Brief introduction and historical overview of the Warring States Period

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B.C

Trunk and branch

week

Qin

Qi

Chu

Jin

Zhao

Wei

Han

Swallow

Jiang Qi

Tianqi

four hundred and seventy-five

Bing Yin

Yuan Wang 1

Li Gonggong 2

Pinggong 6

Huiwang 14

Dinggong 37

Xiangzi 1

Xiaogong 23

four hundred and seventy-four

Ding Mao

two

three

seven

fifteen

Outgoing 1

two

twenty-four

four hundred and sixty-eight

Gui You

Zhen Ding Wang 1

nine

thirteen

twenty-one

seven

eight

thirty

four hundred and fifty-five

Bing Xu

fourteen

twenty-two

Xuangong 1

thirty-four

twenty

twenty-one

forty-three

four hundred and fifty-four

Ding Hai

fifteen

twenty-three

two

thirty-five

twenty-one

twenty-two

Chenggong 1

four hundred and fifty-one

Geng Chen

eighteen

twenty-six

five

thirty-eight

Jing Gong 1

twenty-five

four

four hundred and forty-five

Bing Shen

twenty-four

thirty-two

eleven

forty-four

seven

thirty-one

Wenhou 1

ten

four hundred and forty-two

Already Hai

twenty-seven

Manic public 1

fourteen

forty-seven

ten

thirty-four

four

thirteen

four hundred and forty

Xin Chou

Kaowang 1

three

sixteen

forty-nine

twelve

thirty-six

six

fifteen

four hundred and thirty-eight

Gui Mao

three

five

eighteen

fifty-one

fourteen

thirty-eight

eight

Wengong 1

four hundred and thirty-three

Wu Shen

eight

ten

twenty-three

fifty-six

You gong 1

forty-three

thirteen

six

four hundred and thirty-one

Geng Chen

ten

twelve

twenty-five

Jian Wang 1

three

forty-five

fifteen

eight

four hundred and twenty-eight

Gui Chou

thirteen

Huaigong 1

twenty-eight

four

six

forty-eight

eighteen

eleven

four hundred and twenty-five

Bing Chen

King Willy 1

four

thirty-one

seven

nine

fifty-one

twenty-one

fourteen

four hundred and twenty-four

Ding Si

two

Linggong 1

thirty-two

eight

ten

Huanzi 1

twenty-two

Wu Zi 1

fifteen

four hundred and twenty-three

Wu Wu

three

two

thirty-three

nine

eleven

Xian Hou 1

twenty-three

two

sixteen

four hundred and fifteen

Bing Yin

eleven

ten

forty-one

seventeen

Liegong 1

nine

thirty-one

ten

twenty-four

four hundred and fourteen

Ding Mao

twelve

Jian gong1

forty-two

eighteen

two

ten

thirty-two

eleven

Jian gong1

four hundred and ten

Xin Wei

sixteen

five

forty-six

Mourn son 1

twenty-two

six

fourteen

thirty-six

fifteen

five

four hundred and eight

Gui You

eighteen

seven

forty-eight

three

twenty-four

eight

Liehou 1

thirty-eight

Jing Hou 1

seven

four hundred and seven

Jia Xu

nineteen

eight

forty-nine

four

Sound King 1

nine

two

thirty-nine

two

eight

four hundred and four

Ding Chou

twenty-two

eleven

Kang gong1

Hezi 1

four

twelve

five

forty-two

five

eleven

four hundred and one

Geng Chen

An Wang 1

fourteen

four

four

Mourn King 1

fifteen

eight

forty-five

eight

fourteen

three hundred and ninety-nine

Ren Wu

three

Huigong 1

six

six

three

seventeen

ten

forty-seven

Liehou 1

sixteen

three hundred and ninety-five

Bing Xu

seven

five

ten

ten

seven

twenty-one

fourteen

Wuhou 1

five

twenty

three hundred and eighty-eight

Gui Si

fourteen

twelve

seventeen

seventeen

fourteen

Duke Huan 1

twenty-one

eight

twelve

twenty-seven

three hundred and eighty-six

Yi Wei

sixteen

Outcast 1

nineteen

one

sixteen

three

Jing Hou 1

ten

Wenhou 1

twenty-nine

three hundred and eighty-four

Ding You

An Wang 18

Xian Gong 1

Kanggong 21

Hezi 3

Mourn the king 18

Duke Huan 5

Jing Hou 3

Wuhou 12

Wenhou 3

Jian Gong 31

three hundred and eighty-three

Wu Xu

nineteen

two

twenty-two

Qi Houshan 1

nineteen

six

four

thirteen

four

thirty-two

three hundred and eighty

Xin Chou

twenty-two

five

twenty-five

four

King Su 1

nine

seven

sixteen

seven

thirty-five

three hundred and seventy-nine

Ren Yin

twenty-three

six

(dead) 26

five

two

ten

eight

seventeen

eight

thirty-six

three hundred and seventy-six

Yi Si

twenty-six

nine

eight

five

thirteen

eleven

twenty

AI Hou 1

thirty-nine

three hundred and seventy-five

Bing Wu

Liewang 1

ten

nine

six

fourteen

twelve

twenty-one

two

forty

three hundred and seventy-four

Ding Wei

two

eleven

Duke Huan 1

seven

fifteen

Chenghou 1

twenty-two

Yi Hou 1

forty-one

three hundred and sixty-nine

Ren Zi

seven

sixteen

six

Xuanwang 1

(dead) 20

six

Huiwang 1

six

Duke Huan 1

three hundred and sixty-eight

Gui Chou

Xianwang 1

seventeen

seven

two

seven

two

seven

two

three hundred and sixty-two

Has not

seven

twenty-three

thirteen

eight

thirteen

eight

Zhaohou 1

eight

three hundred and sixty-one

Geng Shen

eight

Xiaogong 1

fourteen

nine

fourteen

nine

two

Wengong 1

three hundred and fifty-six

Yi Chou

thirteen

six

Weiwang 1

fourteen

nineteen

fourteen

seven

six

three hundred and forty-nine

Ren Shen

twenty

thirteen

eight

twenty-one

Su Hou 1

twenty-one

fourteen

thirteen

three hundred and thirty-nine

Ren Wu

thirty

twenty-three

eighteen

Weiwang 1

eleven

thirty-one

twenty-four

twenty-three

three hundred and thirty-seven

Jia Shen

thirty-two

Huiwenwang 1

twenty

three

thirteen

thirty-three

twenty-six

twenty-five

three hundred and thirty-four

Ding Hai

thirty-five

four

twenty-three

six

sixteen

Houyuan 1

twenty-nine

twenty-eight

three hundred and thirty-two

Already ugly

thirty-seven

six

twenty-five

eight

eighteen

three

Yihuiwang 1

Yi Wang 1

three hundred and twenty-eight

Gui Si

forty-one

ten

twenty-nine

Huai Wang 1

twenty-two

seven

five

five

three hundred and twenty-five

Bing Shen

forty-four

thirteen

thirty-two

four

Wuling King 1

ten

eight

eight

three hundred and twenty-four

Ding You

forty-five

Gengyuan 1

thirty-three

five

two

eleven

nine

nine

three hundred and twenty

Xin Chou

Shen Liang Wang 1

five

thirty-seven

nine

six

fifteen

thirteen

Yan Wangkuai 1

three hundred and nineteen

Ren Yin

two

six

Xuanwang 1

ten

seven

sixteen

fourteen

two

three hundred and eighteen

Gui Mao

three

seven

two

eleven

eight

Xiangwang 1

fifteen

three

three hundred and fourteen

Ding Wei

Nanwang 1

eleven

six

fifteen

twelve

five

nineteen

seven

three hundred and eleven

Geng Chen

four

fourteen

nine

eighteen

fifteen

eight

Xiangwang 1

Zhaowang 1

three hundred and ten

Xin Hai

five

Wu Wang 1

ten

nineteen

sixteen

nine

two

two

three hundred and six

Yi Mao

nine

Zhaowang 1

fourteen

twenty-three

twenty

thirteen

six

six

three hundred

Xin You

Nanwang 15

Zhaowang 7

Min Wang 1

Huai Wang 29

Wu Lingwang 26

Xiangwang 19

Xiangwang 12

Zhaowang 12

two hundred and ninety-eight

Gui Hai

seventeen

nine

three

Qingxiang King 1

Huiwenwang 1

twenty-one

fourteen

fourteen

two hundred and ninety-five

Bing Yin

twenty

twelve

six

four

four

Zhaowang 1

Li Wang 1

seventeen

two hundred and eighty-three

Wu Yin

thirty-two

twenty-four

Xiangwang 1

sixteen

sixteen

thirteen

thirteen

twenty-nine

two hundred and seventy-eight

Gui Wei

thirty-seven

twenty-nine

six

twenty-one

twenty-one

eighteen

eighteen

Huiwang 1

two hundred and seventy-six

Yi You

thirty-nine

thirty-one

eight

twenty-three

twenty-three

An Li Wang 1

twenty

three

two hundred and seventy-two

Ji Chou

forty-three

thirty-five

twelve

twenty-seven

twenty-seven

five

Huanhuiwang 1

seven

two hundred and seventy-one

Geng Chen

forty-four

thirty-six

thirteen

twenty-eight

twenty-eight

six

two

Wu Chengwang 1

two hundred and sixty-five

Bing Shen

fifty

forty-two

nineteen

thirty-four

Xiaocheng King 1

twelve

eight

seven

two hundred and sixty-four

Ding You

fifty-one

forty-three

Qi Wangjian 1

thirty-five

two

thirteen

nine

eight

two hundred and sixty-two

Ji Hai

fifty-three

forty-five

three

Kaolie King 1

four

fifteen

eleven

ten

two hundred and fifty-seven

Jia Chen

fifty-eight

fifty

eight

six

nine

twenty

sixteen

Filial piety King 1

two hundred and fifty-six

Yi Si

(dead) 59

fifty-one

nine

seven

ten

twenty-one

seventeen

two

two hundred and fifty-four

Ding Wei

fifty-three

eleven

nine

twelve

twenty-three

nineteen

Yan Wangxi 1

two hundred and fifty

Xin Hai

Xiaowen King 1

fifteen

thirteen

sixteen

twenty-seven

twenty-three

five

two hundred and forty-nine

Ren Zi

Zhuang Xiangwang 1

sixteen

fourteen

seventeen

twenty-eight

twenty-four

six

two hundred and forty-six

Yi Mao

Qin wangzheng 1

nineteen

seventeen

twenty

thirty-one

twenty-seven

nine

two hundred and forty-four

Ding Si

three

twenty-one

nineteen

Mourn Xianggong 1

thirty-three

twenty-nine

eleven

two hundred and forty-two

Ji Wei

five

twenty-three

twenty-one

three

King min 1

thirty-one

thirteen

two hundred and thirty-eight

Gui Hai

nine

twenty-seven

twenty-five

seven

five

Han Wang’an 1

seventeen

two hundred and thirty-seven

Jia Zi

ten

twenty-eight

Youwang 1

eight

six

two

eighteen

two hundred and thirty-five

Bing Yin

twelve

thirty

three

Zhao wangqian 1

eight

four

twenty

two hundred and twenty-seven

Jia Xu

twenty

thirty-eight

Chu king negative ruminant 1

Dai Wangjia 1

Wei Wang holiday 1

(died in September)

twenty-eight

two hundred and twenty-five

Bing Zi

twenty-two

forty

three

three

(death) 3

thirty

two hundred and twenty-three

Wu Yin

twenty-four

forty-two

(dead) 5

five

thirty-two

two hundred and twenty-two

Ji Mao

twenty-five

forty-three

(dead) 6

(dead) 33

two hundred and twenty-one

Geng Chen

twenty-six

(dead) 44

B.C

Trunk and branch

week

Qin

Jiang Qi

Tianqi

Chu

Jin

Zhao

Wei

Han

Swallow

Qi

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the Warring States period

After the spring and Autumn period, that is, the second half of the Zhou Dynasty, entered the era of Seven Kingdoms competing for supremacy. This period was recorded in the Warring States policy compiled by Liu Xiang at the end of the Western Han Dynasty, so people call it the Warring States period. According to the historical records? Chronology of the six kingdoms, the Warring States period began in 475 B.C. (the first year of the king of Zhou and Yuan Dynasties) or from the division of the Han, Zhao and Wei dynasties into Jin Dynasty (403 B.C.) to 221 B.C. (the 26th year of the first emperor of Qin), and the first emperor of Qin unified the six kingdoms. During the Warring States period, the seven feudal powers of Wei, Zhao, Han, Qi, Chu, Qin and Yan, namely the seven heroes of the Warring States period, fought for years, and the struggle in military, political and diplomatic aspects was very intense. As the Shang Yang reform of the state of Qin played an important role in enriching the country and strengthening the army, the state of Qin finally came from behind, destroyed the other six countries one by one, completed the great cause of “the king of Qin swept the Six Harmonies”, and formed a unified country with “the sea is a county and the laws are unified”. Among the seven heroes, reforms were implemented in a race to enrich the country and strengthen the army. The reforms implemented by Li Xuan of the state of Wei, Wu Qi of the state of Chu, and Shang Yang of the state of Qin all promoted social progress to a certain extent. The strategists represented by Su Qin and Zhang Yi were very active in the diplomatic struggle. During the Warring States period, the development of Commerce and transportation promoted each other, and some famous cities appeared. Dujiangyan, zhengguoqu, chasm and other famous water conservancy projects not only promoted agriculture at that time, but also benefited future generations. In terms of the development of culture and ideology, during the Warring States period, hundreds of schools of thought contended and debaters rose, creating a brilliant Pre-Qin culture, which has a great impact on future generations.

With the construction of water conservancy, the use of iron and the promotion of cattle farming, the economy of the Feudal States developed in the middle and late spring and Autumn period, and the political situation also changed accordingly. The influence of the ministers and officials in the interior of the princes gradually developed, such as the famous Sanhuan in the state of Lu, the Tian family in the state of Qi, and the six ministers in the state of Jin. They use their own economic strength to control and divide public offices, and fight with each other to expand their territory. The six ministers of Jin fought to the end, leaving Han, Wei and Zhao. In the 23rd year of King Weilie of Zhou (403 BC), the king of Zhou officially recognized the three families as princes. In the eleventh year of king an of Zhou (391 BC), Tian min abolished the Duke of Qi Kang and established himself as the monarch, which was also recognized by the king of Zhou. The victory of the three Jin Dynasties and the Tian family announced the cruel political law of the survival of the strong and the elimination of the weak. Therefore, starting from the reform of Li Xuan in the state of Wei, all countries competed to carry out the reform movement with the goal of enriching the country and strengthening the army. The core of the reform is to fix workers on the land in order to increase the tax revenue of the country. With the deepening of social civilization, the rulers’ greed for material enjoyment expanded rapidly. The most direct way to increase the amount of exploitation is to plunder more land, and the most convenient way to plunder land is war. Therefore, wars were frequent during this period. According to statistics, in the 255 years from the first year of King yuan of Zhou Dynasty (475 BC) to the 16th year of King Qin’s reign (221 BC), there were 230 wars, large and small. When the war broke out, tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people were frequently dispatched from both sides. At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, Liu Xiang compiled various materials about this period of history into a book, named “Warring States policy”. From then on, this historical stage was called the Warring States period.

Seven heroes of the Warring States Period

During the Warring States period, the most powerful were Qi, Chu, Yan, Qin, Han, Zhao and Wei, known as the “seven heroes of the Warring States period”.

In the spring and Autumn period, there were more than 100 countries. After continuous annexation, there were about a dozen countries in the early Warring States period. The great powers include Qin, Wei, Han, Yan, Zhao, Qi and Chu, namely “the seven heroes of the Warring States period”. In addition, Vietnam is a relatively powerful country. Small countries include Eastern Zhou, song, Wei, Zhongshan, Lu, Teng, Zou, etc. In addition, many ethnic minorities are distributed around, including Linhu, Loufan, Donghu, Yiqu in the north and northwest, Ba, Shu and Yue in the south.

Territory and geography of the seven countries:

Qin: it occupies the present Guanzhong and Hanzhong of Shaanxi, the southeast of Gansu and most of Sichuan Province.

Wei: it occupies about the southwest of this mountain, the north, the middle and the east of Henan

Zhao: it occupies about the northwest and central parts of this mountain and the central and southwest parts of Hebei and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Han: it occupies about the central and western parts of Henan and the southeast of Shanxi

Qi: it occupies about the northeast of this mountain, the South and west of Hebei, and the southeast of Shanxi

Chu: it occupies about a part of today’s Hubei Province, Henan, Anhui, Hunan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang

Yan: it occupies a part of northern Hebei, Liaoning and Jilin

In the early Warring States period, the “seven heroes” were formed, and countries spent their energy on internal consolidation. All countries recruit talents and work hard for governance. The reform and reform of Li Xuan, Wu Qi, Shang Yang and others took place during this period.

The middle of the Warring States period was the time of the great war. It’s really a scuffle situation of “no peace in the country, no peace in the year”, and “no fixed diplomatic relations between the States, no fixed masters of the earth”. In order to maintain their own survival and expand the power of their territory, monarchs have successively become kings and dominate the country. On the one hand, strengthen centralization, reform and strengthen armaments; On the other hand, they frequently strive for the “vertical” and “horizontal” of other countries in diplomacy.

In the late Warring States period, King Zhaoxiang of the state of Qin used fan Sui as the prime minister, adopted the plan of “distant communication and close attack”, destroyed the “joint vertical” of all countries, strengthened the national strength and military of the state of Qin, became the first powerful country in the Warring States period, and weakened the strength of all countries.

National reforms and the new centralized monarchy

A. Li Ying’s reform in the state of Wei

Wei Wenhou (445 BC – 396 BC) appointed Li Xuan to carry out reform, do his best to teach, establish military soldiers, and put Wu Qi, Ximen Bao and others in charge of local governance and economic development, becoming the first powerful country in the early Warring States period.

Reform content:

1. Abolish the system of ministers and officials and establish a feudal bureaucratic system. According to the principle of “food and salary are meritorious”, officials are selected according to merit and ability, aristocratic privileges are weakened, and a feudal bureaucratic system is established.

2. Promote the teaching of doing your best.

3. Implement the flat purchase method.

4. Write the Sutra of Dharma.

B. Wu Qi reform in Chu state

Background: the state of Chu declined, and the king of Chu mourned with Wu Qi reform. Wu Qi (about 440 BC – about 381 BC), a member of the state of Wei, failed to seek development in the state of Wei, went to the state of Lu, studied under Zeng Shen’s door, and took Qi Tian Ju’er as his wife. Zeng Zi interrupted the relationship between teachers and students because he did not go home to his mother’s funeral. Lu Mu used him as a general, and he killed his wife for a general. After arriving in Wei Dynasty, he participated in Li Yun’s reform. In 383 BC, when Wu was Marquis of Wei Dynasty, Wu Qi was ostracized by the Duke of Wei Dynasty and left Wei to Chu. In the 20th year of king an of Zhou (382 BC), King mourn of Chu appointed Wu Qi to carry out the reform, reduced redundant officials, abolished the aristocratic Shiqing Shidi, issued a decree in the Ming Dynasty, and banned private requests, which also became increasingly powerful. However, the old forces of the state of Chu were too strong. As soon as king mourn of Chu died, Wu Qi was shot dead by random arrows.

The content of the reform is:

1. Making clear the law and order: that is to formulate a series of laws and publicly announce them, strictly review the orders of governments at all levels, and implement supervision at all levels to ensure the implementation of the new law.

2. Seizing titles and salaries: those who have been granted titles for three generations will take back their titles and salaries, abolish the special treatment of estranged people in the public race, and move some old nobles to desolate areas.

3. Reduce the number of officials: reduce the salary expenses and spend the saved money on training the army.

4. Rectify the administration of officials and block private doors: officials are required to do no harm to justice, do justice without damaging reputation, and serve the landlord regime wholeheartedly.

C. The King of Qi Wei used Zou Ji to reform… Zou Ji satirized the king of Qi and accepted advice

King Hui of Wei moved the capital of the state to Daliang, recruited scholars, developed water conservancy, used troops abroad, and attempted to annex the Wei state with Puyang as its capital, which caused dissatisfaction among the surrounding countries. At this time, King Wei of Qi appointed Zou Ji and others to carry out reform, vigorously rectify politics, encourage subjects to advise, formulate laws, appease exiles, and the economy developed rapidly, becoming a big country second only to Wei. In the battle of Guilin in the 16th year of King Xian of Zhou (353 BC) and the battle of Maling in the 28th year of King Xian of Zhou (341 BC), the state of Qi defeated the Wei army with Tianji as general and Sun Bin as military division. From then on, the state of Qi became the strongest country in the Central Plains. In order to meet the demand for talents, King Xuan of Qi expanded the Jixia school palace located in Linzi, the capital of Qi. Scholars who came to Jixia were given generous salaries and comfortable living treatment, so that they could concentrate on academic work, cultivate disciples, and promote academic progress and prosperity.

D. Shang Yang reform

In the 13th year (356 BC) and 19th year (350 BC) of King Xian of Zhou Dynasty, Qin Xiaogong appointed Shang Yang to carry out the most thorough reform. Shang Yang’s reform encouraged population growth, emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, abolished the system of emperor Shi Qing and Emperor Shi Lu, rewarded military merit, established household registration, and implemented the law of continuous sitting, making Qin the most powerful country after the mid Warring States period. Although Shang Yang was later killed by a car crack, the new law has not been abolished.

Main contents:

1. Wasteland, open paths and seal borders.

Qianmo is the field boundary of cultivated land. Originally, everyone had a share of land, and there was no fixed field boundary, because fallow land is everyone’s public land, and cultivated land often needs to be re divided. Shang Yang’s reform encouraged the people to expand the area of cultivated land and develop production. To open the paddy field is to expand the cultivated land of the people and set the paddy field as a fixed field boundary, which provides a favorable guarantee for land users. Fiefdoms are the boundaries on the borders of the emperor, princes, aristocratic fiefs or fields. Gathering soil on the boundaries is called fiefdoms, which are also marked by planting trees, and are called fiefdoms. Kaifeng Xinjiang was a demarcation of the private lands and houses of the aristocrats at that time. Opening the fenced roads means breaking the old fenced roads, re planning, and not moving without permission. This maintained the feudal private ownership of land and was conducive to the development of local economy.

2. Reward military merit and prohibit private fighting

To reward military merit, those who have military merit can be rewarded with knights, lands and officials. Kill one of the enemy’s warriors, and obtain the first rank of the nobility, Tian Yiqing, Zhai Jiumu, and a concubine, which can be an official with 50 stone salaries. The 20th rank of military merit was established, (1) Gongshi; (2) Shangzao; (3) Zan Xiang (also known as Mou ren); (4) No change; (5) Doctor; (6) Official doctor; (7) Public doctor; (8) Public ride; (9) 5 doctors; (10) Zuo Shuchang; (11) Right Shu Chang; (12) Zuo Geng; (13) Zhonggeng; (14) Right change; (15) Less manufacturing; (16) Da shangzao; (17) Si Che Shu Chang; (18) Great concubines; (19) Guanneihou; (20) Chehou. According to the rank, various privileges, commutations, costumes and graves are granted. Private fighting is strictly prohibited, and those who violate it will be punished according to the severity. This encouraged people to fight for the country, and produced a large number of self-employed farmers and landlords, forming a situation in which “the people are brave in public war and afraid of private struggle”.

3. Pay attention to the principal and suppress the end, and reward farming and weaving

At that time, agriculture was called the primary industry, which was the basis for the prosperity of the country and the strength of the army, while commerce and handicraft industry were called “the last industry”. Shang Yang exempted those who worked hard in agriculture from taxes and servitude, while those who engaged in business or were lazy so that they could not pay taxes were confiscated as official slaves. This is beneficial to the development of agricultural production. In order to increase taxes and encourage family production, it is stipulated that two adult men in the family must separate their families after marriage and set up another family. Women must marry at a certain age, otherwise, they will pay more taxes. Objectively, it promoted the development of small-scale peasant economy, which became an important feature of feudal economy. Every family has become a production and management unit, dividing up their property, so that the class is constantly changing.

4. Implement the county system

Qin Xiaogong used to have county-level administrative agencies, but it was not common. Shang Yang’s reform generally implemented the county system. Counties with more than 10000 households set up orders, and those with less than 10000 households set up governors with salaries ranging from 30000 stone to 1000 stone. There were mayors under county governors and governors. Officials received state salaries, and the monarch had the right to appoint and remove them. This set of institutions was conducive to centralization of power and became the embryonic form of China’s feudal state machine.

Join vertically and horizontally

The state of Qi and the state of Qin faced each other from east to west, waging a struggle to win over other feudal states and isolate each other, while the states of Han, Wei, Zhao, Chu, Yan and so on swayed in the fight against Qi and Qin. At this time, there appeared two famous politicians, Zhang Yi and Gongsun Yan, who were horizontal (dividing the six countries) and vertical (United against Qin).

The powerful state of Qin continued to expand its territory to the East. In the 40th year of King Xian of Zhou (329 BC), Zhang Yi, a member of the Wei Dynasty, came to the state of Qin and proposed to be friendly with Wei and Chu. Then, with the cooperation of Wei and Chu, he attacked Xincheng and Yiyang in South Korea. The general team drove to Luoyang, coerced the emperor to order the princes, and finally turned around to attack the territory of Wei and Chu, forcing all the princes in the world to serve Qin in the west to complete the great cause of becoming king. This strategy was right in the heart of huiwenjun, so Zhang Yi was the guest Qing. Zhang Yi repeatedly encouraged the Qin army to attack the state of Wei, and returned the land seized to the state of Wei, forcing the state of Wei to first serve the state of Qin. Fifteen counties of Nashang county were given to Qin, posing a great threat to other Eastern countries. Zhang Yi was appointed the State Minister of Qin. In the 46th year of King Xian of Zhou Dynasty (323 BC), the Wei general Gongsun Yanxing made the five kingdoms of Wei, Han, Zhao, Yan and Zhongshan recognize each other’s monarchs as kings to unite against Qin. But soon, the state of Chu sent troops to attack Wei, and gongsunyan’s strategy was frustrated. Wei xianghuishi’s joint activities with Qi and Chu were also defeated and expelled. King Hui of Wei was hit by Qi and Chu, so he had to appoint Zhang Yi as Wei Xiang in the 47th year of King Xian of Zhou (322 BC) to unite the troops of Qin and Han to attack Qi and Chu. However, Zhang Yi’s real intention was to ask the state of Wei to first deal with Qin and let other feudal states follow suit. King Wei Hui did not listen to Zhang Yi’s advice. With the support of Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, Han and other countries, in the second year of King Zhou Shenliang (319 BC), he drove Zhang Yi away and took gongsunyan as Wei Xiang. The following year, gongsunyan launched the five kingdoms of Wei, Chu, Yan, Zhao and Han to attack Qin for the first time, with King Huai of Chu as the commander, and was defeated by Qin.

Since then, Qin continued to attack the three Jin Dynasties, and took advantage of the opportunity of Bashu mutual attack, sent troops to occupy the whole territory of Bashu, and obtained a rich rear base. In the fifth year of King Shen of Zhou Dynasty (316 BC), King Yan gave up the throne to the son of the prime minister. For three years, Zizhi was king. There was chaos in the country. The general city was attacked by the party in peace with the prince. The people countered and killed the prince in peace. Tens of thousands of people died. King Xuan of Qi took the opportunity to send troops to attack Yan, and in more than 50 days, he captured the whole territory of Yan. As the Qi army killed a large number of civilians, Yan people rose up and resisted, and the Qi army was forced to retreat. But this proved that the power of Qi was still quite strong. At the same time, the alliance between Qi and Chu strengthened the strength of Qi and Qin.

The focus of the struggle between Qi and Qin was to win over Chu. Chu’s national strength began to be weak. In the early Warring States period, King mourn of Chu appointed Wu Qi as the Lingyin, implemented the reform, and the country was prosperous and strong. At one stroke, he defeated the state of Wei and sent troops to attack Qin. In 381 BC, when the king of Chu died, the new law of Wu Qi was abolished, and the state of Chu went downhill day by day. In order to destroy the alliance between Chu and Qi, Zhang Yi sent an envoy to the state of Chu in the second year of King Nan of Zhou (313 BC), breaking up diplomatic ties between Chu and Qi. The state of Qin sent Zhang Yi into Chu to preach “Lianheng” to King Huai of Chu, persuaded Chu Jue Qi to leave Qin, and made an oral wish at the cost of returning Chu Shang Yu (now in the southwest of Xichuan County, Henan Province) 600 miles. King Huai of Chu believed it and broke off diplomatic relations with the state of Qi. When the state of Chu sent people to seek land from the state of Qin, Qin Xiang Zhang Yi said cunningly, “I agreed with the king of Chu that it was six miles, but I didn’t hear it was six hundred miles.” King Huai of Chu was very angry and sent troops to attack Qin. The Qin army defeated the Chu army in Danyang, 800 Chu soldiers were killed, Chu general qu bing was captured, and Qin captured 600 li of Hanzhong of Chu. Zhang Yi persuaded Han, Zhao, Yan and Qin Lianheng. In the 14th year of King Nan of Zhou (301 BC), Qi, Han and Wei jointly ruled Chu and killed Tang Mei, the general of Chu. In the 16th year of King Nan of Zhou (299 BC), King Huai of Chu was cheated to Qin, detained, and finally died in the state of Qin. The state of Wei took advantage of the emptiness of the state of Chu and attacked the state of Chu. The state of Qi did not support the state of Chu. The state of Chu suffered heavy losses and never recovered.

In the eighth year of King Nan of Zhou (307 BC), King Wuling of Zhao practiced riding and shooting in Hufu, changed the traditional soldiers of armor into cavalry, and changed the war of chariots into mobile war, which greatly enhanced the military strength of the state of Zhao and became a new obstacle to the Eastward Development of the state of Qin. In order to attack the state of Zhao, King Zhao of Qin sent Wei Ran, the Marquis of Qi, to Qi. King Zhao of Qi and King Zhao of Qin claimed the throne at the same time, and united the five nations to attack Zhao. Su Qin, a lobbyist, saw through Qin’s conspiracy and advised the king of Qi to give up his imperial title, launch a joint campaign to join the armies of Yan, Han, Wei and Zhao, and jointly attack Qin in the 28th year of King Nan of Zhou (287 BC). Qin was forced to cede land to Wei and Zhao for peace. Since then, Zhao she, Lian Po and Lin Xiangru, the generals of Zhao, have repeatedly smashed the military attacks and diplomatic pressure of the Qin people and safeguarded Zhao’s dignity and territory.

In 286 BC, the state of Qi destroyed the state of song, which was very powerful at that time, causing anxiety in all countries. The state of Qin United Yan, Chu, Han, Zhao, Wei and other countries to jointly attack Qi. In 284 BC, it defeated the Qi army in Jixi (now the south of Liaocheng, Shandong). Since he succeeded to the throne, King Yan Zhao has worked hard, humbled himself and acted virtuously, and avenged himself with shame. Zhou people, Su Qin and Wei people, Leyi, were put in high positions. Leyi helped King Yan Zhao to carry out political reform, so that the state of Yan was quickly restored and developed. Su Qin, as a spy, sent to the state of Qi to persuade the king of Qi to attack song and Chu, so as to weaken the power of Qi. They also agreed with Zhao, Wei, Chu and other countries to jointly attack Qi. In the 31st year of King Nan of Zhou (284 BC), Yan general Leyi led the troops of Yan, Zhao, Qin, Wei and Chu to jointly attack Qi, and has been attacking Linzi, the capital of Qi, and seizing most of its territory. Qi Jiang Tian Dan used the internal contradictions of Yan state to expel Yan army and recover the lost land. However, the state of Qi has lost its ability to compete with the state of Qin.

The state of Qin weakened the state of Qi in the “joint vertical” struggle and began to develop towards the East.

Sweep Liuhe

In the 37th year of King Nan of Zhou (278 BC), Bai Qi, a general of Qin, attacked the capital of Chu, Ying City, opening the prelude to the unification war of Qin. The state of Chu evaded the power of the Qin army and moved its capital to Chen. The patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who was distressed by the fall of the country, threw himself into the Miluo River. In the 44th year of King Nan of Zhou (271 BC), Ke Qing fan Ju offered the policy of “communicating from afar and attacking at close quarters” to King Zhao of Qin, that is, to form an alliance with distant countries, concentrate on defeating neighboring countries first, and then gradually annex other countries. King Zhao of Qin Na fan Ju’s strategy, in the 50th year of King Nan of Zhou (265 years ago), sent troops to attack South Korea, closed the connection between Shangdang Prefecture and Xinzheng, handu City, and forced South Korea to dedicate Shangdang to Qin. The army and people of Shangdang appealed to Zhao for help, and Zhao sent Veteran General Lian Po to garrison in Changping to support Shangdang. In the 54th year of King Nan of Zhou Dynasty (260 B.C.), Qin sent General Wang Fu to seize the Shangdang and confront the Lianpo army in Changping. Lianpo strengthened the barrier and attacked with defense, breaking the plan of the Qin army to make a quick decision. The two sides were deadlocked for four months. Qin used anti war tactics to make Zhao Kuo, who was young and energetic and could only talk on paper, replace Lian Po as the commander of the Zhao army in Changping. At the same time, the state of Qin secretly traded Bai Qi for a senior general. As soon as Zhao Kuo arrived at the front line, he took the initiative to attack. Bai Qi sent strange soldiers to divide Zhao Jun and surround Zhao Kuo. Zhao Jun was surrounded and starved for 46 days, killing people for food, and his military morale was in chaos. Zhao Kuo ventured through the siege, died on the spot, and the whole army was defeated. Bai Qi buried all the 400000 soldiers of Zhao Jun alive. The battle of Changping was the decisive battle between Qin and his last strong player in the Central Plains, and it was also the last war of the Warring States period. At this point, the six Eastern countries are no longer opponents of Qin.

Before the war of Changping, there appeared in the east the famous four princes of the Warring States period, namely, Tian Wen, the monarch of mengchang in the state of Qi, Zhao Sheng, the former monarch of Zhao Guoping, Wu Ji, the king of Xinling in the state of Wei, and Huang Xie, the monarch of Chunshen in the state of Chu. They courted soldiers, recruited guests, cared about state affairs, sought power, and took various measures to deal with the invasion of the state of Qin and save the destruction of their country. After the war of Changping, the Qin army took advantage of the situation to surround Handan, the capital of Zhao. The killing of the Qin army aroused the righteous indignation of the Zhao people and the fear of other countries. In the face of danger, Chu Chunshen and Wei Xinling led their troops to attack the Zhao army from inside to outside, defeating the Qin army. Yan Prince Dan even sent Jing Ke to assassinate King Zheng of Qin. However, the tide of history could not be reversed, and the six countries finally failed to get rid of the fate of subjugation.

During the Warring States period, the Zhou royal family even lost its nominal Communist status, but it was still barely maintained in Luoyang. When Luoyi was built in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, two cities were built. The square seventeen miles in the west is called Wangcheng, and the smaller one in the East is called Zhou. During the Warring States period, due to the internal power struggle and enfeoffment of the royal family, the Duke of the West Zhou who lived in the King City and the Duke of the East Zhou who took Gongyi (now Gongxian County, Henan Province) as the capital successively appeared. The real son of heaven, King Zhou Xian, lived under the reign of the Duke of the East Zhou. In the 59th year of King Nan of Zhou (256 BC), the Qin army captured Yangcheng (now Southeast of Dengfeng, Henan Province) and hosu (now southwest of Dengfeng) in South Korea, beheading 40000. The emperor of the Western Zhou Dynasty and the vassal troops went out of yique (now the south of Luoyang, Henan Province) to attack Qin, so as to cut off the passage between Qin and Yangcheng. King Zhao of Qin then sent troops to attack the Western Zhou Dynasty. The king of the Western Zhou Dynasty had to dedicate all his 36 cities to Qin, and the Western Zhou Dynasty perished. In the same year, King Nan of Zhou died, and the Zhou Dynasty, the kingdom of the son of heaven, ceased to exist. In the first year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin Dynasty (249 BC), LV Buwei, the Prime Minister of Qin, led his troops to destroy the Duke of Zhou in the East.

During Qin Zixiao’s reign, Shang Yang’s reform was carried out by Emperor Huiwang, Emperor Wu, and Emperor Zhao. During more than a hundred years, a relatively consolidated centralized rule was established, which paid attention to water conservancy and agricultural production, rewarded military achievements, and the army was well equipped. At the same time, it made full use of Keqing to plan wars for Qin, and became stronger and stronger in the war between China and Vietnam in the vassal states. Finally, it defeated all powerful rivals in the East and became the first powerful country in the world. Qin Xiaowen died in the first year of Wang Li’s reign (250 BC), and Qin Zhuangxiang succeeded to the throne. Lu Buwei, a businessman, was the prime minister. In the second year, he led his troops to destroy the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, and took Han Chenggao and Xingyang to build Sanchuan county. The following year, the Qin army attacked Zhao and Han, and set up Taiyuan County in Shangdang. King Zhuang Xiang died in the third year (247 BC), and the 13-year-old king of Qin succeeded him. He was later the first emperor of Qin. In the fifth year of the reign of King Qin (242 BC), the Qin army attacked Wei, seized 20 cities such as wild jujubes, and set up Dongjun. In the sixth year of the reign of King Qin (241bc), it smashed the fourth and last military attack on Qin by Chu, Zhao, Wei, Han and other countries, and also used counter measures to get rid of Wei xinlingjun, the most fierce anti Qin. So far, in front of the vast territory and powerful Qin state, the monarchs of the six Eastern countries are like the county governors of Qin.

In the ninth year of the reign of the king of Qin (238 BC), Ying Zheng took charge of the chaos of poison. Then he dispatched a large army to destroy the old forces of the six countries, which was called the destruction of the six countries by Qin. In seventeen years (230 BC), Wei in twenty-two years (225 BC), Chu in twenty-four years (223 BC), Yan and Zhao in twenty-five years (222 BC), and Qi in twenty-six years (221 BC), the first unified centralized state in Chinese history was finally established.

political system

During the Warring States period, the feudal states successively formed a central bureaucratic system in which the generals were divided under the monarch and the civil and military powers were divided. Xiang, also known as Xiang bang and prime minister, is the chief of all officials. General, also known as general, is the chief of military attache. The state of Qin began to set up the post of prime minister in the second year of King Wu (309 BC). The most noble of the prime ministers was called Xiangbang. The highest military post was initially created by Daliang, and a general was not set until King Zhao of Qin. The state of Chu has always regarded today’s Yin as the highest official position, and Zhu state or Shangzhu state as the highest military officer with a lesser status. The military officers at the second level of each country are lieutenants, or national lieutenants and dulieutenants. The Secretary of the monarch is called the censor and has the duty of supervision. The setting of counties is more common, gradually forming a pattern of counties ruled by counties. It turned out that officials were hereditary and each had a fief. Beginning in the middle of the Warring States period, the monarch gave certain grain as salary, or gold and coins to officials at all levels. At the same time, a system of seals and talismans was formed to appoint and remove officials on the basis of seals and mobilize the army on the basis of military talismans. So as to concentrate all power in the hands of the monarch. Below the county level, there are Township, village and community organizations. There are three old people and the government in the township, and there are Li Zheng in the village. Ju is a village, under which there are Wu and Shi, five families are one Wu, and there are five chiefs, ten families are one Shi, and there are five chiefs.

At the beginning of the Warring States period, the reforms in various countries further systematized the law. The Sutra of Dharma compiled by Li Xuan of the state of Wei includes theft, theft, imprisonment, arrest, miscellaneous and specific methods. The rule of theft is theft, and the rule of thief is murder. The prison law and the arrest law are the handling procedures for the detection and arrest of thieves. Miscellaneous law is a punishment for crimes other than theft and thief. The specific law is the provision to reduce or aggravate the punishment of the crime according to the situation. Qin had the punishment of clan punishment. Shang Yang reformed the law, set up the law of sitting together, and formulated strict laws, increasing corporal punishment, great reform, and the punishment of chiseling the top, pulling ribs, and cooking in the wok. Other countries are also competing to enact draconian laws. For example, Qi has the punishment of cooking, killing, drinking, golden knife, etc.; Chu has the punishment of killing, dismembering, cooking, penetrating ears, whips, flogging, cutting off, palace, shackle, gravel, destroying family, Yi clan, three ethnic groups, etc.; Yan has the punishment of amputation, abdomen cutting, imprisonment, imprisonment, etc.

technical progress

During the Warring States period, iron agricultural tools had been rejected from wood and stone agricultural tools, which were widely used in production, facilitating the felling of forests, the construction of water conservancy, the reclamation of wasteland and deep cultivation, and promoting the development of agricultural production. While deep ploughing and weeding, farmers pay attention to identifying soil properties and choosing different crops for planting according to local conditions. The fertilization technology is improved, and we know how to mix seeds with manure juice. Manure, green manure and plant ash are widely applied. Begin to pay attention to the selection of seeds, the prevention and control of insect diseases, the implementation of border planting method, the sowing density is appropriate, which is convenient for ventilation and drainage, waterlogging, good at bacon, weeding, thinning and mastering the agricultural season. The system of two crops a year is widely promoted, which greatly improves the annual output per unit area. Li Zhe of the state of Wei once estimated the grain output at that time that one mu of land (about one-third of today’s mu) could produce one stone and a half (about 41 kg today) of millet in normal years, six stone, four stone and a half, and three stone in large, medium, and small harvests, and only one stone, seven Dou, and three Dou in small, medium, and large harvests. The average farmer needs a stone and a half of grain per person per month. If a family of five eats 90 stones a year, the grain produced by a family growing 100 mu of land in normal times is enough for the whole family to eat for a year and a half.

During the Warring States period, the handicraft industry developed greatly, and the production level of iron smelting, bronze casting, lacquerware and silk weaving industry was significantly improved. He has mastered the pig iron smelting and casting technology of high-temperature liquid reduction method, and can forge high carbon steel for the sword body. Cast iron softening technology began to appear. Bronze ware is generally made by melting casting, welding, wax losing method and gold and silver inlaying process, resulting in the process of coating gold, gilding and engraving on the surface of bronze ware. The shape of bronze ware is light and smart, and the patterns are meticulous and complex, with superb technology and artistic level. It has been able to produce lead barium glaze. Lacquerware manufacturing industry has become an independent handicraft industry department. The lacquerware made is based on wood and has more than ten colors of paint, such as black, red, yellow, blue, purple, white and so on. It draws all kinds of shiny and beautiful patterns on the utensils and invents a drying agent. There are brocades with complex structures and patterns and hand knitted fabrics. There have been some large private handicrafts owners, such as Yidun, the cook supervisor of the state of Lu, the widow of Qing, who mines dansha in Badi of the state of Qin, and Guo Zong, who smelts iron in the state of Zhao.

In order to meet the needs of commercial development, there were many kinds of coins and a large number of coins in circulation during the Warring States period. The styles of copper coins in various countries are different. Qi and Yan are mainly knife shaped coins, Sanjin is mainly shovel shaped cloth coins, Qin and Zhou are mainly round coins with holes, and Chu is mainly shell shaped ant nose coins. The gold coins are pressed into squares by the state of Chu. In the early Warring States period, each stone millet in the state of Wei was sold for 30 yuan. Farmers planted 100 mu of land. In the usual harvest of the year, excluding meals and taxes, the remaining 4500 millet could be sold for 1350 yuan. In addition to the temple of the new spring and Autumn Festival in shelu, each household spent 300 yuan, each person spent 300 yuan a year on clothes, and the whole family spent 1500 yuan, less than 450 yuan.

Prose creation in the Warring States period was very prosperous, including various historical essays, essays of scholars and other prose works. These essays are written in words that are close to spoken language, or as wild as Zhuangzi, or as eloquent and moving, or passionate, or as colorful as Lianzhu Hanfeizi’s fables, or as thorough as Mencius, or as strict in logic. The perfect combination of realism and romanticism makes Qu Yuan’s poems have great artistic appeal. Song Yu’s works, while imitating Qu Yuan, have developed and created Chu Ci, and changed Fu style in Sao style, which has a great impact on the literary creation of future generations.

Major social changes

A. development of agricultural production

1. Further promotion of iron tools: a large number of iron tools have been unearthed all over the country, indicating their universality. The method has been improved, which provides a material prerequisite for the development of agricultural production.

2. Promotion of livestock farming: in addition to cattle farming, there are horse farming, which is more extensive in the region.

3. Progress in farming technology: soil identification and fertilization technology are more than 1000 years earlier than those in Europe.

4. Types and distribution of grain crops: different crops are planted due to different soils and climates in various countries, and the varieties of grain crops are also different.

5. Improvement in agriculture: at that time, one stone was equivalent to 60 Jin today. It can be seen that there was no fundamental breakthrough in China’s agriculture, and the foundation was laid at that time.

B. development of handicraft industry and Commerce

1. Development of handicraft industry

Types: Handicrafts in the Warring States period, including household handicrafts as an agricultural sideline, self-employed handicrafts, large handicrafts operated by wealthy people, and official handicrafts operated by governments of various countries.

Personnel: there are farmers, handicraftsmen, dependent poor, hired workers (tenant farmers), slaves, official slaves.

Technology: the textile industry has new products and local characteristics. Carpenters have rules (compasses), moments (curvilinear rulers), ropes (ink buckets), hidden walls, etc. Mining and prospecting technology.

Products: jades, sword heads, seals, etc. made of colored glass (i.e. glass).

2. Business development

The development of agriculture and handicraft industry and the expansion of social division of labor have brought about the development of Commerce. The government also recognized the legal existence of businessmen and levied various taxes.

Types of merchants: (1) ordinary merchants and small-scale businessmen who sell by seat. (2) Rich businessmen have both political status and strong financial resources. For details of merchants in the Warring States period, please refer to Sima Qian’s “historical records: biographies of goods colonization”.

3. The rise of cities

With the development of agriculture, handicraft industry and commerce, the formation of authoritarian centralization system has promoted the concentration of politics, economy and culture, and caused the development of cities. The representative ones are Linzi, yanxiadu of Qi State, Ying, Dingtao of Chu state, and Handan of Zhao state. Cities are not only the strongholds of the ruling class exercising its domination over the countryside, but also the places where officials, landlords, businessmen and usurers live together. Cities rule the countryside politically and exploit the countryside economically.

4. Active monetary relations

With the development of commodity exchange, monetary relations have become active. During the Warring States period, not only various countries forged coins, but also many cities forged coins. Therefore, the styles and types of coins in various regions were different. There are hundreds of Warring States coins found after liberation. From its casting materials, there are copper coins and gold coins. In terms of its shape: knife coins, popular in Qi, Yan and other countries; Shovel coins, circulating in the three Jin and other countries; Round money circulated in Qin, Eastern and Western Zhou dynasties; Tongbei (ant nose coin) circulated in the state of Chu. Chu also cast gold coins: Ying yuan and Chen Yuan. There were many kinds and large circulation, which reflected the developed commodity exchange at that time. The variety of currencies also reflects the great regionality.

With the development of money, usury is also popular. In addition, there is the policy of emphasizing agriculture and restraining commerce.

During the Warring States period, the social economy was in rapid progress, but the development of various regions was uneven. The Qi and Wei dynasties had good natural conditions and early social reform, so they became relatively developed countries in the early Warring States period. Qin was originally relatively backward. Because it was located in the fertile fields in the central Shaanxi plain and the reform was relatively thorough, it came from behind and became the most powerful country in the late Warring States period. Chu has the largest territory, fertile land, and developed handicraft industry and commerce. It was once a powerful country together with Qi and Qin, and was destroyed by Qin due to its weak military strength.

C. landlords and farmers

During the Warring States period, there were three kinds of social contradictions: the contradiction between the feudal landlord class and the peasant class, the internal contradiction of the landlord class, and the contradiction between the residual forces of the landlord and the slave owner.

The main contradiction is between landlords and peasants. And constituted the main contradiction of Chinese feudal society.

1. Type of landlord

The feudal monarch is the general representative of the landlord class and the largest land owner.

Aristocratic food landlords: the four sons of the Warring States Period: Qi mengchang Jun Tian Wen, Zhao Ping Yuanjun Zhao Sheng, Wei Xinling Jun Wei Wuji, Chu Chunshen Jun Huang Xie. They have political status, economically collect household taxes in the fief, and can also lend money at usury. They have diners and slaves at home. They are the conservative class of landlords.

Military merit bureaucrat landlords: they mainly rely on military merit and politics to obtain land and power, some of which come from the original generals, such as Uncle Cuo of the state of Wei, who received a reward of 400000 Mu at a time, and Wang Jian, who begged for the field. Some use the money given by the monarch to buy fields, such as Zhao Kuo.

Rich landlords: they started by relying on economic means, mainly big handicrafts owners and big businessmen. They made money at the end and kept it at their roots.

Cloth landlords: self-employed peasants become landlords by purchasing land through becoming officials or making money through trading. “Lu’s spring and Autumn Annals * Bo Zhi Pian” records that Ning Yue, a self-employed farmer in Zhongmou of the state of Zhao, became a teacher of Zhou Weigong, the king of the Western Zhou Dynasty, after studying in order to get rid of the labor of planting crops. He got a lot of land and became a landlord.

Although the above-mentioned landlords are not exactly the same politically and economically, they jointly form the ruling class of society, and their forces are constantly expanding.

2. Types of farmers

Citizen: it was the main part of farmers at that time. The state granted land, and farmers paid taxes to the state, and served in corvee and military service. They had independent economic and production capacity, but they could not move. They could be called farmers.

Tenant farmers: there is no land, but there are some means of production. Renting land from landlords is dependent on farmers.

Self-employed Peasants: first, the literati class, and second, soldiers who have made military achievements.

Farm labourers: not only do they have no land, but also the most basic means of production and seeds, so they have to sell labor.

3. Contradiction between peasants and landlord class

It was exploited by various taxes and corvees in feudal countries, such as “the Levy of cloth, the Levy of corn, and the Levy of labor”, and exploited by usury. It was collected violently, which intensified the contradiction between the landlord class and the peasant class.

scientific development

During the Warring States period, Gan De, an outstanding astronomer of Qi Dynasty, had astronomy astrology, and Shi Shen of Wei Dynasty had astronomy. They found that the retrograde phenomena of Mars and Venus among the five planets, measured the length of the convergence cycle of Venus and Jupiter, and determined that the value cycle of Mars was 1.9 years and that of Jupiter was 12 years, which was very close to the modern scientific determination. Shi Shen’s measurement of the distance of 28 constellations and some other star constellations is a major achievement in the quantitative observation of early stars. Later generations collectively called their works “Gan Shi Xing Jing”. During the Warring States period, the division and arrangement of the twenty-four solar terms were generally complete, which played an important role in agricultural production. In the Qin Dynasty, Zhuanxu calendar was implemented, with the beginning of the year in October and the end of the year in September.

In the book of Mo in the Warring States period, there were many geometric propositions, such as equidistant between two parallel lines, three points sharing a straight line, equal radius of the same circle, rectangular corners are right angles, etc. He invented the calculation tool Suanchu, which uses ten sticks to represent numbers in different shapes to calculate, which greatly speeds up the speed of calculation. In addition, the eight optical bars are also an important achievement of the Mojing. “KAOGONGJI” has the concept and name of simple operation method of fraction and special angle. Zhoubi Suanjing may have been written in the early Han Dynasty, but it is a summary of the experience of Surveying in the pre Qin Dynasty, in which quite complicated fractional algorithm and smoothing method are used.

Mechanical knowledge is also well elaborated in the Mo Jing. It is believed that force is the means that the human body has to transfer and change motion. It is pointed out that the balance of the lever is related to the weight at both ends and the length of the force arm. It is found that the size of the ship has a certain equilibrium relationship with the depth of its sinking in the water, which is a simple statement of the principle of buoyancy.

Philosophical thoughts

In the Warring States period, the drastic social changes put forward a series of requirements for academic culture. Coupled with the formation of the scholar class and the promotion of the rulers, many schools of thought emerged one after another, forming a situation of hundred schools of thought contending. At that time, in addition to the Confucianism and Taoism, there were also the Mohist School represented by Mo Zhai, the legalist school represented by Han Fei, the Yin Yang School represented by ZouYan, the famous family represented by Gongsun Longzi, the strategist represented by Sun Bin, the peasant family represented by Xu Xing, the strategist represented by Zhang Yi, Gongsun Yan, Su Qin, and the miscellaneous family represented by Lu Buwei. All schools and schools have written books, widely taught disciples, participated in politics, criticized each other, and penetrated each other. Academic thoughts are extremely prosperous. Qin unified the six kingdoms, advocating legalism, using Yin and Yang, burning books and pitching Confucianism, superstitious violence, and brought the aspect of legalism that exaggerated monarchy to the extreme.

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