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Warring States Period Wikipedia

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Alternative meaning: Sengoku Period|Warring States Period (Japan)

The Warring States Period (traditional Chinese: 戰國時代, simplified Chinese: 战国时代 pinyin Zh??ngu?? Sh??d??i) 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 Zhou Dynasty|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. While it is frequently cited as 475 BC, following the Spring and Autumn Period, 403 BC, the date of the tripartition of the State of Jin, is also sometimes considered as the beginning of the period.

Image:China_2c.jpg|left|thumb|Warring States period. The Warring States Period, in contrast to the Spring and Autumn Period, was a period when regional warlords annexed smaller states around them and consolidated their rule. The process began in the Spring and Autumn Period, and by the 3rd century BC, there were seven major states that rose to prominence. The seven states, known as the "Seven Great Powers" (戰國七雄/战国七雄 Zh??ngu?? Qīxi??ng), are the State of Qi|Qi (齊), the State of Chu|Chu (楚), the State of Yan|Yan (燕), the State of Han|Han (韓), the State of Zhao|Zhao (趙), the State of Wei|Wei (魏) and the State of Qin|Qin (秦). Another sign of this shift in power was a change in title: warlords still considered themselves dukes (公 pinyin: gōng) of the Zhou Dynasty king; but now the warlords began to call themselves kings (王 pinyin: w??ng), meaning they were equal to the Zhou king.

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 (philosophy)|Legalism (formulated by Han Feizi) and Mohism (formulated by Mo Zi). Trade also became important, and some merchants had considerable power in politics. Military tactics also changed. Unlike the Spring and Autumn Period, most armies in the Warring States Period made combined use of infantry and cavalry, and the use of chariots gradually fell into disfavor.

Last Modified:   2005-02-27