See other feudal states of the Zhou period. The state of Cai 蔡 was a feudal state of the Zhou period 周 (11th cent.-221 BCE). As a small state of the Central Plain, it had always to cope with the ambitions of the larger states of the south. The first nobleman enfeoffed with Cai was Cai Shu Du 蔡叔度, a brother of King Wu of Zhou 周武王 (11th cent.), the founder of the Zhou dynasty. When the Duke of Zhou 周公旦 took over regency for young king Cheng 周成王, Cai Shu Du doubted the Duke's sincerity and called him a usurper. The Duke defeated Cai Shu Du in battle and had him exiled. Cai Shu Du's son Hu 胡, posthumously known as Cai Zhong 蔡仲, from the beginning declared his loyalty to the Duke of Zhou and was appointed minister of Lu 魯, the Duke's fiefdom, and later enfeoffed with the territory originally bestowed to his father, the state of Cai. In the history Shiji 史記 the dukes of Cai are called "marquesses" (hou 侯). During the reign of Duke Ai 蔡哀公 (r. 694-675), a princess of the small state of Xi 息 passed the court of Cai on her way to merry the duke of Chen 陳. Marquis Ai did not treat her with the required etiquette, and the Marquis of Xi therefore asked the king of Chu 楚 to attack Cai. Duke Ai was captured and kept in custody until his death nine years later. His son, Duke Mu 蔡穆公 (also called Duke Miu 蔡繆公, r. 674-645), had a sister married to Duke Huan of Qi 齊桓公 (r. 685-643). When he was unpleased with her (there is the story of her rocking a boat against the Duke's will), he sent her back. Duke Mu thereupon gave his sister to somebody else, a step which enraged Duke Huan of Qi, so that he sent out an army, conquered Cai and arrested Duke Mu. Only when the other feudal lords apologized for the misdoings of Cai, Duke Mu was set free. Duke Jing 蔡景公 (r. 591-543) arranged a marriage of his heir apparent with a princess from Chu. The father-in-law had an affair with the girl, so that Prince Ban 般 killed his own father and mounted the throne, as Duke Ling 蔡靈公 (r. 542-531). For his patricide, Marquis Ling was, many years later, lured into a trap by King Ling of Chu 楚靈王 (r. 540-529). The king of Chu entertained him and made his guest drunk, only to massacre him and his whole retinue. Prince Qiji 棄疾 of Chu then conquered the territory of Cai, and his father enfeoffed him as Duke of Cai. Three years later, Prince Qiji killed the king of Chu and made himself king of Chu, known as King Ping of Chu 楚平王 (r. 528-516). He gave back the fief of Cai to a younger son of the house of Cai, Prince Lu 廬, known as Duke Ping of Cai 蔡平公 (r. 530-522). Duke Ping was killed by Prince Dongguo 東國, a grandson of Duke Ling, who would reign as Duke Dao 蔡悼公 (r. 521-519). During the reign of Duke Zhao 蔡昭公 (r. 518-491), a visit to the king of Chu brought new disaster. The counselor-in-chief of Chu, Zichang 子常, desired the same precious fur coat as Duke Zhao had presented to the king of Chu, and as he wore himself. When Duke Zhao refused, Zichang infamized the Duke with the king of Chu, so that the latter detained Duke Zhao. Only when the Duke gave away the fur coat to the counselor, he was set free. Back at home, he asked the duke of Jin 晉 for assistance in a revenge campaign against Chu. Chu, on its side, attacked Cai after Jin had occupied the territory of Shen 沈. Duke Zhao sent his son as a host to the state of Wu 吳, which, on its side, was to attack Chu. King Helü 闔閭 (r. 514-496 BCE) of Wu was indeed able to destroy the armies of Chu and to occupy Chu for a while. The revenge campaigns continued, and Duke Zhao again called for help with King Helü. King Helü, in order to have an easier game, ordered Duke Zhao to shift his residence more to the southeast, to Zhoulai 州來 (also called Xiacai 下蔡). The nobles of Cai were angry about the Duke's self-contained management of the state affairs and had him murdered. Duke Zhao was followed by his son, Duke Cheng 蔡成公 (r. 490-472). At that time Cai was not more than a vassal state of Wu. In 447 Chu finally destroyed Cai. Source: Shiji 史記 35, Guan Cai shijia 管蔡世家. Rulers of Cai 蔡 Capitals: Shangcai 上蔡 (modern Shangcai, Henan), Xincai 新蔡 (modern Xincai, Henan; Zhoulai 州來), Xiacai 下蔡 (modern Fengtai 鳳台, Anhui), Gaocai 高蔡 (?; modern Changde 常德, Hunan) Note: The reign dates are given according to Western reckoning. In Chinese chronicles, the year after the first New Year of a rule is seen as the first year of reign. Example: Duke Ping died in 522, his son Duke Dao immediately acceeded to the throne, yet Chinese chronicles see 521 as his first (full) year of reign (Cai Daogong 1). dynastic title See also titles of rulers. personal name time Cai Shu Du, Ruler of Cai 蔡叔度 Ji Du 姬度 Brother of King Zhou Wuwang 周武王. Hu, Elder of Cai 蔡仲胡 Ji Hu 姬胡 Huang, Baron of Cai 蔡伯荒 Ji Huang 姬荒 Cai Gonghou 蔡宮侯 Cai Lihou 蔡厲侯 Cai Wuhou 蔡武侯 864-838 Cai Yihou 蔡夷侯 838-808 Cai Xihou 蔡釐侯 (or 僖侯) Ji Zhao 姬肇 808-762 Cai Gonghou 蔡共侯 Ji Xing 姬興 762-760 Cai Daihou 蔡戴侯 760-750 Cai Xuangong 蔡宣公 Ji Kaofu 姬考父 750-715 Cai Huangong 蔡桓公 Ji Fengren 姬封人 715-695 Cai Aigong 蔡哀公 Ji Xianwu 姬獻舞 695-675 Cai Mugong 蔡穆公 Ji Xi 姬肸 675-645 Cai Zhuanggong 蔡莊公 Ji Jiawu 姬甲午 645-612 Cai Wengong 蔡文公 Ji Shen 姬申 1 612-592 Cai Jinggong 蔡景公 Ji Gu 姬固 592-543 Cai Linggong 蔡靈公 Ji Ban 姬般 543-531 Cai Pinggong 蔡平公 Ji Lu 姬廬 531-522 Cai Daogong 蔡悼公 Ji Dongguo 姬東國 522-519 Cai Zhaogong 蔡昭公 Ji Shen 姬申 2 519-491 Cai Chenggong 蔡成公 Ji Shuo 姬朔 491-472 Cai Shenggong 蔡聲公 Ji Chan 姬產 472-457 Cai Yuangong 蔡元公 457-451 Qi, Marquis of Cai 蔡侯齊 Ji Qi 姬齊 451-447 447 Cai destroyed by Chu 楚.