Duke Dao of Jin (, 586–558 BC) was from 573 to 558 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 Zhou (周), and Duke Dao was his

posthumous title 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 o ...

Accession to the throne

Duke Dao came from a

cadet branch In history and heraldry, a cadet branch consists of the male-line descendants of a monarch's or patriarch's younger sons ( cadets). In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets— realm, tit ...

of the House of Ji that ruled Jin. His grandfather Jie was one of the younger sons of

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 ...

. His father was named Tan, and the family had been exiled at the court of Zhou for three generations. During the reign of Duke Dao's predecessor Duke Li, the Xi (郤) clan, led by Xi Qi (郤錡), Xi Chou (郤犨), and Xi Zhi (郤至) – together called the three Xis – was one of the most powerful clans that dominated Jin politics. In 573 BC Duke Li struck the Xi clan and killed the three Xis. However, two other clans, the Luan (欒氏) led by Luan Shu (欒書), and the Zhonghang (中行氏) led by Zhonghang Yan (中行偃), staged a '' coup d'etat'' and imprisoned Duke Li. The Luan and Zhonghang clans brought back the 14-year-old Duke Dao from the Zhou court, installed him on the throne, and soon afterwards killed Duke Li.

Reign and succession

Duke Dao adopted the policies advocated by his prime minister Wei Jiang (魏絳) and made peace with the

Rong Rong or RONG may refer to: Places China *Rong County, Guangxi, Yulin, Guangxi, China *Rong County, Sichuan, Zigong, Sichuan, China Nepal *Rong, Ilam, a rural municipality in Ilam District, Nepal Norway *Rong, Norway, a village in Øygarden m ...

and Di tribes on Jin's northern and western borders. On the other hand, in 560 BC he led an alliance of states to invade the State of Qin, defeating Qin at the Xing River. In 558 BC, Duke Dao died and was succeeded by his son Biao, Duke Ping of Jin.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dao of Jin, Duke Monarchs of Jin (Chinese state) 6th-century BC Chinese monarchs 586 BC births 558 BC deaths