“Soft Subjugation”: Chu’s Relations with the State of Zeng

Political centralization and the annexation of rival polities are commonly viewed as the dominant patterns of territorial expansion in preimperial China. This article draws attention to an alternative mode of expansion, in which the defeated state was allowed to continue as a dependency or a satellite of the major power. Through an analysis of the political trajectory of the state of Zeng 曾/Sui 隨 from a Zhou stronghold to a faithful satellite of Chu, I argue that Chu’s success was not solely attributable to its overwhelming military power, but also to other factors-such as reliance on Chu consorts in Zeng’s court as agents of influence, and even successfully positioning Chu as a potential replacer of the Zhou house. By exploring Zeng-Chu relations from the perspective of the weaker ally, I aim to elucidate the surprising appeal of Chu’s “soft” methods of subjugation. However, the article also demonstrates the limitations of “soft” methods in ensuring Chu’s lasting dominance.