# Chen (state)

Chen (Chinese: 陈国; Chinese: 陳國; pinyin: Chén Guó) was a state founded by the Duke Hu of Chen during the Zhou dynasty of ancient China. It existed from c. 1045 BC–479 BC. Its capital was Wanqiu, in present-day Huaiyang County in the plains of eastern Henan province. Chen, the 4th most popular Chinese surname in the world, and members of the Hu clan, the 13th most popular Chinese surname in the world, would claim descent from the Duke Hu of Chen who was in turn descended from the legendary Emperor Shun. At its peak, Chen encompassed fourteen cities in modern-day Henan and Anhui.

## Name

It is written 陳 the same as the Chen surname. In ancient texts, it is sometimes misspelled as 敶, also pronounced Chen.

## Territory

Chen was originally from Taihao (太昊、太皞), the capital of Fuxi's clan. It was south of the Yellow River.

### Capital

Its capital was Wanqiu, in present-day Huaiyang County in the plains of eastern Henan province. Zhu Xi explains that Wanqiu means "[a hill] with a crater on top surrounded by high walls on all four sides".

## History

According to tradition, the royal family of Chen were descendants of the legendary sage king Emperor Shun. After the conquest of the Shang dynasty in 1046/45 BC, King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed his son-in-law Gui Man, a descendant of Shun, at Chen, and Man became known as Duke Hu of Chen (Chen Hugong).
Duke Shēn of Chen, son of Hugong then became second duke of Chen.
Chen later became an ally state of Chu, fighting as an ally of Chu at the Battle of Chengpu. It was finally unified with the Chu in 479 BC. Many people of Chen then took the name of their former country as their family name, and account for the many of Chinese people with the family name Chen today. After the destruction of the old Chu capital at Ying, Chen became the Chu capital.

## Achievements and descendants

* The founding duke, formally known as Duke Hu of Chen, is credited with being the originator of the Hu (surname) and the Chen (surname).
* The Chen clan would later found the Chen dynasty of China and then the Trần dynasty, a golden age of Vietnam (陳朝 Tran is the Vietnamese pronunciation of Chen).
* In 1400 AD, Hồ Quý Ly overthrew the Trần dynasty and established the Hồ dynasty (Hồ is the Vietnamese pronunciation for "Hu"). He claimed to be a descendant of Chen Hugong and Emperor Shun, and changed the name of Vietnam from Đại Việt to Đại Ngu (大虞), or Great Ngu (Ngu is the Vietnamese pronunciation for Yu 虞 the legendary state of Emperor Shun).
* In ancient times 陳 sounded similar to 東 dong, meaning 'East'. It also sounded similar to 田 tian. After the warring states period, some members of the Chen clan in Qi (state) adopted the surname 田 Tian, which later became popular in Chinese and Japanese surnames.
In summary, surnames with descent from Chen include:
* Chen surname 陳姓
* Gui surname 妫姓
* Hu surname 胡姓
* Tian surname 田姓
* Yu surname 虞姓
* Yao surname 姚姓
* Yuan surname 袁姓

## Culture

The Shijing has at least 10 songs dedicated to Chen:《宛丘》、《東門之枌》、《衛門》、《東門之池》、《東門之楊》、《墓門》、《防有鵲巢》、《月出》、《株林》、《澤陂》。

## Rulers

The state of Chen lasted nearly 600 years and produced over 25 rulers. In chronological order from first to last (note Hu Gong means Duke of Hu and vice versa):
* Duke Hu of Chen
* Duke Shēn of Chen
* Duke Xiang of Chen
* Duke Xiao of Chen
* Duke Shèn of Chen
* Duke You of Chen
* Duke Xi of Chen
* Duke Wu of Chen
* Duke Yi of Chen
* Duke Ping of Chen
* Duke Wen of Chen
* Duke Huan of Chen
* Chen Tuo
* Duke Li of Chen
* Duke Zhuang of Chen
* Duke Xuan of Chen
* Duke Mu of Chen
* Duke Gong of Chen
* Duke Ling of Chen
* Xia Zhengshu
* Duke Cheng of Chen
* Duke Ai of Chen
* Prince Liu
* Chuan Fengxu
* Duke Hui of Chen
* Duke Huai of Chen
* Duke Min of Chen

## Table

| | Ruler | Title (Chinese) | Other Name (Chinese) | Reign (BC) | Number of years ruling | Identity |
| 1 | Chen Hugong | 胡公 | 滿 | 1045—986 | Ruled for 60 years | The founder of Chen |
| 2 | Duke Shēn of Chen | 申公 | 犀侯 | 985—961 | Ruled for 25 years | - |
| 3 | Duke Xiang of Chen | 相公 | 皋羊 | 960—939 | Ruled for 22 years | The younger brother of Duke Shēn |
| 4 | Duke Xiao of Chen | 孝公 | 突 | 938—905 | Ruled for 34 years | The son of Duke Shēn |
| 5 | Duke Shèn of Chen | 慎公 | 圉戎 | 904—855 | Ruled for 50 years | The son of Duke Xiao |
| 6 | Duke You of Chen | 幽公 | 寧 | 854—832 | Ruled for 23 years | The son of Duke Shen |
| 7 | Duke Xi of Chen | 僖公 | 孝 | 831—796 | Ruled for 36 years | The son of Duke You |
| 8 | Duke Wu of Chen | 武公 | 靈 | 795—781 | Ruled for 15 years | The son of Duke Xi |
| 9 | Duke Yi of Chen | 夷公 | 說 | 780—778 | Ruled for 3 years | The son of Duke Wu |
| 10 | Duke Ping of Chen | 平公 | 燮 | 777—755 | Ruled for 23 years | The younger brother of Duke Yi |
| 11 | Duke Wen of Chen | 文公 | 圉 | 754—745 | Ruled for 10 years | The son of Duke Ping |
| 12 | Duke Huan of Chen | 桓公 | 鮑 | 744—707 | Ruled for 38 years | The son of Duke Wen |
| 13 | Chen Tuo | - | 佗 | 707─706 | Ruled for 8 months | The younger brother of Duke Huan |
| 14 | Duke Li of Chen | 厲公 | 躍 | 706─700 | Ruled for 7 years | The son of Duke Huan |
| 15 | Duke Zhuang of Chen | 莊公 | 林 | 699—693 | Ruled for 7 years | The son of Duke Li |
| 16 | Duke Xuan of Chen | 宣公 | 杵臼 | 692—648 | Ruled for 45 years | The younger brother of Duke Zhuang |
| 17 | Duke Mu of Chen | 穆公 | 款 | 647—632 | Ruled for 16 years | The son of Duke Xuan |
| 18 | Duke Gong of Chen | 共公 | 朔 | 631—614 | Ruled for 18 years | The son of Duke Mu |
| 19 | Duke Ling of Chen | 靈公 | 平國 | 613—599 | Ruled for 15 years | The son of Duke Gong |
| 20 | Xia Zhengshu | - | 徵舒 | 599 | Ruled for multiple months | The great-grandson of Duke Xuan |
| 21 | Duke Cheng of Chen | 成公 | 午 | 598—569 | Ruled for 30 years | The son of Duke Ling |
| 22 | Duke Ai of Chen | 哀公 | 弱 | 568—534 | Ruled for 35 years | The son of Duke Cheng |
| 23 | Gongzi Liu | - | 留 | 534, from March to November | Ruled for 9 months | The son of Duke Ai |
| 24 | Chuan Fengxu | - | 穿封戌 | 533—529 | Ruled for 5 years | Advisor of Chu |
| 25 | Duke Hui of Chen | 惠公 | 吳 | 529—506 | Ruled for 28 years | Grandson of Duke Ai |
| 26 | Duke Huai of Chen | 懷公 | 柳 | 505—502 | Ruled for 4 years | Son of Duke Hui |
| 27 | Duke Min of Chen | 湣公 | 越 | 501—478 | Ruled for 24 years | Son of Duke Huai |
Note: the reign lengths of the dukes before Duke You of Chen are derived from conjecture, and are only for reference.

## Family tree

Chen state :
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(1)}$Duke Hu 胡公滿 1071-1045-986 | $^{(1)}$Duke Hu 胡公滿 1071-1045-986 | $^{(1)}$Duke Hu 胡公滿 1071-1045-986 | $^{(1)}$Duke Hu 胡公滿 1071-1045-986 | $^{(1)}$Duke Hu 胡公滿 1071-1045-986 | $^{(1)}$Duke Hu 胡公滿 1071-1045-986 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(2)}$Duke Shēn 陈申公 犀侯 ？-985-961BC | $^{(2)}$Duke Shēn 陈申公 犀侯 ？-985-961BC | $^{(2)}$Duke Shēn 陈申公 犀侯 ？-985-961BC | $^{(2)}$Duke Shēn 陈申公 犀侯 ？-985-961BC | $^{(2)}$Duke Shēn 陈申公 犀侯 ？-985-961BC | $^{(2)}$Duke Shēn 陈申公 犀侯 ？-985-961BC | $^{(3)}$Duke Xiang 陈相公 皋羊 ？-960-939 | $^{(3)}$Duke Xiang 陈相公 皋羊 ？-960-939 | $^{(3)}$Duke Xiang 陈相公 皋羊 ？-960-939 | $^{(3)}$Duke Xiang 陈相公 皋羊 ？-960-939 | $^{(3)}$Duke Xiang 陈相公 皋羊 ？-960-939 | $^{(3)}$Duke Xiang 陈相公 皋羊 ？-960-939 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(4)}$Duke Xiao 陈孝公 突 ？-938-905BC | $^{(4)}$Duke Xiao 陈孝公 突 ？-938-905BC | $^{(4)}$Duke Xiao 陈孝公 突 ？-938-905BC | $^{(4)}$Duke Xiao 陈孝公 突 ？-938-905BC | $^{(4)}$Duke Xiao 陈孝公 突 ？-938-905BC | $^{(4)}$Duke Xiao 陈孝公 突 ？-938-905BC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(5)}$Duke Shèn 陈慎公 圉戎 ？-904-855BC | $^{(5)}$Duke Shèn 陈慎公 圉戎 ？-904-855BC | $^{(5)}$Duke Shèn 陈慎公 圉戎 ？-904-855BC | $^{(5)}$Duke Shèn 陈慎公 圉戎 ？-904-855BC | $^{(5)}$Duke Shèn 陈慎公 圉戎 ？-904-855BC | $^{(5)}$Duke Shèn 陈慎公 圉戎 ？-904-855BC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(6)}$Duke You 陈幽公 寧 ?-854-832BC | $^{(6)}$Duke You 陈幽公 寧 ?-854-832BC | $^{(6)}$Duke You 陈幽公 寧 ?-854-832BC | $^{(6)}$Duke You 陈幽公 寧 ?-854-832BC | $^{(6)}$Duke You 陈幽公 寧 ?-854-832BC | $^{(6)}$Duke You 陈幽公 寧 ?-854-832BC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(7)}$Duke Xi 陈僖公 孝 ?-832-796BC | $^{(7)}$Duke Xi 陈僖公 孝 ?-832-796BC | $^{(7)}$Duke Xi 陈僖公 孝 ?-832-796BC | $^{(7)}$Duke Xi 陈僖公 孝 ?-832-796BC | $^{(7)}$Duke Xi 陈僖公 孝 ?-832-796BC | $^{(7)}$Duke Xi 陈僖公 孝 ?-832-796BC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(8)}$Duke Wu 陈武公 靈 ?-796-781BC | $^{(8)}$Duke Wu 陈武公 靈 ?-796-781BC | $^{(8)}$Duke Wu 陈武公 靈 ?-796-781BC | $^{(8)}$Duke Wu 陈武公 靈 ?-796-781BC | $^{(8)}$Duke Wu 陈武公 靈 ?-796-781BC | $^{(8)}$Duke Wu 陈武公 靈 ?-796-781BC | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| | | | | | | $^{(9)}$Duke Yi 陈夷公 说 ?-781-778BC | $^{(9)}$Duke Yi 陈夷公 说 ?-781-778BC | $^{(9)}$Duke Yi 陈夷公 说 ?-781-778BC | $^{(9)}$Duke Yi 陈夷公 说 ?-781-778BC | $^{(9)}$Duke Yi 陈夷公 说 ?-781-778BC | $^{(9)}$Duke Yi 陈夷公 说 ?-781-778BC | $^{(10)}$Duke Ping 陈平公 燮 ?-778-755BC | $^{(10)}$Duke Ping 陈平公 燮 ?-778-755BC | $^{(10)}$Duke Ping 陈平公 燮 ?-778-755BC | $^{(10)}$Duke Ping 陈平公 燮 ?-778-755BC | $^{(10)}$Duke Ping 陈平公 燮 ?-778-755BC | $^{(10)}$Duke Ping 陈平公 燮 ?-778-755BC | 鍼子 | 鍼子 | 鍼子 | 鍼子 | 鍼子 | 鍼子 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(11)}$Duke Wen 陈文公 圉 ?-755-745BC | $^{(11)}$Duke Wen 陈文公 圉 ?-755-745BC | $^{(11)}$Duke Wen 陈文公 圉 ?-755-745BC | $^{(11)}$Duke Wen 陈文公 圉 ?-755-745BC | $^{(11)}$Duke Wen 陈文公 圉 ?-755-745BC | $^{(11)}$Duke Wen 陈文公 圉 ?-755-745BC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(12)}$Duke Huan 陈桓公 鮑 754-745-707BC | $^{(12)}$Duke Huan 陈桓公 鮑 754-745-707BC | $^{(12)}$Duke Huan 陈桓公 鮑 754-745-707BC | $^{(12)}$Duke Huan 陈桓公 鮑 754-745-707BC | $^{(12)}$Duke Huan 陈桓公 鮑 754-745-707BC | $^{(12)}$Duke Huan 陈桓公 鮑 754-745-707BC | $^{(13)}$Chen Tuo 陈佗 754-707BC | $^{(13)}$Chen Tuo 陈佗 754-707BC | $^{(13)}$Chen Tuo 陈佗 754-707BC | $^{(13)}$Chen Tuo 陈佗 754-707BC | $^{(13)}$Chen Tuo 陈佗 754-707BC | $^{(13)}$Chen Tuo 陈佗 754-707BC |
| | | | | | | 免 ?-707BC | 免 ?-707BC | 免 ?-707BC | 免 ?-707BC | 免 ?-707BC | 免 ?-707BC | $^{(14)}$Duke Li 陈厉公 躍 ?-707-700BC | $^{(14)}$Duke Li 陈厉公 躍 ?-707-700BC | $^{(14)}$Duke Li 陈厉公 躍 ?-707-700BC | $^{(14)}$Duke Li 陈厉公 躍 ?-707-700BC | $^{(14)}$Duke Li 陈厉公 躍 ?-707-700BC | $^{(14)}$Duke Li 陈厉公 躍 ?-707-700BC | □ 庆氏 | □ 庆氏 | □ 庆氏 | □ 庆氏 | □ 庆氏 | □ 庆氏 |
| $^{(15)}$Duke Zhuang 陈庄公 林 ?-700-693BC | $^{(15)}$Duke Zhuang 陈庄公 林 ?-700-693BC | $^{(15)}$Duke Zhuang 陈庄公 林 ?-700-693BC | $^{(15)}$Duke Zhuang 陈庄公 林 ?-700-693BC | $^{(15)}$Duke Zhuang 陈庄公 林 ?-700-693BC | $^{(15)}$Duke Zhuang 陈庄公 林 ?-700-693BC | Chen Wanm 完 706BC-? Tian Qi | Chen Wanm 完 706BC-? Tian Qi | Chen Wanm 完 706BC-? Tian Qi | Chen Wanm 完 706BC-? Tian Qi | Chen Wanm 完 706BC-? Tian Qi | Chen Wanm 完 706BC-? Tian Qi | $^{(16)}$Duke Xuan 陈宣公 杵臼 ?-693-648BC | $^{(16)}$Duke Xuan 陈宣公 杵臼 ?-693-648BC | $^{(16)}$Duke Xuan 陈宣公 杵臼 ?-693-648BC | $^{(16)}$Duke Xuan 陈宣公 杵臼 ?-693-648BC | $^{(16)}$Duke Xuan 陈宣公 杵臼 ?-693-648BC | $^{(16)}$Duke Xuan 陈宣公 杵臼 ?-693-648BC |
| | | | | | | 御寇 ?-672BC | 御寇 ?-672BC | 御寇 ?-672BC | 御寇 ?-672BC | 御寇 ?-672BC | 御寇 ?-672BC | $^{(17)}$Duke Mu 陈穆公 款 ?-648-632BC | $^{(17)}$Duke Mu 陈穆公 款 ?-648-632BC | $^{(17)}$Duke Mu 陈穆公 款 ?-648-632BC | $^{(17)}$Duke Mu 陈穆公 款 ?-648-632BC | $^{(17)}$Duke Mu 陈穆公 款 ?-648-632BC | $^{(17)}$Duke Mu 陈穆公 款 ?-648-632BC | 少西 夏氏 | 少西 夏氏 | 少西 夏氏 | 少西 夏氏 | 少西 夏氏 | 少西 夏氏 | | □ 宗氏 | □ 宗氏 | □ 宗氏 | □ 宗氏 | □ 宗氏 | □ 宗氏 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(18)}$Duke Gong 陈共公 朔 ?-632-614BC | $^{(18)}$Duke Gong 陈共公 朔 ?-632-614BC | $^{(18)}$Duke Gong 陈共公 朔 ?-632-614BC | $^{(18)}$Duke Gong 陈共公 朔 ?-632-614BC | $^{(18)}$Duke Gong 陈共公 朔 ?-632-614BC | $^{(18)}$Duke Gong 陈共公 朔 ?-632-614BC | 御叔 | 御叔 | 御叔 | 御叔 | 御叔 | 御叔 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(19)}$Duke Ling 陈灵公 平國 ?-614-599BC | $^{(19)}$Duke Ling 陈灵公 平國 ?-614-599BC | $^{(19)}$Duke Ling 陈灵公 平國 ?-614-599BC | $^{(19)}$Duke Ling 陈灵公 平國 ?-614-599BC | $^{(19)}$Duke Ling 陈灵公 平國 ?-614-599BC | $^{(19)}$Duke Ling 陈灵公 平國 ?-614-599BC | $^{(20)}$Xia Zhengshu 夏徵舒 ?-599BC | $^{(20)}$Xia Zhengshu 夏徵舒 ?-599BC | $^{(20)}$Xia Zhengshu 夏徵舒 ?-599BC | $^{(20)}$Xia Zhengshu 夏徵舒 ?-599BC | $^{(20)}$Xia Zhengshu 夏徵舒 ?-599BC | $^{(20)}$Xia Zhengshu 夏徵舒 ?-599BC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(21)}$Duke Cheng 陈成公 午 ?-599-569BC | $^{(21)}$Duke Cheng 陈成公 午 ?-599-569BC | $^{(21)}$Duke Cheng 陈成公 午 ?-599-569BC | $^{(21)}$Duke Cheng 陈成公 午 ?-599-569BC | $^{(21)}$Duke Cheng 陈成公 午 ?-599-569BC | $^{(21)}$Duke Cheng 陈成公 午 ?-599-569BC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(22)}$Duke Ai 陈哀公 弱 ?-569-534BC | $^{(22)}$Duke Ai 陈哀公 弱 ?-569-534BC | $^{(22)}$Duke Ai 陈哀公 弱 ?-569-534BC | $^{(22)}$Duke Ai 陈哀公 弱 ?-569-534BC | $^{(22)}$Duke Ai 陈哀公 弱 ?-569-534BC | $^{(22)}$Duke Ai 陈哀公 弱 ?-569-534BC | | 黃 | 黃 | 黃 | 黃 | 黃 | 黃 | | 招]] | 招]] | 招]] | 招]] | 招]] | 招]] | | 过 ？-534BC | 过 ？-534BC | 过 ？-534BC | 过 ？-534BC | 过 ？-534BC | 过 ？-534BC |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 偃師 ?-534BC | 偃師 ?-534BC | 偃師 ?-534BC | 偃師 ?-534BC | 偃師 ?-534BC | 偃師 ?-534BC | | $^{(23)}$Prince Liu 留 ?-534BC-? | $^{(23)}$Prince Liu 留 ?-534BC-? | $^{(23)}$Prince Liu 留 ?-534BC-? | $^{(23)}$Prince Liu 留 ?-534BC-? | $^{(23)}$Prince Liu 留 ?-534BC-? | $^{(23)}$Prince Liu 留 ?-534BC-? | | 胜 | 胜 | 胜 | 胜 | 胜 | 胜 | | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(24)}$Duke Hui 陈惠公 吳 ?-529-506BC | $^{(24)}$Duke Hui 陈惠公 吳 ?-529-506BC | $^{(24)}$Duke Hui 陈惠公 吳 ?-529-506BC | $^{(24)}$Duke Hui 陈惠公 吳 ?-529-506BC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 貞子 | 貞子 | 貞子 | 貞子 | 貞子 | 貞子 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(25)}$Duke Huai 陈怀公 柳 ?-506-502BC-? | $^{(25)}$Duke Huai 陈怀公 柳 ?-506-502BC-? | $^{(25)}$Duke Huai 陈怀公 柳 ?-506-502BC-? | $^{(25)}$Duke Huai 陈怀公 柳 ?-506-502BC-? | $^{(25)}$Duke Huai 陈怀公 柳 ?-506-502BC-? | $^{(25)}$Duke Huai 陈怀公 柳 ?-506-502BC-? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{(26)}$Duke Min 陈闵公 越 ?-502-478BC | $^{(26)}$Duke Min 陈闵公 越 ?-502-478BC | $^{(26)}$Duke Min 陈闵公 越 ?-502-478BC | $^{(26)}$Duke Min 陈闵公 越 ?-502-478BC | $^{(26)}$Duke Min 陈闵公 越 ?-502-478BC | $^{(26)}$Duke Min 陈闵公 越 ?-502-478BC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See zh:陈国君主世系图
Rulers of Chen, Hugong to Yougong :
Rulers of Chen, Yougong to Wengong :
Rulers of Chen, Wengong to Gonggong :