feudal lords; vassal rulers
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
feudal lords; vassal rulers (in ancient China)
formalHistorical term referring to the rulers of vassal states during the Zhou Dynasty and later periods who owed allegiance to the Son of Heaven (天子). Often used in historical and literary contexts.
Chūn春
qiū秋
zhàn战
guó国
shí时
qí期
，
zhū诸
hóu侯
zhēng争
bà霸
，
zhàn战
luàn乱
bù不
duàn断
。
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the feudal lords vied for hegemony, and wars were constant.
Zhōu周
tiān天
zǐ子
fēn分
fēng封
zhū诸
hóu侯
，
yǐ以
píng屏
fān藩
wáng王
shì室
。
The Son of Heaven of Zhou enfeoffed the feudal lords to protect the royal family.
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Zhè这
xiē些
zhū诸
hóu侯
guó国
gè各
zì自
wéi为
zhèng政
，
bù不
tīng听
cóng从
zhōng中
yāng央
hào号
lìng令
。
These feudal states each acted in their own way, not obeying the central government's commands.
Tā他
zì自
bǐ比
gǔ古
dài代
zhū诸
hóu侯
，
tǒng统
lǐng领
yī一
fāng方
bǎi百
xìng姓
。
He likened himself to the feudal lords of ancient times, ruling over the people of a region.