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 The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...

of ancient China. His ancestral name was Ji, given name Huan, and Duke Xiang was his posthumous title. He succeeded his father Duke Wen of Jin, who was the

Hegemon Hegemony (, , ) is the political, economic, and military predominance of one state over other states. In Ancient Greece (8th BC – AD 6th ), hegemony denoted the politico-military dominance of the ''hegemon'' city-state over other city-states. ...

of China.

Battle of Yao

After Duke Wen died in the ninth month of 628 BC,

Duke Mu of Qin Duke Mu of Qin (died 621BC), born Renhao, was a duke of Qin (659–621BC) in the western reaches of the Zhou Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. Sometimes considered one of China's Five Hegemons, he greatly expanded ...

sent an army to attack the

State of Zheng Zheng (; ; Old Chinese: *') was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–221 BCE) located in the centre of ancient China in modern-day Henan Province on the North China Plain about east of the royal capital at Luoyang. It wa ...

. They retreated without attacking Zheng, but destroyed the minor state of Hua instead. In the fourth month of the following year, when the Qin army was passing through Jin territory on their way back to Qin, Jin launched a surprise attack at the Battle of Yao (殽之戰), annihilated the Qin army and captured three Qin generals. Jin annexed the Hua state. After the battle, the power of Qin in the east had been checked for a long period.

Succession

Duke Xiang reigned for seven years and died in the eighth month of 621 BC. His son Crown Prince Yigao was then still a boy, and there was a major succession crisis, with different factions supporting Duke Xiang's brothers Prince Yong and Prince Le. Yigao eventually ascended the throne with the support of Zhao Dun (趙盾) and would come to be known as Duke Ling of Jin.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xiang of Jin, Duke Year of birth unknown Monarchs of Jin (Chinese state) 7th-century BC Chinese monarchs 621 BC deaths