Bei (state)

The State of Bei (北), also known as Northern Bei, was a minor state during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history (771 to 476 BCE). Its precise geographical location is debated amongst historians, though it is generally believed to have been located in the north of present-day Henan province or the south of Shanxi province.

Historical records regarding the State of Bei are scarce, and its existence is primarily known from brief mentions in chronicles such as the Zuo Zhuan and Guoyu. It was a relatively small and weak state, often caught in the conflicts between larger and more powerful states like Jin and Zheng.

The rulers of Bei are not well-documented, and little is known about their political system or social structure. Given its small size, it likely operated as a vassal state, owing allegiance and tribute to a more powerful protector.

The State of Bei was eventually conquered and annexed by the State of Jin, likely in the late Spring and Autumn period. The exact date of its demise is uncertain. The conquest absorbed its territory and people into Jin, effectively ending its independent existence. The limited surviving evidence offers only a fragmented picture of this minor state's history.