公室 (gōngshì): (historical) ruling family of a…

Meanings

1 (historical) ruling family of a state during the Spring and Autumn period
2 ducal/princely house
3 (rare) office room

Characters

公

Examples

春秋时期，公室与卿大夫的权力斗争频繁。

Chūnqiū shíqī, gōngshì yǔ qīngdàfū de quánlì dòuzhēng pínfán.

During the Spring and Autumn period, power struggles between the ruling house and the noble ministers were frequent.

鲁国公室衰微，三桓掌权。

Lǔ guó gōngshì shuāiwēi, sānhuán zhǎngquán.

The ducal house of Lu declined, and the Three Huan families seized power.

Tips

history

In Chinese classical history, 公室 (gōngshì) refers to the lineage and household of a feudal ruler (a 公, gōng — duke) during the Spring and Autumn period (春秋, 770–476 BCE). The story of Lu's 三桓 (sānhuán) — three branches of the ruling house overshadowing the duke himself — is a textbook case of 公室 decline.