ" (司徒). Zhongjunjiang was also known as "Jiangjun" (將軍), "Dazheng" (大政, 太政, 大正) and "Yuanshuai" (元帥). Since
Zhao Dun's term as Zhongjunjiang, the post's jurisdiction was widened and its holder automatically obtains the regency of Jin.
Historical evidence also indicate that Zhongjunjiang had the legislative power.
In
633 BCE,
Duke Wen of Jin
Duke Wen of Jin (697–628BC), born Chong'er (literally "Double Ears"), was a scion of the royal house of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. He famously endured a long period of exile from his realm before finally bei ...
held a military parade in Beilu and announced his plan of military reform. The duke thereby established the central army in addition to the upper army and the lower army of Jin.
Xi Hu was the first Zhongjunjiang appointed by the duke of Jin.
To hold the post of Zhongjunjiang, one has to be in the rank of Qing (卿). In Jin's history, six powerful vassal states of Jin and their leader held this post in turn. The six clans were known as the Liuqing of Jin (六卿). Namely, the six clans were:
Han
Han may refer to:
Ethnic groups
* Han Chinese, or Han People (): the name for the largest ethnic group in China, which also constitutes the world's largest ethnic group.
** Han Taiwanese (): the name for the ethnic group of the Taiwanese p ...
,
Zhao,
Wei,
Zhi,
Zhonghang, and
Fan. Luan and Xi clan were two clans which also possessed the status of qing but became extinct due to political struggles in Jin's court.
The dictatorial power of Zhongjunjiang led to the constant conflicts between the six vassal states of Jin. Approaching the end of its existence, Jin was troubled by the civil wars waged by its own retainers against each other.
The last Zhongjunjiang before the
partition of Jin
The Partition of Jin (), the watershed between the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, refers to the division of the State of Jin between rival families into the three states of Han, Zhao and Wei. As a result, the three states were o ...
was
Xun Yao.
According to
Chunqiu Dashibiao (春秋大事表) by Qing dynasty historian
Gu Donggao, Zhongjunjiang is etymologically the origin of the Chinese words 將軍 and 元帥. The two alternative names of Zhongjunjiang later influenced the naming system of a certain country's military, especially China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. The word 將軍 (Jiāngjūn,
Shōgun
, officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamak ...
, Changgun, Tướng quân, "General") derived from Zhongjunjiang. Another alternative name 元帥 (Yuánshuài, Gensui, Wansu, Nguyên soái) is used in the four countries as a translation and equivalent of the English word "
Marshal".
List of Zhongjunjiang
*
Xi Hu (郤縠), 633–632 BCE.
*
Xian Zhen (先軫), 632–627 BCE.
*
Xian Juju (先且居), 627–622 BCE.
*
Zhao Dun (趙盾), 621–602 BCE
*
Xi Que
Xi may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Xi'' (alternate reality game), a console-based game
* Xi, Japanese name for the video game ''Devil Dice''
Language
*Xi (letter), a Greek letter
* Xi, a Latin digraph used in British English to write ...
(郤缺), 601–598 BCE.
*
Xun Linfu (荀林父), 597–594 BCE.
*
Shi Hui (士會), 593–592 BCE.
*
Xi Ke (郤克), 592–588 BCE.
*
Luan Shu
Luan may refer to:
Places
* Lu'an, a city in Anhui, China
* Luan County, Hebei, China
* Luan River, Hebei, China
Other uses
* Luan (surname), a Chinese surname
* Luan (mythology), a legendary bird in Chinese mythology
* Trees in the genus ''S ...
(欒書), 587–573 BCE.
*
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， ...
(韓厥), 573–566 BCE.
*
Xun Ying (荀罃), 566–560 BCE.
*
Xun Yan (荀偃), 560–554 BCE.
*
Shi Gai (士匄), 554–548 BCE.
*
Zhao Wu (趙武), 548–541 BCE.
*
Han Qi
Han Qi (), posthumously known as Xuanzi of Han (), was a Chinese monarch and politician who served as the head minister of the state of Han and then military leader and prime minister of the State of Jin. He was the son of Han Jue and served a ...
(韓起), 541-514 BCE.
*
Wei Shu (魏舒), 514–509 BCE.
*
Shi Yang (士鞅), 509–501 BCE.
*
Xun Li (荀躒), 501–493 BCE.
*
Zhao Yang (趙鞅), 493–475 BCE.
*
Xun Yao (荀瑤), 475–453 BCE.
*
Partition of Jin
The Partition of Jin (), the watershed between the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, refers to the division of the State of Jin between rival families into the three states of Han, Zhao and Wei. As a result, the three states were o ...
*
Zhao Wuxu
Zhao Wuxu ( zh, 趙毋卹, reigned 458 BCE – 425 BCE), also known by the posthumous name Xiangzi (襄子), was the head of the house of Zhao in the Jin state in late Spring and Autumn period.
Early life
Wuxu was born to a Di (翟) slave of Jia ...
(趙無恤), 453–425 BCE.
*
Wei Si (魏斯), 425–403 BCE. Marquess Wen of Wei
References
{{Reflist
Jin (Chinese state)