Ngũ Bá

Definition
  1. Proper Noun (Historical Term):
    • The Five Hegemons: A collective term for the five most powerful feudal lords (vassals) who successively held de facto supremacy during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) of the Zhou Dynasty in ancient China. They were recognized as leaders of the other states, often through military might and political alliances rather than legitimate royal authority from the Zhou king.
Usage Examples
  • Proper Noun:
    • Thời kỳ Ngũ Bá là một giai đoạn hỗn loạn và tranh giành quyền lực. (The era of the Five Hegemons was a period of chaos and power struggles.)
    • Sử sách thường nhắc đến Tề Hoàn Công là vị Bá chủ đầu tiên trong Ngũ Bá. (Historical records often mention Duke Huan of Qi as the first Hegemon among the Five Hegemons.)
Advanced Usage
  • The term is used in historical and literary analysis to describe a specific power structure where feudal lords exercised collective leadership and enforced oaths of alliance, often under the nominal pretext of supporting the weakened Zhou king.
    • Học thuyết "tôn vương nhương di" (ủng hộ vua, đánh đuổi man di) thường được Ngũ Bá sử dụng để biện minh cho các hành động của mình. (The doctrine of "revering the king and expelling the barbarians" was often used by the Five Hegemons to justify their actions.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Bá chủ (n): hegemon, a dominant leader or state.
    • Vị vua đó mơ ước trở thành bá chủ của cả vùng. (That king dreamed of becoming the hegemon of the entire region.)
  • Xuân Thu Ngũ Bá (Proper Noun): The Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period (a fuller, more formal term).
Synonyms
  • The Five Overlords: A direct synonym for "The Five Hegemons."
  • The Five Powerful Lords: A descriptive synonym emphasizing their power.
Related Concepts
  • Thời Xuân Thu: The Spring and Autumn period.
  • Chiến Quốc: The Warring States period, which followed the Spring and Autumn period.
  • Bá quyền: hegemony; the political dominance of one state over others.