Song (state)

Sòng (宋國) was a state during the Eastern Zhou Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). Its capital was Shangqiu (商丘). In 701 BC, a political marriage between Lady Yong of Song (宋雍氏) and Duke Zhuang of Zheng (as well as the capture of Zhai Zhong (祭仲), a leading warrior) empowered Song to manipulate the management of Zheng. In 651 BC, Duke Huan of Song (宋桓公) died, leaving the district to be ruled by Duke Xiang of Song (宋襄公) who reigned from 651 to 637 BC. He was considered an Overlord by some, but was unable to maintain that role. He eventually fell to the troops of Chu. Mozi references this state in the chapter "Obvious Existence of Ghosts", in which he mentions a number of "Spring and Autumn Annals", including the Zhou, Yan, and Qi as well. The "Spring and Autumn Annal of Song" has not survived.