Xian (Chinese: 弦)[3] was a minor state of the Western Zhou and Spring and Autumn periods, whose capital was located at modern-day Qishui, Huangzhou District.

While it controlled only a small territory along the Yangtze, the Wei clan (隗) that ruled Xian maintained far-reaching diplomatic and marital relations with many neighboring states.

[4] In the early Spring and Autumn period, the state of Chu grew in power and began to expand its influence over eastern Hubei.

Despite Chu's power, he felt secure because of his marital ties with the states of Jiang, Huang, Dao, and Bo, which in turn were allies of the hegemon of China, Duke Huan of Qi.

This overconfidence led to Xian's ruin according to the Zuo Zhuan, as no one came to help the state when it was actually invaded by a Chu army under Dou Gouwutu in 655 BC.