Warring States Period — Wars Among Seven Kingdoms
What Is the Warring States Period?
Facts About the Warring States Period.
The Brief History of the Rise and Fall of the Warring States Period.
Political Structure and Social Systems.
Ritual Jade (Yu Bi) of State Lu During the Warring States Period — Shandong Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
What Is the Warring States Period?
Warring States Period (403 BC — 221 BC) was also the second half of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC — 256 BC) when seven strong kingdoms engaged in merger wars and strengthened through reforms and expansion, while the suzerain Zhou kept shrinking.
The intense contention and wars among these kingdoms led to the flourishing of technology, literature, philosophy, reform, agriculture, politics, and military, and left a series of epic stories.
The seven warring states were Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin.
The State Qin was the final winner; Qin Shi Huang defeated other kingdoms and established the unified Qin Dynasty (221 BC — 207 BC).
Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Certificate (Hu Fu) to Deploy Forces Garrisoned in Yangling — National Museum of China
Facts About the Warring States Period
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The seven great kingdoms in this period, Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin, all had their languages, characters, currencies, etc.
Seven Kingdoms and their Different Scripts for "Horse" and "Peace"
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The former feudal lords all announced themselves as the king during this period.
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Many kingdoms implemented significant reforms to improve their strength and win over others.
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The most successful reform was implemented in the State of Qin by Great Strategist Shang Yang.
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Civilians could get noble titles based on their military achievements.
Unearthed Bronze Carriage of the Warring States — Nanjing Museum
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Wars of this era were aimed at perishing other countries and were full of death and conspiracies.
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Wars in this period usually lasted for months or years, in which tens of thousands of people were involved.
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The earliest versions of the Great Wall of China were built during this era as important military defense systems.
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About two million people lost their lives because of war during this era, and the General Bai Qi of the State Qin was responsible for one million.
Jade Mythical Animal of the Warring States — The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Photo by Dongmaiying)
History of the Rise and Fall of the Warring States Period
Contention Over Seven Kingdoms and Hundred Schools of Thought
After hundreds of years of intense contentions over hegemony during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC — 403 BC), many smaller states perished, and seven powerful kingdoms left, plus a small central government of the Zhou Empire.
During this period, whoever was stronger could get more power and land; all the former lords claimed themselves kings, who were aimed at perishing other kingdoms and unifying the whole nation.
Because of fewer hierarchical constraints and more communications among the kingdoms, more ideas were exchanged and developed during this era, which was defined as the “Hundred Schools of Thought”.
