Shěn (state)

Shěn (State) refers to several distinct concepts within the Chinese historical and cultural context. It most commonly denotes:

• States of the Zhou Dynasty (周朝): During the Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046-256 BCE), numerous feudal states (诸侯国, zhūhóuguó) existed, each ruled by a noble family. Several of these states bore the name "Shěn." The most prominent was the State of Shěn (申), located in present-day Nanyang, Henan Province. It was a significant state allied with the Zhou dynasty and played a key role in the early Zhou period. The daughter of the Marquis of Shen was the queen of King You of Zhou, and her father orchestrated the alliance that overthrew him.

• A surname (姓): "Shěn" (申) is also a common Chinese surname. Individuals with the surname Shěn may not be directly related to the historical State of Shěn, as surnames can have diverse origins.

• A component of other terms: Shěn (申) appears as a character in various Chinese words and phrases, where it can have different meanings depending on the context. The basic meaning of the character 申 includes "to extend," "to explain," "to state," or "the ninth of the twelve Earthly Branches." It is often used to mean something stated or declared.