The State of Teng (, 1046–414BC) was a small Chinese
state that existed 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 ...
and the
Warring States period
The Warring States period () was an era in History of China#Ancient China, ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded ...
, and was located in the south of modern-day
Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal Provinces of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in His ...
() province. Its territory is now the county-level city of
Tengzhou
Tengzhou () is a county-level city of Zaozhuang, Shandong province of the People's Republic of China, and is the site of the feudal vassal State of Teng during the Spring and Autumn period.
Tengzhou was likely the birthplace of the philosoph ...
().
Teng's ruling family was the
Ji () family, with the founder,
Shu Xiu of Cuo (錯叔繡), being the 14th brother of
King Wu of Zhou
King Wu of Zhou () was the first king of the Zhou dynasty of ancient China. The chronology of his reign is disputed but is generally thought to have begun around 1046 BC and ended three years later in 1043 BC.
King Wu's ancestral name was ...
(). It was conquered and annexed by the State of
Yue () during the reign of
King Goujian of Yue (越王勾踐, r. 496–465BC).
Teng was a vassal of the State of
Lu (), and is famed as the birthplace of the Chinese philosopher
Mozi
Mozi (; ; Latinized as Micius ; – ), original name Mo Di (), was a Chinese philosopher who founded the school of Mohism during the Hundred Schools of Thought period (the early portion of the Warring States period, –221 BCE). The ancie ...
() and architect
Lu Ban
Lu Ban (–444BC). was a Chinese architect or master carpenter, structural engineer, and inventor, during the Zhou Dynasty. He is revered as the Chinese Deity (Patron) of builders and contractors.
Life
Lu Ban was born in the state of Lu; a few ...
(). The name of the state survives in both the city of Tengzhou and the Chinese clan name of
Teng ().
It was conquered by King Zhugou (朱勾, d.411 BC) of
Yue (). Then its nobility re-establish the country. Finally it was annihilated by
King Kang of Song () in 297 BC.
History of Shandong
Ancient Chinese states
Zhou dynasty
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