Abstract: There was a state named Yu in the Shang and Zhou dynasties. In the Shang Dynasty, the military leader called “little official Yu” was in the state Yu. People in the state had connection with a clan by marriage. The state Yu was located in Xiajin county, Shandong province in the Shang and Zhou dynasties. By examining the related inscriptions on bronze objects, we could know more historical details about the state Yu.

Key words: the State Yu, little official Yu, rhinoceros vessel of little official Yu