Conventional Long Name: | State of Bi |
Native Name: | 毕 / 畢 |
Capital: | Unknown |
Government Type: | Fiefdom |
Established: | Beginning of Zhou dynasty |
Year Start: | Zhou dynasty |
Event End: | Invaded by Xirong |
Date End: | Mid-Spring and Autumn period |
Today: | China |
Bi was a Chinese vassal state during the Western Zhou dynasty and the Spring and Autumn period.
King Wen of Zhou's fifteenth son, Bi Gonggao, is the primogenitor of the state of Bi. Thus, the surname of the rulers of Bi was Ji. Bi Gonggao was given the title of Duke of Bi by King Wu of Zhou. Since his eldest son Kai Bo was given the another title to the state of Kai, his second son Bi Zhong inherited the state of Bi.[1] [2]
After 400 years, Bi was destroyed by the Xirong. Following King Ping of Zhou's move east to the vicinity of Louyang, Bi may have continued into the Warring States period.[3]
After the fall of Bi, Bi Wan, a descendent of Bi Gonggao, defected to Jin, where he was made a doctor by Jin Xiangong. Bi Wan, after accompanying the Duke of Jin on many expeditions and making many outstanding military achievements, was given the title of Bi Wan Yu Wei and the Wei clan by Duke Xian of Jin. His descendant, Wei Wenhou, was canonized by the king of Zhou as one of the seven heroes of the Warring States after dividing Jin with Zhao and Han.