Cai (state)

State of Cai
蔡
Annexed
11th century BC–447 BC
Capital		Shàngcài (上蔡) Xīncài (新蔡) Xiàcài (下蔡)
Government		Monarchy
Marquis
•	1046 BC –?	Cai Shu Du
•	?-?	Ji Hu
•	?-?	Huang
•	?-?	Gōng
•	?– 863 BC	Li
•	863 BC – 837 BC	Wu
•	837 BC – 809 BC	Yi
•	809 BC - 761 BC	Xi
•	761 BC - 760 BC	Gòng
Historical era		Iron Age
•	Established	11th century BC
•	Conquered by Chu	447 BC
Succeeded by Chu (state)

Cai
"Cai" in ancient seal script (top) and modern (bottom) Chinese characters
Chinese	蔡
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Cài Gwoyeu Romatzyh Tsay Wade–Giles Ts'ai4 IPA [tsʰâi̯] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Choi Jyutping Coi3 Southern Min Tâi-lô Tshuà Middle Chinese Middle Chinese tsʰàj Old Chinese Baxter-Sagart *s.r̥ˁat-s

Cài (Chinese: 蔡; Old Chinese: *s.r̥ˁat-s) was an ancient Chinese state 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 own 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. "Great Cai"). This was destroyed 80 years later.