non-eldest son (in ancient times)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 2 examplesnoun
non-eldest son of an emperor or feudal lord (in ancient China)
archaicHistorical, archaic term related to the feudal lineage and inheritance system. Refers specifically to sons who are not the primary heir.
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
bié别
zǐ子
tōng通
cháng常
bù不
néng能
jì继
chéng承
wáng王
wèi位
。
In ancient times, the non-eldest son typically could not inherit the throne.
Gēn根
jù据
Zhōu周
lǐ礼
，
zhū诸
hóu侯
de的
bié别
zǐ子
huì会
fēn分
fēng封
dào到
qí其
tā他
dì地
fāng方
。
According to the rites of Zhou, the non-eldest sons of feudal lords would be enfeoffed to other territories.