Kingdoms combatants

The period of the Kingdoms Combatants (in Chinese 战国 (Pinyin: zhàn guó), literally country (guo) in war (zhan) ) extends, in China, of the fifth century before J-C, with the establishment of the dynasty of the Qin, in -221. It devotes the weakening of the Dynastie Zhou and the reinforcement of the capacity of the feudal princes, started during the Period of springs and the autumns. From the middle of the fifth century, seven great states emergent (Chu, Han, IQ, Qin, Wei, Yan and Zhao), which is freed gradually from the supervision of Zhou, and deliver ceaseless wars. It is one time of political crisis and morals and deep anarchy.

Its name was given to him tardily, by reference to the Stratagems of the Kingdoms Combatants (Zhanguoce 戰國策), bearing novel over this period. Previously, it was known under the name of period of the Six Kingdoms, in reference to the wars that to the Qin the six principal kingdoms delivered to it.

Several dates are sometimes quoted for its beginning. The former Chinese historians (Sima Qian in particular) made it begin in 476 av. J-C (beginning of the reign of king Yuan of Zhou). By continuity with the Period of springs and the autumns, which precedes it, some suggested -480 or -463, (end of the chronicle of Springs and Automnes, which gives its name to the previous period, or of its principal comment, the Zuo Zhuan). The modern historians make it start with the bursting of the State of Jin, that is to say 453 av. J-C (division of Jin), or 403 av. J-C (recognition by the royal capacity of the three princes resulting from the division).

It is completed in -221, by the conquest by the king of Qin of the whole of the China, and the proclamation of the Dynastie Qin.

Chronology and striking facts

Establishment of the kingdoms

Throughout the fifth century, and during first half of the fourth, the capacity and the territories of the feudal princes extend, while the traditional supports of the political system of Springs and Automnes weaken.

The State de Jin, whose reigning house already is very weakened at the end of Springs and Falls, is in prey with the internal struggles of its six large princes (六卿), powerful regional potentates, which dispute its territory. In -453, the three princes of Han, Wei, and Zhao, demolish the count de Zhi (智伯), their last rival, and divide his territory. The Jin is divided in three states, whose princes are recognized by the royal capacity in -403.

In south-east, in the area of current the Suzhou, the kingdom of Wu, which was illustrated militarily at the end of Springs and Falls (against the Chu, then IQ, is destroyed and annexed by its neighbor, the Yue, at the end of long series of wars (-473).

Everywhere, the small independent states are annexed. The Chu conquers Cai in -447 and Ji in -445. Han conquers Zheng in -385.

Lastly, with the IQ, the reigning family, Jiang, combined first hour of kings Zhou, are deposited by the Tian clan, which replaces them with the head of the country.

In the middle of the fourth century, only ten states remain, considerably more powerful than their counterparts of Springs and Automnes, and less subjected to the royal capacity (Yue are a barbarian kingdom, Tian of IQ do not belong to the old aristocracy).

One after the other, these princes take the title of king (wang). The influence of the Zhou sovereigns is limited to their tiny field, and their disappearance, in -256 passes almost unperceived.

The fight for supremacy, and the triumph of Qin

With the foreseeable disappearance of Zhou, the conquest of China becomes possible for the largest kingdoms. Chu first of all seems to have the advantage. It conquers Yue in -334, then Song in -286, and finally Lu in -249. But Qin, under the effect of the reforms Legists of Shang Yang, quickly appears most powerful of the seven kingdoms which divide China at the beginning of the third century.

In -256, the last king of Zhou yields his territory to Qin, which launches out to the conquest of the country. Han is conquered in -230, Wei in -225, Chu in -223, Zhao and Yan in -222, and IQ in -221, establishing the Dynastie Qin.


Culture and technology

This chaotic time is however paradoxically fertile on the cultural level:

  • the Chinese discover what one names usually the Théorème of Pythagore (that the Babylonian knew fifteen century before the Christian era);

  • they identify the Halley's Comet;
  • they include/understand the periodicity of the eclipse S;
  • they invent the cast iron iron, that Europe will know only at the 18th century (see the article Haut-fourneau );
  • they obtain a metal Monnaie;
  • they centralize the administration and develop written laws.

One also attends during this period the appearance of an administrative class different from the usual nobility. Instead of inheriting successively the capacity of their ancestor, these agents of the capacity will occupy of the stations of importance within their kingdom via their skill to put forward itself. Thus, from many civils servant in charge of the logistics of the armies and the service of the reigning families little by little will replace the traditional feudal organization.

From the military point of view, the period sees the increase in the size of the armies, which amount in hundreds of thousands of men. A victory of Qin over Zhao in 260 before the Christian era shows 400  000 executions. To protect their territory, the states build lines of defense, which form the outline of the Wall of China.

See too

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