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Mencius went to see King Xiang of Liang. Coming out from the interview, he said to his companion, “When I looked at him from a distance, he did not appear to be a sovereign; when I came up to him, I found nothing about him that inspired respect. “
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After a series of military defeats by Qin and the deaths of several senior ministers, Zhao Dun – son of the revered Zhao Cui – rose as chief minister of Jin. In 620 BCE, Duke Xiang of Jin died, leaving his seven-year-old son to ascend the throne as Duke Ling of Jin.
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How a merchant saved a nation – The story of Xian Gao and the Qin invasion. After the death of Duke Wen of Jin in 628 BCE, Duke Mu of Qin saw a golden opportunity. Long frustrated that Central States viewed Qin as a “western barbarian” (much like they labeled Chu a “southern savage”),…
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Duke Wen of Jin was angered by Zheng’s “fence-sitting” diplomatic tendencies during the power struggle between Jin and Chu. Zheng had ostensibly submitted to Jin while secretly maintaining ties with Chu, a stance that deeply frustrated the Jin ruler.
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During the exile of Chong’er, when he passed through the State of Zheng, Duke Wen of Zheng failed to receive him with due courtesy, thus sowing the seeds of personal resentment.
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Feudal throne succession is a critical period of power transition. However, as it involves the transfer of supreme authority, it often triggers internal conflicts or even national instability. The root causes of such disasters typically lie in the tests of human nature under the allure of power, flaws in institutional design, or interference from…
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Duke Wen of Jin (Ji Chong’er), the 22nd ruler of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (reigned 636–628 BCE), is renowned as one of the Five Hegemons. His path to power was extraordinary, marked by nineteen years of exile before his dramatic return and eventual dominance over the central states.
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Baili Xi was a native of the State of Yu (located in present-day Pinglu, Shanxi, near Sanmenxia). He did not marry until his thirties; his wife was Lady Du, and they had a son named Mengming Shi (whose formal name was Shi, styled Mengming, of the Baili lineage).