Chuzi II

Who is Chuzi II?

Chuzi was from 386 to 385 BC the 28th ruler of the Zhou Dynasty Chinese state of Qin that eventually united China to become the Qin Dynasty. His ancestral name was Ying, and Chuzi was his posthumous name. He was the second of two child rulers of Qin called Chuzi. His is also variously referred to as Duke Chu of Qin, Shaozhu of Qin, or Xiaozhu of Qin.

Chuzi was the grandson of Duke Jian of Qin, who was the uncle of his predecessor Duke Ling. When Duke Ling died in 415 BC, the throne was passed to his uncle Duke Jian instead of his son, the later Duke Xian. Duke Jian reigned for 15 years and was succeeded by his son, Chuzi's father Duke Hui II, who reigned for 13 years and died in 387 BC. When Chuzi succeeded his father as ruler of Qin he was either one or two years old, and the power was controlled by his mother, the duchess dowager. Just two years later, in 385 BC the minister Jun Gai rebelled against Chuzi and the duchess. He led his forces to escort Duke Xian, who was at the time exiled in the State of Wei, back to Qin, killed Chuzi and his mother, and installed Duke Xian on the throne. Chuzi was just three or four years old when he died.