Person

Duke Xian of Jin

r. 676–651 BCE · 7th century BCE

Duke Xian of Jin was ruler of the state of Jin in northern China during the Spring and Autumn period. He greatly expanded Jin by conquering neighbouring states, most famously in 655 BCE, when after bribing the State of Yu to let his army pass he destroyed Guo and then Yu itself. His favouritism towards Lady Li caused a succession crisis that drove his son Chong'er into exile.

Duke Xian of Jin
Image: 新刊古列女傳 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 2 state histories

State of YuWestern Guo

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Duke Xian of Jin. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/duke-xian-of-jin
MLA
“Duke Xian of Jin.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/duke-xian-of-jin. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Duke Xian of Jin.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/duke-xian-of-jin.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Duke Xian of Jin’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/duke-xian-of-jin (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻