Chuzi (; 708–698 BC), also sometimes called Duke Chu of Qin (), was from 703 to 698 BC the ninth ruler of the state of

Qin Qin may refer to: Dynasties and states * Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China * Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC * Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...

during the

Zhou dynasty The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by ...

in ancient China. His

ancestral name In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

was Ying ( 嬴), and Chuzi was his

posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary name given mostly to the notable dead in East Asian culture. It is predominantly practiced in East Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand. Reflecting on the person's accomplishments ...

. He was the first of two child rulers of Qin called Chuzi.

Biography

Chuzi's father was Duke Xian of Qin, who died in 704 BC at the age of 21. Chuzi was the youngest of Duke Xian's three sons, and his mother was Wang Ji (王姬). His older half-brother, later known as

Duke Wu of Qin Duke Wu of Qin (, died 678 BC) was from 697 to 678 BC the tenth ruler of the Zhou Dynasty state of Qin that eventually united China to become the Qin Dynasty. His ancestral name was Ying (), and Duke Wu was his posthumous title. Accession to t ...

, was the crown prince. Duke Wu and his younger brother, later known as

Duke De of Qin Duke De of Qin (, 710–676 BC) was from 677 to 676 BC the eleventh ruler of the Zhou Dynasty state of Qin that eventually united China to become the Qin Dynasty. His ancestral name was Ying (), and Duke De was his posthumous title. Duke De was ...

, were both born to Duke Xian's main wife Lu Ji (鲁姬). After Duke Xian died, however, the ministers Fuji (弗忌) and Sanfu (三父) deposed the crown prince and installed five-year-old Chuzi on the throne. Six years later, in 698 BC Sanfu and Fuji assassinated Chuzi and put Duke Wu, the original crown prince, on the throne. Duke Wu later executed Sanfu and Fuji for the crime of murdering Chuzi.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chuzi I Rulers of Qin 8th-century BC Chinese monarchs 7th-century BC Chinese monarchs 698 BC deaths Child monarchs from Asia 708 BC births 7th-century BC murdered monarchs Assassinated Chinese politicians Assassinated Chinese heads of state