ZHOU DYNASTY 1131 - 221 BC Part VIEditor's Note: This part ends the series on the Zhou Dynasty. |
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In
Shang and early Zhou times, there are two seasons on record, spring
and autumn. Confucius, who wrote the first private annals in
history, had adopted the name "Chun-Qiu" (i.e., "Spring & Autumn")
for his 18,000 character book which had a span of 242 years about
the history of the Lu Principality, from Lord Lu Yingong (BC 722) to
Lord Lu Aigong (BC 481). |
Zhou's royal house, after it relocated
to today's Luoyang, declined in its power as well as prestige. Major powers
among the subordinate statelets or principalities asserted their status by
proclaiming successively the slogan of 'Aiding Zhou Royal House By Policing
Those Rulers Who Conducted Patricides'. The five hegemon marquis or dukes of
the Spring and Autumn Period
Despite the dynasty's decline, Zhou endured for another five and half
centuries as a result of power checking among the competing statelets or
principalities. Petty city-states were swallowed by bigger powers during the
process, though. By the end of the Spring and Autumn Period (771-401 BC),
China was left with about 10 states that would soon evolve into 7 states,
called the 'Seven Strong Nations' of the Warring States (401 BC and 221 BC).
Warring States
Map linked from http://www.friesian.com
In 473 B.C., The Wu Principality was
annexed by Yueh.
Chu Principality exterminated Yueh in 344 B.C. and Lu Principality in 249
B.C.
Qi annexed the state of Song in 286 B.C.
Qin exterminated the Zhou Dynasty in 256 B.C.
The years between 401 BC and 221 BC were known as the Warring States Period.
Unlike the Spring and Autumn Period, warlords were keen on destroying each
other instead of the old tradition of maintaining royal lines should some
fiefs or principalities be overthrown by rivals. At the early times of the
Warring States Period, ten states battled for supremacy. Soon, seven
statelets were left, and that would be Qin, Chu, Haan Zhao, Wei, Yan and Qi.
A new class would be born during this time period: the speculators who were
attracted to various princes or kings of the statelets or principalities.
Most famous would be the "Four Grand Princes", namely, Prince Xinling-jun,
Lord of Wei; Prince Mengchang-jun, Lord of Qi; Prince Pingyuan-jun, Lord of
Zhao; and Prince Chunshen-jun, Lord of Chu.
Major Wars & Campaigns
The Battle of Ruge (707 BC) -
Zhou Kingdom versus Zheng
Zhou King Huanwang (Ji Lin, reign 719-697 B.C.) was not respectful to the
Zheng Count. During the fifth year of Huanwang's reign, Count Zheng, without
Zhou court's approval, had exchanged the royal veneration site of 'Xu-tian'
(near today's Xuchang, Henan) for another patch of land from Lu
Principality. Xu-tian was the place given to Duke Zhougong by King Chenwang,
and later Zhou court used this land for venerating Mount Taishan. (Count
Zheng's ancestor would be the brother of King Xuanwang, Ji You, and King
Xuanwang conferred Ji You the land of Zheng as Zheng Lord Huangong.) During
the 13th year of his reign, King Huanwang campaigned against Zheng
Principality, but incurred an arrow wound in the hands of a Zheng general by
the name of Zhu Dan. This would be called the Battle of Ruge in 707 BC. Zhou
court had rallied very little support during the campaign, and Zhou prestige
was said to have been gone by that time.
The Battle of Han-yuan ( 645 B.C.) -
Qin vs Jinn
After the death of Jinn Lord Xiangong, Li-ji's son, Xiqi, was erected, but a
minister (Li'ke) killed Xiqi; after minister Xunxi erected another cousin of
Xiqi (Dao-zi), Li'ke killed the new lord and Xunxi, consecutively. Li-ji was
killed on the streets. Li'ke first sought for Prince Chong'er, but Chong'er
declined. Li'ke then went to Prince Yiwu. Jinn Prince Yiwu sought for help
from Qin Lord Mugong in escorting him to the throne at Jinn, with a promise
of seceding to Qin 8 cities to the west of Yellow River. Qi Huangong sent
forces to help Yiwu as well, and Qi forces stopped marching at Gaoliang.
Yiwu ate his words, and killed Li'ke instead of conferring him the land of
Fengyang. Yiwu's emissary to Qin, Pi-zheng, being afraid of returning to
Jinn to receive the same fate as Li'ke, would incite Qin Lord Mugong in
having Jinn Prince Chong'er replace Yiwu. Pi-zheng was killed upon returning
to Jinn, and his son (Pi-bao) fled to Qin.
Around 648 BC, when Jinn had a dry weather related famine, Qin, against the
proposal of Pi-bao to attack Jinn, would dispatch ships with grains to Jinn,
passing from Qin capital of Yong to Jinn capital of Jiang(4). Two years
later, Qin had a famine, but Jinn refused to lend grains, and moreover
attacked Qin in 645 BC. Qin Lord Mugong and Pi-bao fought against Jinn army
at a place called Han-yuan in September. When Mugong saw Yiwu and his horse
trapped in the mud, Mugong intended to capture Yiwu. But Jinn army came to
aid Yiwu and encirlced Mugong. Three hundreds 'yeren' (countryside people)
solders, who were spared death by Mugong for eating good horses, would rush
to rescue Mugong, and moreover captured Yiwu. When Mugong intended to
sacrifice Yiwu for Lord Highhess, i.e., Heaven, Zhou court came to petition
for mercy, and Mugong's wife would beg for mercy for his brother (Yiwu).
Mugong released Yiwu in November for sake of frustrating Jinn ministers'
attempt to erect Yiqu's son.
The Battle of Chengpu (632 B.C.) -
Song-Qi-Qin-Jinn vs Chu
In 633 BC, Chu led its vassals on a siege of Song. Xian Zhen advised Jinn
Wengong that Jinn should aid Song as requital. Huyan proposed that Jinn
attack Chu's two allies of Cao and Wey. Jinn dispatched three columns of
army, with Qie Hu in the middle, Huyan in charge of the upper column, and
Luan Zhi the lower column. During Jinn Wengong's 5th year reign, i.e., in
632 BC, Jinn Wengong was refused a path by Wey for attacking Cao. Then, Jinn
crossed the river elsewhere and attacked both Cao and Wey, taking over Wulu
in Jan of 632 BC. In Feb, Jinn and Qi made an alliance at Wey land, and
refused Wey's request for being a member. When Wey lord intended to ally
with Chu, Wey ministers ousted him. Chu was defeated for aiding Wey. Jinn
then sieged Cao. In March, Jinn took over Cao capital but spared a Cao
minister's home as a requital for the early help during Chong'er exile. Chu
then lay a siege of Song. Jinn Wengong intended to attack Chu to help Song,
but he was hesitant since Chu king had given him a lot of favor before. Xian
Zhen proposed that Jinn capture Cao-bo and divide Cao & Wey land for sake of
Song so that Chu would release Song to aid Cao/Wey. Hence, Chu army withdrew
the siege of Song capital.
Chu General Zi-yue adamantly insisted on a fight with Jinn, and Chu King
allocated less soldiers. Zi-yue sent an emissary (Wan-chun) to Jinn in
request for restoration of Cao/Wey. Xian Zhen proposed that Jinn have Chu
da fu Wan-chun retained under custody to anger Zi-yue and that Jinn
privately made peace with Cao/Wey for sake of making them defect to Jinn.
Hence, Zi-yue was angered into a fight, and Jinn retreated three times as a
fulfillment of promise that Chong'er made to Chu king while duirng exile
stay at Chu. In April, Song-Qi-Qin-Jinn armies had a campaign against Chu at
Chengpu (a Wey city), burnt Chu army for days, and defeated Chu at the
Battle of Chengpu. (Zi-yue was ordered to commit suicide by Chu king later.)
Zhou King Xiangwang personally went to Jinn camp to confer Marquisdom onto
Jinn Wengong, and Jinn made a convenience palace of the king. Zheng, seeing
Chu defeat, went to ally with Jinn. In May, Jinn sent Chu prisoners to Zhou
court. Zhou king dispatched da fu Wang Zi-hu to Jinn, conferred 'bo'
(Count) onto Jin Wengong, and offered royal arrows/bows and 300 royal guards
to Jinn. Wang Zi-hu held an assembly of vassals. In June, Jinn restored Wey
lord. In the winter of 632 BC, Jinn Lord Wengong assembled vassals at a
place called Wen (near Zhengzhou, Hena Prov) and called on the Zhou king to
have a hunting party. Jinn restored Cao lord. Jinn first devised three
columns of armies, with Xun Linfu in charge of the middle column, Xian Hu
the right column, and Xian Mie the left column.
The Battle of Xiaoshan (627 B.C.) - Jinn vs Qin
The Battle of Yuzhang (508 B.C.)- Wu vs Chu
The Battle of Boju (627 B.C.) - Wu vs Chu (506 BC)
The Battle of Guiling (354 B.C.) - Qi versus Wei on behalf of Zhao
The Battle of Maling (342 B.C.) - Qi versus Wei on behalf of Haan
The Battle of Changping ( B.C.) - Qin vs Zhao
The Battle of Handan ( 262 B.C.) - Qin vs Zhao
Demise Of Zhou Kingdom
Qin Principality, under Qin King
Zhaoxiangwang, continued wars against its neighbors, Wei & Zhao
principalities. Duke Wugong of Zhou Kingdom, i.e., Xizhoujun, colluded with
the other principalities. In 264 B.C., Qin army attacked Zhou Kingdom, and
Zhou King Nanwang personally went to Qin army, bowed his head, and
surrendered 36 cities and 30,000 people to Qin. The next year, Zhou people
fled to the east. Qin acquired nine bronze untensils of Zhou Kingdom,
supposedly embodiment of the ancient Nine Prefectures of China as decribed
in Yu Gong (Lord Yü's Tributes). On the way of being shipped to
Xian'yang, Qin's capital, one of the nine untensils fell into River Sisui
and never ever was recovered again. When Xizhou-jun colluded with various
marquis for sake of restricting Qin's expansion, Qin King Zhuangxiangwang
sent his prime minister, Lu Buwei, to attack Zhou capital and relocated Zhou
king and Xizhou-jun to today's Liangxian County, Henan Province. Zhou
Kingdom officially ended in this year, 256 BC, after Zhou King Nanwang was
on the throne for 59 years. In this year, both Duke Wugong of Zhou Kingdom (Xizhoujun)
and Zhou King Nanwang passed away.
The wars of conquest already took place. In 473 BC, the Wu Principality was
annexed by Yue (Yüeh). Chu Principality exterminated Yue in 344 BC and Lu
Principality in 249 BC. Qi annexed the state of Song in 286 BC. And, Qin
exterminated the Zhou Dynasty in 256 BC. Qin Lord Zhuangxiangwang became the
king of the Qin in 249 BC (?). Shihuangdi (259-210 BC ?) became King of Qin
in 246 BC.
Unification of China
Ying Zhen
http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/picts/firstemperor.gif
The wars for unifying China now fell to the shoulder of Ying Zhen (Emperor
Shihuangdi). At this time, Qin already took over today's Sichuan Province
and the land between Sichuan and Shenxi Province and named it Nan Jun (Nanjun
or Southern Commandary). Qin also took over the two Zhou fiefs and named the
area San Chuan Jun (Three River Commandary), and the land of Taiyuan, Shanxi
Province and made them into Shangdang, Taiyuan and Hedong commandaries.
Shihuangdi gained power at the age of 13. Lü Buwei would be responsible for
all political and military matters of Qin court for the 13 years in between.
In 244 BC, General Meng Ao grabbed 13 cities from Haan Principality. In 242
BC, Meng Ao grabbed 20 cities from Wei Principality and set up Dong-jun
(East) Commandary. In 241 BC, a five statelet joint army attacked Qin. In
240 BC, comet was observed in the sky. General Meng Ao died in this year.
Qin Queen Dowager (Zi-chu's mother) died as well. In 239 BC, Prince
Chang'anjun (Cheng Jiao), while under order to attack Zhao Principality,
rebelled against his half brother Qin King. Eunuch Lao-Ai (Marquis
Changxin-hou) rebelled in 238 BC and got quelled by Qin's prime ministers
(Prince Changping-jun and Prince Changwen-jun, all princes of Chu
Principality), with two sons (Shihuangdi's half brothers) ordered killed by
throwing them onto the ground in bags. Lü Buwei was deprived of his post and
titles for being implicated to Lao-Ai. A Qi person, by the name of Mao Jiao,
somehow pursuaded Shihuangdi into welcoming his birth mother back from
banishment.
One legalist, Li Si, would play a role in Shihuangdi's political belief. Li
Si once stopped Qin King from driving non-Qin people out of Qin capital. In
face of allied attacks by various principalities, a person called Liao from
Daliang (today's Kaifeng) would propose to Qin King to sow dissension among
various principalities via bribing the ministers of the principalities.
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Terracotta General Qin Dynasty
http://www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz/exhibitions/images/0301twoemps.jpg
At
one time, Liao fled Qin as a result of fearing for his life because he
thought that Qin King, with long eyes and leopard voice, was
ferocious and might someday kill him. Qin King caught Liao and conferred him
the title of 'wei', equivalent to commander-in-charge. (Liao was hence
referred to as 'Wei-liao'.) In 236 BC, General Wang Jian was ordered to
attack Shanxi Province. In 235 BC, Lü Buwei died. His thousand followers
were reprimanded by Qin King for mourning for Lü Buwei's death. In 234-233
BC, Qin army attacked Zhao. Haan(2) King sent his prince, Hanfei-zi, to Qin.
Hanfei-zi (Haan Fei Zi), who admired the works of Shang Yang, was the prince
of the state of Haan. When Hanfei-zi came over to Qin, his classmate, Li Si,
would plot to have Qin King retain Hanfei-zi. Hanfei-zi was later killed by
Li Si out of envy for the favor that Shihuangdi had shown to Hanfei-zi.
Haan(2) King requested for vassalage with Qin. In 232 BC, Qin attacked Haan
Principality again. Earthquake was recorded in this year. In 231 BC, both
Haan and Wei surrendered some of their lands to Qin. In 230 BC, Haan was
converted into Yinchuan Commandary and Haan King An surrendered to Qin.
Earthquake was recorded again this year.
In a series of campaigns between 230 to 221 B.C., Qin, unified China and
founded the Qin Empire in 211 B.C. From 230-221 BC., Qin Emperor Shihuangdi
crushed Haan, Zhao, Wei, Yen, Chu, and Qi one by one. In 230 BC, Haan King
An surrendered. In 239 BC, General Wang Jian attacked Zhao. In 228 BC, Zhao
King Qian surrendered. Qin King went to Handan the Zhao's capital and killed
all those Zhao people who offended Ying Zhen while he was a hostage in Zhao.
In this year, Qin King's birth mother died. One Zhao prince, Jia(1), went to
the ancient Dai Prefecture and declared himself King of Dai.
Prince Jia allied with Yan Principality. In 227 BC, Prince Yan-Dan, i.e., a childhood pal of Qin King while serving as hostages in Zhao capital, sent an assassin called Jing Ke to abduct Qin King. Jing Ke, who borrowed the head of ex-Qin defector general Fan Yuqi, brought along a teenage called Qin Wuyang as his assistant. Jing Ke hid a knife inside the maps of Yan Principality and attempted to abduct and/or assassinate Qin King while he was showing the maps, but Qin King somehow escaped alive. Qin King sent General Wang Jian to attack Yan as a retaliation. In 226 BC, General Wang Ben, son of Wang Jian, took over the capital [i.e., Beijing area] and killed Prince Yan. General Wang Jian retired.
In 225, General Wang Ben attacked Wei Principality and
flooded Kaifeng. In this year, Wei King Jia(3) surrendered. In 224 BC,
General Wang Jian was recalled for attacking Chu. Chu King Fu-Chu
surrendered. Chu General Xiang Yan erected Prince Changpingjun as the new
Chu King and counter-attacked Qin south of the Huai River. In 223 BC,
General Wang Jian and General Meng Wu defeated Chu and killed Changpingjun.
General Xiang Yan committed suicide. In 222 BC, General Wang Fen pursued Yan
King who fled to the east Liaoning Province. Yan King Xi surrendered. On the
way back, General Wang Ben attacked King of Dai, Jia, and captured him.
Meanwhile, General Wang Jian went on to conquer the Yue land which was part
of Chu at the time and set up Kuaiji Commandary. In 221 BC, Qi King Jian
closed off the border with Qin. General Wang Ben went to attack Qi, and Jian
surrendered.
During the 26th year of his reign, by 221 BC, Shihuangdi completed the
unification of China and he established the so-called 'Jun-Xian System',
namely, commandary-county system, at the advice of his prime minister, Li Si
(Li Szu). Shihuangdi rezoned his country into 36 commandaries in lieu of
conferring dukes and kings to his sons.
http://brian.hoffert.faculty.noctrl.edu/TEACHING/
EmperorAndTheAssassin.html
Chronology: Unification of China Qin destroys the state of Zhou in 256 BCE Ying Zheng (the future First Emperor) becomes King of Qin in 246 BCE Lao Ai (Marquis Changxi) killed in 238 BCE Lü Buwei takes poison in 235 BCE Jing Ke dies in 227 BCE The state of Han is annexed in 230 BCE The state of Zhao is annexed in 228 BCE The state of Wei is annexed in 225 BCE The state of Chu is annexed in 223 BCE The state of Yan is annexed in 222 BCE The state of Qi is annexed in 221 BCE (completing the unification of China) |