Tan (state)

State of Tan
譚
1046 BCE–684 BCE
Tan is in the east
Capital		Mingshui (明水)
Languages		Old Chinese
Government		Viscountcy
History
•	Established	1046 BCE
•	Disestablished	684 BCE

Tan (Chinese: 譚; pinyin: Tán; Wade–Giles: Tan²; 1046–684 BCE) was an ancient state located in present-day Shandong Province, China. It is the first state reported to be "extinguished" during the Spring and Autumn period.

In 1046 BCE, Zhou, the last king of the Shang Dynasty, was defeated at the Battle of Muye by King Wu, founder of the Zhou Dynasty. Following this victory, he founded a number of small subordinate vassal states to be ruled by his brothers and generals. One of these was the State of Tan, which was located just East of present-day Jinan, the capital of the present-day Shandong Province. The Tan rulers, who were reputed to be descendants of Yu the Great (the legendary ancient king and founder of the Xia Dynasty), were given the then-new heredity title of zijue (tzu-chueh - 子爵) or viscount.

In February 684 BCE, when rulers of neighboring states went to congratulate Duke Huan of Qi, ruler of the neighboring State of Qi, on defeating the State of Lu and the State of Song, Xian Li, the ruler of Tan declined to go.

Later in October of that year, the ruler of Qi used this discourtesy as an excuse to attack Xian Li and his three brothers. After ten days, his siege was successful, and Xian Li fled with 200 members of the royal court to the State of Ju, where his son, Qi Yi (祁義), was the ruler. Qi Yi was the first to change his clan name to Tan in memory of their defeated state.