Tan (state)
title: "Tan (state)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["history-of-shandong", "ancient-chinese-states", "states-of-the-spring-and-autumn-period", "states-and-territories-established-in-the-11th-century-bc", "zhou-dynasty"] topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tan_(state)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox country"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| native_name | 譚 |
| conventional_long_name | Tan |
| common_name | Tan |
| government_type | Viscounty |
| year_start | 1046 BCE |
| year_end | 684 BCE |
| image_map | States of Zhou Dynasty.png |
| image_map_caption | Tan is represented as a city within the southern part of Qi |
| capital | Mingshui (明水) |
| common_languages | Old Chinese |
| :: |
|native_name = 譚 |conventional_long_name = Tan |common_name = Tan |national_motto = |map = |era = |status = |government_type = Viscounty |year_start = 1046 BCE |year_end = 684 BCE |p1 = |s1 = |s2 = |s3 = |event_start = |event_end = |event1 = |date_event1 = |event2 = |date_event2 = |event3 = |date_event3 = |event4 = |date_event4 = |event5 = |date_event5 = |image_map = States of Zhou Dynasty.png |image_map_caption = Tan is represented as a city within the southern part of Qi |capital = Mingshui (明水) |common_languages = Old Chinese |religion = |Philosophy = |currency = |leader1 = |leader2 = |year_leader1 = |year_leader2 = |title_leader = |deputy1 = |year_deputy1 = |title_deputy = |legislature = |stat_year1 = |stat_area1 = |stat_pop1 = |category= Tan (; 1046–684 BCE) was an ancient state located in present-day Shandong Province, China. It is the first state reported to be "extinguished" during the Spring and Autumn period.
Foundation
In 1046 BCE, Zhou, the last king of the Shang dynasty, was defeated at the Battle of Muye by King Wu, founder of the Zhou dynasty. Following this victory, he founded a number of small subordinate vassal states to be ruled by his brothers and generals. One of these was the State of Tan, which was located just east of present-day Jinan, the capital of the present-day Shandong Province. The Tan rulers, who were reputed to be descendants of Yu the Great (the legendary ancient king and founder of the Xia dynasty), were given the then-new heredity title of zijue (tzu-chueh – 子爵) or viscount.
Demise
In February 684 BCE, when rulers of neighboring states went to congratulate Duke Huan of Qi, ruler of the neighboring State of Qi, on defeating the State of Lu and the State of Song, Xian Li, the ruler of Tan declined to go.
Later in October of that year, the ruler of Qi used this discourtesy as an excuse to attack Xian Li and his three brothers. After ten days, his siege was successful, and Xian Li fled with 200 members of the royal court to the State of Ju, where his son, Qi Yi (祁義), was the ruler. Qi Yi was the first to change his clan name to Tan in memory of their defeated state.
Today, Tancheng claims to be the ancient capital of this State of Tan. However, it has also been argued that it is actually the capital of a State of Tan established during the Tang dynasty. Others argue that the ancient capital is the present-day Mingshui Sub-district of the city of Zhangqiu in Shandong Province.
Rulers
House of Ji (姬)
::data[format=table]
| Title | Name | Reign (BCE) | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viscount Qiong | ||||
| 譚瓊子 | Qiongguo | |||
| 瓊國 | 1046-1039 | Born in 1105 BCE, enfeoffed by King Wu of Zhou in 1046, with capital at Zhangqiu, died in 1039 BCE | ||
| Viscount Chuang | ||||
| 譚傳子 | Chuanguang | |||
| 傳光 | 1039-1005 | First son of Viscount Qiong | Born in 1069 BCE, reigned for 34 years, died in 1005 BCE | |
| Viscount Lai | ||||
| 譚來子 | Laifu | |||
| 來富 | 1005-973 | First son of Viscount Chuang | Born in 1039 BCE, died in 973 BCE | |
| Viscount You | ||||
| 譚有子 | Youde | |||
| 有德 | 973-947 | Second son of Viscount Lai | Born in 1009 BCE, died in 947 BCE | |
| Viscount Si | ||||
| 譚四子 | Siyu | |||
| 四餘 | 947-921 | Second son of Viscount You | Born in 976 BCE, reigned for 26 years, died in 921 BCE | |
| Viscount Ji | ||||
| 譚季子 | Jisheng | |||
| 季生 | 10th century | Only son of Viscount Si | Born in 954 BCE | |
| Viscount Ping | ||||
| 譚平子 | Pingnan | |||
| 平南 | 9th century | Second son of Viscount Ji | Born in 934 BCE | |
| Viscount Yuan | ||||
| 譚員子 | Yuanyu | |||
| 員餘 | 9th century | First son of Viscount Ping | Born in 910 BCE, biography does not reference him as a Viscount | |
| Viscount Ri | ||||
| 譚日子 | Rilong | |||
| 日龍 | 9th century | First son of Viscount Yuan | Born in 885 BCE | |
| Viscount Yue | ||||
| 譚月子 | Yueke | |||
| 月可 | 9th century | First son of Viscount Ri | Born in 859 BCE | |
| Viscount Cao | ||||
| 譚草子 | Caoli | |||
| 草立 | 8th century | Second son of Viscount Yue | Born in 833 BCE, biography does not reference him as a Viscount | |
| Viscount Mu | ||||
| 譚木子 | Muyuan | |||
| 木元 | 8th century | First son of Viscount Yue | Born in 805 BCE | |
| Viscount Hua | ||||
| 譚花子 | Huagui | |||
| 花桂 | 8th century | Second son of Viscount Mu | Born in 783 BCE, died in 717 BCE, biography does not reference him as a Viscount | |
| Viscount Kai | ||||
| 譚開子 | Kailai | |||
| 開來 | 8th century | First son of Viscount Hua | Born in 746 BCE, died in 693 BCE, biography does not reference him as a Viscount | |
| Viscount Xian | ||||
| 譚賢子 | Xianli | |||
| 賢禮 | 7th century | Second son of Viscount Kai | Born in 715 BCE, he respected the king, resisted tyrants, and rectified wickedness. He did not pay respects to Duke Huan of Qi when the Duke ascended to the seat of Qi State (齊國), and as a result the Duke invaded Tan State (譚國) in 684 BCE. The Tan capital was besieged and then occupied for 3 years before being vassalized by the Duke. He changed his surname to Tan (譚) to honor their former state. Either Tan Xianli or his son Tan Qiyi are considered the Progenitor of the Tan surname. | |
| Viscount Qi | ||||
| 譚祁子 | Qiyi | |||
| 祁義 | 7th century | First son of Viscount Xian | Born in 689 BCE. When he was 5, Duke Huan of Qi invaded his homeland. His family and over 200 other survivors fled to Ju State (莒國) for safety. He changed his surname to Tan (譚) to honor their former state. When he grew up, he followed his father's order and reported to King Xiang of Zhou in Luoyi (洛邑). The king found no fault in his report and granted him the viscount title of his forefathers. He stayed in Luoyi with his sons Tan Kejin and Tan Kezheng. Either Tan Qiyi or his father Tan Xianli are considered the Progenitor of the Tan surname. He and his descendants continued to rule Tan State (譚國) as a vassal of Qi State (齊國). | |
| :: |
References
References
- The term implies the destruction of its Ruling House, the abolition of its sacrifices, and the absorption of the people and territory by the prevailing Power.
- [http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/saxon/servlet/SaxonServlet?source=xwomen/texts/chunqiu.xml&style=xwomen/xsl/dynaxml.xsl&chunk.id=d2.9&toc.depth=1&toc.id=d2.1&doc.lang=english ''Zuo Zhuan'', Duke Zhuan 莊, 10th year]
- The traditional date for the Battle of Muye was 1122 BCE.
- It is estimated that there were some 170 vassal states established during the reign of the Zhou dynasty.
- ''Tan Genealogy: Heritage and Lineage'' by Henry Tom, privately published, Frederick (MD) 2009.
- ''In Search of Your Asian Roots: Genealogical Research on Chinese Surnames'' by Sheau-yueh J Chao, published by Clearfield Co, Baltimore 2000.
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