Zou (state)
Zou ( Chinese 鄒 ) was a small Chinese state during the spring and autumn annals (722 to 481 BC) and the Warring States period (475 BC and 221 BC). Its original name was Zhu (邾), which was later changed to Zou. Zou State was located in the southwest of what is now Shandong Province . Its area lies on that of today's urban district Zoucheng (邹城市) and other districts, south of the old state of Lu .
The family name (姓) of the ruling family was Cao (曹). Zou State was conquered and annexed to Chu State during the reign of King Xuan of Chu (楚 宣王) (369-340 BC).
The small state is the home of the Chinese philosopher Mencius .