诸侯

諸侯

zhūhóu

noun #44,049

Meanings

1 feudal lords
2 vassal princes serving under the Zhou king
3 (by extension) regional power-holders

Characters

marquis, feudal lord

Examples

春秋时期，诸侯争霸。

Chūnqiū shíqī, zhūhóu zhēngbà.

During the Spring and Autumn period, the feudal lords vied for hegemony.

苟全性命于乱世，不求闻达于诸侯。

Gǒu quán xìngmìng yú luànshì, bù qiú wéndá yú zhūhóu.

Merely seeking to preserve my life in chaotic times, not seeking fame among the lords. (Zhuge Liang)

Tips

history

Under the Zhou (1046–256 BCE), the king granted fiefs to 诸侯 in return for tribute and military service. By the Spring and Autumn period these lords were strong enough to ignore the king — the political backdrop for Confucius and most early Chinese classics.

Stroke Order

诸 zhū

侯 hóu