Cai (state)

Cai (Chinese:蔡; pinyin:Cài; Wade–Giles:Ts'ai⁴; Old Chinese: *s.r̥ˤat-s) was an ancient Chinesestate established at the beginning of the Zhou dynasty, rising to prominence during the Spring and Autumn period, and destroyed early in the Warring States period.

Following his overthrow of the Shang king Zhou, King Wu of Zhou granted titles and territories to his younger brothers. The fifth brother, Cai Shu Du, was enfeoffed at present-day Shangcai (lit. "Upper Cai") in Henan. During the Three Guards Rebellion, he attempted to usurp the Duke of Zhou's position as regent to the young king and his defeat meant his deposition and exile.

Du's son Ji Hu, however, proved a loyal and capable ambassador for Cheng and the Duke of Zhou, and they rewarded him with the reestablishment of his father's territory and title, which he was able to pass on to his son, Ji Huang.

As the Chinese peerage developed, Cai was initially considered a county and then elevated to a march; it was never able, however, to become a duchy or kingdom in its own right. Invasions from Chu during the Spring and Autumn period relocated Cai several times, first to Xincai (lit. "New Cai") in 531 BC and later to Xiacai (lit. "Lower Cai") at present-day Fengtai in Anhui. In 447 BC, King Hui of Chu conquered Cai completely, but allowed the marquesses to settle near Changde in Hunan and establish a rump state called Gaocai (lit. "Tall Cai"). This was destroyed 80 years later.

With the spread of surnames to all Chinese during the Qin dynasty, many people from the former state took the surname Cai in memory of their former home.

これらの元臣民は、二度の大きな移住を経験した。西暦875年の黄朝の唐に対する反乱の際、蔡氏一族は広東省と福建省に移住した。その後、17世紀には明朝の忠臣である鄭成功が多くの蔡氏一族の官僚を台湾に移住させた。

蔡の支配者は皆、周王朝の皇帝である姫家の末裔であり、 最初の3代を除いては侯（「侯爵 」と訳される）の位を保持していた。

1. 蔡の叔度
2. 蔡の鍾胡
3. 蔡の黄伯
4. 蔡宮侯（蔡宮侯、Cài Gōnghóu ）
5. 蔡李侯(蔡厲侯、Cài Lìhóu )
6. 蔡武侯(蔡武侯、Cài Wōhóu ; 紀元前 863 – 837)
7. 蔡夷侯(蔡夷侯、Cài Yíhóu ; 紀元前 837 – 809)
8. 蔡侯（蔡釐侯、Cài Xihóu ; 紀元前 809 ～ 761 年）
9. 蔡公侯(蔡共侯、Cài Gònghóu ; 紀元前 761 – 760)
10. 蔡戴侯(蔡戴侯、Cài Dàihóu ; 紀元前 759 – 750)
11. 蔡宣侯（蔡宣侯、Cài Xuānhóu ; 紀元前749年–紀元前715年）
12. 蔡桓侯（蔡桓侯、Cài Huánhóu、旧名姬封人、Jī Fēngrén、紀元前714年–紀元前695年）
13. 蔡哀侯（蔡哀侯、Cài Āihóu ; né 姬獻舞、Jī Xianwō ; 紀元前694年– 675年）
14. 蔡穆侯（蔡穆侯、Cài Mùhóu、né 姬肸、Jī Xì、紀元前674年–紀元前646年）
15. 蔡荘侯(蔡莊侯、Cài Zhuānghóu ; 旧姓 姬甲午、Jī JiƎwō ; 紀元前 645 – 612)
16. 蔡文侯(蔡文侯, Cài Wénhóu ; né 姬申, Jī Shinēn ; 紀元前611年–紀元前592年)
17. 蔡景侯(蔡景侯、Cài JƐnghóu ; né 姬固、Jī Gù ; 紀元前 591 – 543)
18. 蔡霊侯(蔡靈侯, Cài Línghóu ; né 姬般, Jī Bān ; 紀元前542年– 531年)
19. 蔡平侯(蔡平侯, Cài Pínghóu ; 旧姓 姬廬, Jī Lú ; 紀元前 530 – 522)
20. 蔡道侯（蔡哀侯、Cài Dàohóu、旧名姬東國、Jī Dōngguó、紀元前521年–紀元前519年）
21. 蔡昭侯（蔡昭侯、Cài Zhāohhou、né 姬申、Jī Shen、紀元前518年–紀元前491年）
22. 蔡成侯（蔡成侯、Cài Chénghóu、旧名姬朔、Jī Shuò、紀元前490年–紀元前472年）
23. 蔡盛侯（蔡聲侯、Cài Shēnghóu、旧名姬産、Jī Chuinchn、紀元前471年–紀元前457年）
24. 蔡元侯(蔡元侯、Cài Yuánhóu ; 紀元前 456 – 451)
25. 蔡齊侯(蔡齊侯, Cài Hóuqí ; né 姬齊, Jī Qí ; 紀元前 450 – 447)

• 上開県

• 「中国の姓の歴史：蔡」人民日報オンライン。2007年12月10日アクセス。