Lai (state)

State of Lai
萊國
?–567 BC →
Capital Changle (昌樂)
Linqu (臨朐)
Ni (郳)
Languages Old Chinese
Government Monarchy
Duke of Lai
 -  ?–567 BCE Duke Gong of Lai
History
 -  Established ?
 -  Conquered by Qi 567 BC

Lai (simplified Chinese: 莱; traditional Chinese: 萊; pinyin: Lái), also known as Laiyi (萊夷), was an ancient Dongyi state located in what is now eastern Shandong Province, recorded in the Book of Xia. Tang Shanchun (唐善纯) believes lai means "mountain" in the old Yue language,[1] while the Yue Jue Shu (越絕書) says lai means "wilderness".[2]

History

Lai was a traditional enemy of the State of Qi to its west. As soon as Jiang Ziya, the first ruler of Qi, was enfeoffed at Qi, the state of Lai attacked its capital at Yingqiu. In 567 BC, Lai attacked Qi but was decisively defeated by Duke Ling of Qi, and its last ruler Furou, Duke Gong of Lai, was killed.[3][4] Lai was a large state, and Qi more than doubled in size after annexing Lai.[3][5][6] The people were moved to Laiwu, where Mencius later called them the Qídōng yěrén (齊東野人), the "peasants of eastern Qi".

Rulers of Lai

References

  1. ↑ 威海市地名综述
  2. ↑ 百越地名及其文化蕴意
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Han Zhaoqi (韩兆琦), ed. (2010). "House of Duke Tai of Qi". Shiji (史记) (in Chinese). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. pp. 2564–2568. ISBN 978-7-101-07272-3.
  4. ↑ Zuo Qiuming (translated by James Legge). "Book IX. Duke Xiang". Zuo Zhuan (in Chinese and English). University of Virginia. Retrieved 23 May 2012. Chapter VI.
  5. ↑ 东莱古国与西周王朝之关系——从黄、渭两河流域出土的有铭青铜器谈起
  6. ↑ 莱夷及莱国史研究综述