Warring States Period
- Alternative meaning: Warring States Period (Japan)
The Warring States Period (traditional Chinese: 戰國時代, simplified Chinese: 战国时代 pinyin Zhànguó Shídài) takes place from sometime in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by Qin in 221 BC. It is nominally considered to be the second part of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, following the Spring and Autumn Period. Like the Spring and Autumn Period, the king of Zhou acted merely as a figurehead. The name Warring States Period was named after Record of the Warring States compiled in early Han Dynasty. The date for the beginning of the Warring States Period is somewhat in dispute: it is traditionally considered to be in 475 BC, right after the end of the Spring and Autumn Period. However 403 BC is also in consideration, when the tripartite of the State of Jin happened.
The Warring States Period saw the proliferation of iron working in China, replacing bronze as the dominant metal used in warfare. Areas such as Shu (modern Sichuan) and Yue (modern Zhejiang) were also brought into the Chinese cultural sphere during this time. Walls built by the states to keep out northern nomadic tribes and each other were the precursors of the Great Wall of China. Different philosophies developed into the Hundred Schools of Thought, including Confucianism (elaborated by Mencius), Taoism (elaborated by Zhuang Zi), Legalism (formulated by Han Feizi) and Mohism (formulated by Mo Zi). Trade also became important, and some merchants had considerable power in politics.
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Partition of Jin
In the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Jin (晉) is arguably the most powerful state in China. However, near the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, the power of the ruling family weakened, and Jin gradually come under the control of six large families (六卿). By the beginning of the Warring States Period, after numerous power struggles, there were four families left: the Zhi (智) family, the Wei (魏) family, the Zhao (趙) family, and the Han (韓) family, with the Zhi family being the dominant power in Jin. Zhi Yao (智瑶), the last head of the Zhi familiy, attempted a coalition with the Wei family and the Han family to destroy the Zhao family. However, because of the Zhi Yao's arrogance and disrespect towards the other families, the Wei family and Han family secretly allied with the Zhao family, and the three families launched a surprise attack that anniliated the Zhi family.
In 403 BC, the three major families of Jin, with the approval of the Zhou king, partition Jin into three states (三家分晉): the State of Han, the State of Zhao, and the State of Wei. The three family heads were given the title of Marquess (侯), and because the three states were originally part of Jin, they are also referred to as the Three Jins (三晉). The State of Jin continue to exist with a tiny piece of territory until 376 BC when the rest of the territory was partitioned by the Three Jins.
Change of Government in Qi
In 389 BC, the Tian (田) family seize control of the State of Qi and was given the title of Duke. The old Jiang (姜) family's State of Qi continued to exist with a small piece of territory until 379 BC, when it was finally absorbed into Tian family's State of Qi.
Early strife in the Three Jins, Qi, and Qin
In 371 BC, Marquess Wu of Wei passed away without specifying a successor, causing Wei to fall into an internal war of succession. After three years of civil war, Zhao and Han, sensing an opportunity, invaded Wei. On the verge of conquering Wei, the leaders of Zhao and Han fell into disagreement on what to do with Wei and both armies mysteriously retreated. As a result, King Hui of Wei (he's still a Marquess at the time) was able to ascend onto the throne of Wei.
In 354 BC, King Hui of Wei initiated a large scale attack at Zhao, which some historians believe was to avenge the earlier near destruction of Wei. By 353 BC, Zhao was losing badly, and one of their major cities Handan (邯郸) (a city that will eventually become Zhao's capital) was being seiged. As a result the neighbouring State of Qi decided to help Zhao. The strategy Qi used, suggested by the famous tactician Sun Bun (孫臏) (who at the time was the Qi army advisor), was to attack Wei's territory while the main Wei army is busy seiging Zhao, forcing Wei to retreat. The strategy was a success; the Wei army hastily retreated, and encountered the Qi midway, culminating into the Battle of Guiling (pinyin: gui4 ling2) (桂陵之戰) where Wei was decisively defeated. The event spawned the famous phrase "圍魏救趙", meaning attacking Wei to save Zhao.
In 341 BC, Wei attacked Han, and Qi interfered again. The two generals from the previous Battle of Guiling met again, and due to the brilliant strategy of Sun Bun, Wei was again decisively defeated at the Battle of Maling (馬陵之戰).
The situation for Wei took a even worse turn when Qin, taking advantage of Wei series of defeats by Qi, attacked Wei in 340 BC under the advise of famous Qin reformer Shang Yang (商鞅). Wei was devastatingly defeated and was forced to cede a large portion of its territory to achieve a truce. This left their capital Anyi vulnerable, so Wei was also forced to move their capital to Daliang.
After these series of events, Wei became severely weakened, and the Qi and Qin became two of the dominant states in China.
Shang Yang's reforms in Qin
Around 359 BC, Shang Yang (商鞅), a minister of the State of Qin, initiated a series of reforms that transformed Qin from a backward state into one that surpasses the other six states. It is generally regarded that this is the point where Qin started to become the most dominant state in China.
See Shang Yang's page for a summary of the reforms and policies that was instituted.
Ascension of the Kingdoms
In 334 BC, the rulers of Wei and Qi agreed to recognize each other as Kings (王), formalizing the independence of the states and the powerlessness of the Zhou throne since the beginning of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. The King of Wei and the King of Qi joins the ranks of the King of Chu, whose predecessors had been Kings since the Spring and Autumn Period. From this point on, all the other states eventually declare their Kingship, signifying the beginning of the end of the Zhou Dynasty.
In 325 BC, the ruler of Qin declared himself as King.
In 323 BC, the rulers of Han and Yan declared themselves as King.
In 318 BC, the ruler of Song declared himself as King.
The ruler of Zhao held out until around 299 BC, and was the last to declare himself as King.
Chu expansion and defeats
In early Warring States Period, Chu was one of the strongest state in China. The state rose to a new level around 389 BC when the King of Chu named the famous reformer Wu Qi (吳起) as its prime minister.
Chu rose to its peak in 334 BC when it gained vast amounts of territory. The series of events began when Yue begin preparations to attack Qi. The King of Qi sent a emissary who persuaded the King of Yue to attack Chu instead. Yue initiated a large scale attack at Chu, but was devastatingly defeated by Chu's counterattack. Chu then proceeded to conquer the State of Yue (越).
(in progress)
The Domination of Qin and the resulting Grand Strategies
Towards the end of the Warring States Period, the State of Qin became disproportionately powerful compared to the other six states. As a result, the policies of the six states became overwhelmingly oriented towards dealing with the Qin threat, with two opposing schools of thought: Hezong (合縱/合纵 pinyin: hézòng), or alliance with each other to repel Qin expansionism; and Lianheng (連橫/连横 pinyin: liánhéng), or alliance with Qin to participate in its ascendancy. There were some initial successes in Hezong, though it eventually broke down. Qin repeatedly exploited the Lianheng strategy to defeat the states one by one.
In 316 BC, Qin conquers the Shu area.
(in progress)
Zhao's military reforms
307 BC. Adoption of superior non-chinese clothing and cavalry (胡服騎射).
(in progress)
Qin's conquest of China
In 222 BC, Qin conquers Yan and Zhao.
In 221 BC, Qin conquers Qi, completing the unification of China, and ushering in the Qin Dynasty.
Media that takes place in the Warring States Period
The 2002 movie Hero, one of mainland China's highest grossing films domestically, takes place during this period.
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