Model of the City of Jv in Rizhao Urban Planning Exhibition Hall 2011-08

Ju () was an ancient Chinese city that existed during the

Warring States period The Warring States period () was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conquest ...

, and was located in what is today Ju County, Rizhao Prefecture, Shandong. The State of Ju was originally a vassal state of 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 ...

during the Spring and Autumn period. The state eventually fell to the

State of Qi Qi, or Ch'i in Wade–Giles romanization, was a state of the Zhou dynasty-era in ancient China, variously reckoned as a march, duchy, and independent kingdom. Its capital was Linzi, located in present-day Shandong. Qi was founded sh ...

, and became a city of Qi. In 284 BC, the

State of Yan Yan (; Old Chinese pronunciation: ''*'') was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. Its capital was Ji (later known as Yanjing and now Beijing). During the Warring States period, the court was also moved to another capital at Xiadu ...

attacked the State of Qi with forces commanded by

Yue Yi Yue Yi (), enfeoffed as Lord of Changguo (), was a prominent military leader of the State of Yan during the Warring States period of ancient China. He was the son of the prime minister of the state of Zhongshan, but when Zhongshan was destroyed by ...

, and managed to corner Qi within the city of Ju, the state's final stronghold. Although Qi lost a significant portion of territory, they were able to successfully counterattack against Yan under the leadership of

Tian Dan Tian Dan () was a general and nobleman of the major state of Qi during the Warring States period of ancient China. He was known for a spectacular military tactic called "Fire Cattle Columns". After the kingdom was nearly destroyed under the rule o ...

and retake its lost territory within five years. The idiom 毋忘在莒 "don't forget what happened in Ju" has two allusions with differing meanings, one of which refers to Qi's successful counterattack against Yan from the city of Ju, and is used to represent a retaking of one's homeland. The idiom was used by the Chiang Kai-shek-led Republic of China government after relocating to Taiwan in its effort to retake mainland China.

References

*Liu Wenyan () and Zhang Xiaosheng (), Zhongguo gu dai zhan zheng tong lan, 知書房出版集團, , page 112 *勞榦, (2006). 古代中國的歷史與文化, 聯經出版, , page 74 {{Authority control History of ancient China Cities in Shandong Ju County History of Shandong

See also

References