There are five titles in the Zhou Dynasty, namely, Gong, Hou, Bo, Zi and Gong. The titles of various vassal States are different, but they are often not strictly in accordance with the titles. The monarchs of many vassal states call themselves "Duke of XX", but their titles are not actually Duke.

For example, the title of Qi is Marquis, and the titles of Jin and Qin are Ors. They all call themselves "Gong", such as,,.

Only in the historical books recorded in the name of the Zhou Dynasty will there be formal titles, such as Qi Hou, Qin Bo and Jin Hou.

For example, in the Spring and Autumn Annals written by Confucius, it is recorded that "Zheng Bo can be in Yan", in which Zheng Bo is an earl, so Confucius called it "Zheng Bo", but he called himself "Zheng Zhuanggong" (in fact, he was a descendant of posthumous title) (Lu is a vassal state, and Zhou Li is in Lu), so Confucius would write "Chu" in a more formal language.

There is also a special prince here. After the Han, Zhao and Wei clans were divided into Jin, they were officially recognized as princes, and the title was Marquis. These three families called themselves "XX Hou" until they became kings.

Chu, Yue and Wu are quite special, with low titles, only viscount. However, through the continuous annexation war, the national strength and land area have been greatly improved, which is equivalent to that of major vassal States, and its strength is not worthy of the name. Besides, Zhou's office is declining. They are located in the south, which is a relatively remote office of Zhou. Therefore, in the Spring and Autumn Period, all three vassal states have established themselves as kings, that is, their "kings".

During the Warring States period, the major vassal states were kings one after another, but in the Spring and Autumn Period, only Chu, Yue and Wu were the three, of which Chu was the strongest and the earliest, and the other two were later destroyed by Chu.

Therefore, in the history of the Spring and Autumn Period, mainly the Spring and Autumn Annals, it is for these reasons that the titles of governors are different.

Zuo Chunqiu Biography

1. Zuo Zhuan generally refers to Zuo's Chunqiu Zhuan.

Zuo Zhuan, the full name of Zuo Zhuan in the Spring and Autumn Period, was originally named Zuo Chunqiu. It was also called Zuozhuan in the Spring and Autumn Period, Biography in the Spring and Autumn Period, Zuozhuan in the Han Dynasty, and Zuozhuan after the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Zuo Zhuan is a historical book annotated by Zuo Qiuming, a native of Lu, at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period. It is also called "Three Biographies of Spring and Autumn Period" together with Biography of Ram and Biography of Gu Liang. It is also China's first chronicle book with a detailed description, with a total of 35 volumes. It is one of the Confucian classics and the longest of the Thirteen Classics, and it is listed as a classic in Sikuquanshu. It covers the period from 722 BC (the year of Luyin) to 468 BC (the 27th year of Lu Aigong).

Title: Zuo's Biography in the Spring and Autumn Period

Mbth: Spring and Autumn Annals

Alias of works: Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals, Zuo Zhuan and Chunqiu Zuozhuan.

Creation Year: Early Warring States Period

Source: Spring and Autumn Annals