What were the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Seven Heroes of the Warring States Period fighting for?

This is an era rich in idioms and allusions

(Some idioms from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, drawn by @Terraced Fields/Planet Research Institute)

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This is a great achievement in Chinese history.

The era when most countries named themselves

(The inheritance of the country name in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, drawn by @Terrace/Planet Research Institute)

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This era is called

Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period

(770-221 BC)

Countless heroes have sacrificed themselves for the country

Countless hegemonies loom over the earth

(Sword of Goujian, King of Yue, still has clear texture after more than 2,000 years, photographer @周权, map @台田/星球研究院)

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Bashu, the Three Jins, and the Qilu

Eight Hundred Miles of Qinchuan... and so on and so forth

Separatist regimes in Chinese dynasties

Most of them use the names of countries from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

And it has also given rise to China's unique " political geography "

(Wu was the name of a country during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Today, it generally refers to the southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang areas. The picture below shows Taihu Lake. Photographer: Zhu Jinhua)

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According to the Planetary Research Institute

Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period

It is the era that gave birth to "One China"

The cohesive power of China forged in this era

Has been passed down in the hearts of every Chinese

Never Disappeared

So, what is this cohesive force?

How does it make China China?

Want to answer these questions

We need to go back to where it was born.

01 Origin of land reclamation

11th century BC

A tribe called Zhou

Entering the Central Plains

Conquered many tribes of different surnames

(Tiger eating man's horn, photographer @笑谈间气吐霓虹, map @台田/星球研究院)

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The Zhou leader tried

Your own blood

Assigned to many different tribes

Marry or co-rule with local people

Political leader and family head merged into one

(A jade figure from the Western Zhou Dynasty, richly decorated, most likely a noble of the time, image from @孙岩, Visual China, map by @台田/星球研究院)

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They spread outward

The supreme leader "Zhou Tianzi" (King of Zhou)

His sons became princes of various countries

The sons of the princes became ministers of the state.

The sons of the nobles became scholars who worked in the government.

······

A huge family ruling network

Spread out on the ground

(Western Zhou bronze human face, these bronze facial decorations were mainly unearthed in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Beijing and other places, basically in the many states of the Western Zhou Dynasty, pictures from @Visual China, Long Shijie, map @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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At that time, the population of the Zhou people was about 60,000 to 70,000.

At their feet is

A vast continent of more than 1.5 million square kilometers

The "country" obtained by each prince

At first it was just a city, a stronghold

We can also call it a " city state "

Small countries scattered across the continent

The territories of various countries are not connected, and there is no so-called "national border"

Stable agriculture allows population to continue to grow

The princes took the city as their center

Gradually expanding the territory

(Please watch in horizontal mode, early expansion of Zhou, map by @吴昕恬/Planet Research Institute)

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This is a huge

The opening up of China’s territory

Inside and outside the territories of the princes

There are also "barbarians" and so on.

Many ungoverned groups

Their fighting power is no weaker than that of the Zhou people.

When the Zhou people expanded

The living space of the barbarians is squeezed

They chose to attack the Zhou emperor's residence

Killed the then Zhou emperor, King You of Zhou

(The Zhouyuan site in Baoji, Shaanxi, was the largest and most important capital of the Western Zhou Dynasty. The most "luxurious" vehicles from the Shang and Zhou dynasties ever found were discovered here. Image from @Visual China, map by @吴昕恬&台田/星球研究院)

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Royal dignity lost

The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period began

Since the Neolithic Age

A cultural region formed over thousands of years

In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period

A hundred flowers bloom, competing for beauty

Each cultural region gave birth to its own great country

(Distribution of Chinese prehistoric cultural circles, drawn by @吴昕恬/Planet Research Institute)

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The Zhou royal family was one of the great powers.

More like "Wulin Leader"

When the Zhou royal family's martial arts were no longer

All major countries

They will compete for the position of leader of the martial arts world.

This is the " contest "

02 Secret Fight among the Princes

The first to appear is Duke Zhuang of Zheng

He was the first ruler to try to "use the emperor to control the princes"

During his reign, Zheng State rose to become the largest country in the Central Plains.

After his death, the power of Zheng State plummeted.

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the Nine Cauldrons and Eight Gui of the Duke of Zheng, the princes of Zheng usurped the emperor's etiquette, photographer @柳叶氘, map @台田/星球研究院)

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Later Duke Huan of Qi

Appointing the capable minister Guan Zhong to establish hegemony

" When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they have enough food and clothing, they know honor and disgrace "

But after Duke Huan left, Qi's glory was gone forever.

It is said that due to civil unrest

Duke Huan's remains were left untouched for 67 days.

The maggots from the rotting corpse crawled out the door, and the end was miserable.

(The above is from Guanzi·Mumin, the picture below is Qihou Yi, a cultural relic of Qi State, the picture comes from @Qiu Daocen, Visual China, and the map is @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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Once a talented monarch dies

The whole country will be weakened

The underlying logic of this monarch determining the fate of the country

It is blood relations that strongly control society

The son of a king is still the king

Children of commoners are still commoners

People are shrouded in the shadow of their ancestors

Only monarchs are qualified to fight for hegemony

(Bronze kneeling figurine, the figurine is performing a kneeling ceremony, the picture comes from @Visual China, the map is @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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The princes who were fighting against each other

Often led by the Overlord

Gathering around the Jongmyo Shrine

It is called "Alliance"

They worship the same ancestor together

Hold a grand banquet

(The Bronze House of Music and Dance, this Bronze House may be the ancestral temple of the Yue people, the picture comes from @Visual China, the map is @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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Between the cups

Diplomats learned from the Book of Songs

Choose the verses you like and recite them at the banquet

Quoting classics and writing brilliantly

Demonstrating a hostile stance

Elegant, so elegant

Monarchs often settled "household affairs" at banquets.

The Duke of Jin was the uncle of the 12-year-old Duke Xiang of Lu

He believed that Duke Xiang of Lu should hold a coming-of-age ceremony

Duke Xiang of Lu accepted this suggestion.

A ceremony was held at the Weiguo Ancestral Temple

Because Wei and Lu were from the same clan in the Zhou Dynasty.

(Jin Temple, formerly known as Jinwang Temple, was built to commemorate the founding princes of the Jin State, namely the King of Jin. Photographer: @李如国)

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If you lived in the Spring and Autumn Period

I often see people from a certain country

Facing the passage of foreign troops, they remain indifferent

When another country sets up camp near a certain country

The monarch of the country will not interfere.

If war disturbs us to the point where we can't survive

People will flee to other lands

Name this place after my home country

After all, the continent is vast

so

The main goal of the Spring and Autumn Period

It is about striving for hegemony rather than destroying the country

It is to make the country obedient, to ask for tribute, money and silk

All the kings are one family.

Just decide on a "head of the family"

What is unification? Why do we need unification?

(Late Spring and Autumn bronze sacrificial vessel, the treasure of the Shanghai Museum. Many princes signed a convention to swear an oath by cutting the blood of a cow's ear. The representative of the main alliance held a plate of cow's ear, so the main alliance was called the "leader" . Later, it generally refers to the most authoritative position in a certain aspect. Photographer @笑谈间气吐霓虹, map @堤田/星球研究院)

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However

In the Central Plains

When we love each other and exchange gifts

Marginal countries around and outside the Central Plains

Taking advantage of the royal family's decline

Trying hard to expand your territory

The distribution of political power in the world

This has led to major changes

"China" is divided into three larger geographic regions:

Central Plains, Intermediate Zone, and Peripheral Zone

(Three major political and geographical regions in the Spring and Autumn Period, drawn by @吴昕恬/Planet Research Institute)

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initial

Qi, Jin, Qin, and Chu in the middle zone

and the Lu, Wei, Zheng, Song, Chen, and Cai

The territory, population and financial resources of the Zhou royal family were roughly equivalent.

Almost at the same starting line

But the princes of the Central Plains are relatives

Use them as targets

Often a third country will intervene

Even led to a confrontation between powerful countries

So the countries in the middle

Looking beyond the Central Plains

Jin is in the north, Chu is in the south, Qin is in the west, and Qi is in the east.

They occupied a large amount of land and population in the surrounding areas.

To strengthen one's national strength

(Shaojue Sword, with its sword aura like mist, is a weapon of the Jin State and a cultural relic from the Spring and Autumn Period. It is now stored in the Palace Museum. Photographer: @柳叶氘)

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"The state that destroyed the most during the Spring and Autumn Period was none other than Chu."

According to statistics from historian Mr. He Hao

Chu annexed about 48 countries

It was the largest country in the Spring and Autumn Period.

Although Qin, Chu and other countries

They have stood out in decades.

Become a first-class power with a radius of thousands or even tens of thousands of miles.

But in the eyes of the Central Plains princes

They are all "uneducated" "nouveau riche"

(Gold coin of the Chu State, collected by Anhui Chu Culture Museum, photographer @柳叶氘)

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The King of Chu who was not of Zhou descent

Being laughed at as a barbarian

In the story of "self-contradiction"

The protagonist who was ridiculed by the crowd was Chu people

The kings of Chu also fought back.

They call themselves kings

To show that he was on equal footing with the King of Zhou

The King of Chu Zhuang who "made a great success if he did not make a sound"

Go one step further and conquer the Central Plains

By asking about the weight of the tripod, he expressed his ambition to replace the Zhou emperor.

(“Prince Wu” Ding, a cultural relic of the Chu State, photographer @Yang Hu, map @Terraced Fields/Planet Research Institute)

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Under the threat of a foreign power

Duke Huan of Qi, the first hegemon of the Spring and Autumn Period

The Second Overlord: Duke Wen of Jin

To maintain the reputation of the Central Plains

Take the family order as your own responsibility (abbreviated as "respect the king and expel the barbarians")

Their biggest enemy is the State of Chu

656 BC

Duke Huan of Qi led the "Eight-Nation Army" in the Central Plains

Curbing the strong momentum of Chu's invasion to the north

(The Qi State Horse Sacrifice Pit in Linzi City, Shandong Province, contains more than 600 horses, a truly spectacular sight. Photographer: Zhu Jinhua)

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597 BC

King Zhuang of Chu attacked the State of Zheng in the Central Plains

Jin led troops to rescue (Battle of Bi)

The two sides met near the Yellow River in Zhengzhou

Jin people suffered a crushing defeat

The scattered troops rushed to board the ship to escape

Those who boarded the boat first would

He raised his knife and chopped at the hand holding onto the side of the boat.

Countless knives were swung down, and countless people fell into the water

I held the severed fingers on the boat in my hands, handful after handful.

Crazy, all crazy

King Zhuang of Chu drank from the Yellow River and looked down upon the north.

The forces in the north centered around Jin

The forces in the south centered around Chu

The North-South confrontation lasted for more than 80 years.

(Cloud-patterned bronze ban, the pinnacle of Spring and Autumn bronze ware, made in the State of Chu, image from @Visual China, map by @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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The meeting between the "Zhou" leader and the "barbarian" King of Chu

No more need for sacrificial rituals, no more concern for ancestral temples

Interests and power are laid bare on the negotiation table

No more fancy words to hide

And Chen, Cai, and Xu, who are caught in the middle

Lu, Wei, Song, Zheng and other countries

Can only "Jin in the morning and Chu in the evening"

(Comparison of the duration of the alliance between Zheng, Chu and Jin, drawn by @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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The game between big powers often takes small countries as the battlefield

There were 483 wars between the princes during the Spring and Autumn Period

Zheng suffered about 80 war disasters.

The worst sufferer among all nations

(Pit No. 3 of the Zheng State Chariot and Horse Pit in Xinzheng, Zhengzhou City, photographer @杨敏芝)

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When the engines of war are turning

8 countries stand out from more than 140 countries in the Spring and Autumn Period

They are Wu (southern Jiangsu), Yue (eastern Zhejiang)

Jin (southwest Shanxi), Chu (southern Hubei and Henan)

Qin (Weihe River Basin in Shaanxi), Qi (Northeastern Shandong)

Lu (Southwest Shandong), Yan (Beijing area)

The names of these powerful nations are almost permanently

It has been passed down on the land beneath our feet until today

The "international" situation is in the process of war

It's getting clearer

The social system of "ruler-ruler, minister-minister, father-father, son-son"

A stagnant pool of water was disturbed by war

Getting more and more turbid

Power and class

Start Flowing

03 Doctors fight

Another high-class banquet with wine and food

Yan Zi in "Yan Zi's Mission to Chu"

Under the influence of alcohol, he sighed weakly:

"The State of Qi will eventually belong to the Tian family"

The Jin noble "Shu Xiang" entertaining guests

Influenced by Yan Zi, he also said in frustration:

"It is the same with our Jin State.

will be completely controlled by the Six Ministers."

Whether it is "Tian" or "Six Lords"

They all have a common name

That is, " Qing Dafu "

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Zhao Qing's Feast, photographers @李刚, 吴红波, 焦晓翔, map @台田/星球研究院)

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Yan Zi is considered the most eloquent person in Qi

He can "kill three warriors with two peaches"

Can we use the principle that "oranges grown in the south of the Huai River are oranges"

Let the King of Chu call him a "sage"

But he is always harsh in his words

I have to admit

The nobles

It is eating away at the country's power.

He was helpless, powerless to turn the tide

(The tomb of Yan Zi in the ruins of the ancient city of Qi makes people sigh, "Where are the generals and ministers of the past and present? The desolate tomb is covered with grass." Photographer @李文博, map @台田/星球研究院)

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Have to say

Yan Zi and his people's "vision" is indeed vicious

They accurately "predicted" what would happen more than 100 years later

A major event that shocked the "international"

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the state of Chu faced off from north to south.

The Jin State, which led the struggle for hegemony, suddenly collapsed

Just like the former Soviet Union

Split into three powerful states: Zhao, Wei and Han

(Abbreviated as " Three Families Divide Jin ")

The instigator behind this

It’s you, the noble doctor!

(Hanzhuang Great Wall in Xinzhou, Shanxi Province, was built by the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period to defend against the State of Wei and the State of Han. It was rebuilt on the original basis in the Ming Dynasty. Photographer: Yang Dong)

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Monarchs of the Spring and Autumn Period

Although there are also talented

But more often than not they don’t have to work hard

You can get everything

The princes of various countries are related by blood

Competition is not fierce

No need to rack your brains

(The man with a cut-off leg guarding the enclosure cart recreates the scene of the aristocracy "raising animals in the garden", photographer @邬红波, map @台田/星球研究院)

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The "Five-Star Reviewers" of the Spring and Autumn Period

Cao Gui said:

"Those who eat meat are vulgar and cannot plan for the long term"

(People in power are short-sighted and cannot think long-term)

Compared with the monarchs who "lie flat"

The nobles who led the troops to fight

Gradually took control of the country's armed forces

Even the army became the private property of the nobles

(Please watch in horizontal screen, the chariot and horse pit of Zhao Qing's tomb is located in Jinsheng Village, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province. Cao Gui mentioned above was a military theorist of the State of Lu. His representative work is "The first blow is vigorous, the second is weak, and the third is exhausted". Photographer @邬红波)

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They have heavy troops

Occupied the land conquered by war

Controlled the entire country

The Council of Nations in 570 BC

All the participants were ministers, not the king.

(The Houma Alliance Book is a written document of an alliance held by the Zhao family from the late Spring and Autumn Period to the early Warring States Period. It faithfully records the historical facts of the struggles between the powerful clans in the late Jin State. The picture comes from @肖怡宁, Visual China, and the map is @台田/星球研究院)

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To restrain each other

536 BC

The ruling minister of Zheng

Casting legal provisions in

On the metal tripod symbolizing power

This is the earliest written law in China.

Large amount of land and population

Directly controlled by noble lords

It became their private property

So the more intense the war, the more territory expanded.

The stronger the power of the noble officials,

The country is in danger of splitting up

The Three Kingdoms Divided Jin was born

(Jin Dynasty pottery mold, the figure with his hands raised on the mold seems to be surrendering, photographer @秦南, map @台田/星球研究院)

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But this raises another problem

The collapse of Jin

Why didn’t the Chu State, which was in confrontation with it, split up?

This is because the King of Chu was not appointed by the Zhou Emperor.

He is both the clan leader and the supreme ruler.

The King of Chu can directly appoint the chief executive of the county

Rather than through the ministers

(Jade mask, unearthed from Qinjiashan Chu Tomb No. 2, the tomb specifications are one coffin and three outer coffins, it should be a noble tomb, the picture comes from @Visual China, the map is @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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Looking back at the monarchs of the Central Plains

They have no way to remove the Qing official from his post.

Because the ministers were not appointed by the monarch.

But born this way

This has been the case for hundreds of years since the Zhou Dynasty.

(The succession crisis of the vassal states during the Spring and Autumn Period, drawn by @Terrace/Planet Research Institute)

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When the nobles and ministers sidelined the monarch

Between noble families with no blood ties

Launched a brutal war of annihilation and territorial conquest

At least 110 countries

In the process, they were destroyed or absorbed

Only 22 countries remain to fight for survival

The high-ranking officials of the conquered countries and the generals of the defeated armies

Lost all social status

Since the Spring and Autumn Period

At least 110 countries have disappeared

This means that there are a large number of nobles

Forced into disgrace and reduced to slavery

(Human-shaped bronze lamp, picture from @Visual China, map @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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Eventually, each country

Those who survived the Spring and Autumn struggle

The only noble family ruled

The power of the nobles is also

Separation of family and political ties

One of the main phenomena

(The bronze kneeling figure is the end of a bronze staff, which symbolizes power. Photographer: Lu Minglang, map: Terraces/Planet Research Institute)

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This shows that the nobles

Not only through their origin

Also through their abilities

Got the current position

When the world determines victory and defeat based on talent

Scholars below the nobles

It also began to stir and the undercurrent surged

All people in the world

They will all be drawn into this war

Everything will be reshaped

04National Armed Forces

The period when the nobles were in charge of the country

Territory of each country

Rapidly expanding in the smoke

Large tracts of land that need to be managed

Appearing out of thin air

(Changes in the situation during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period, the territory expanded greatly. Map by @吴昕恬/Planet Research Institute)

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The nobles used these newly conquered lands

Divided into administrative units, namely "counties"

Let the capable people and warriors under you manage it

Nobility from the provinces to the capital

Pyramid-like ruling mechanism

Determined the historical direction of China's "centralization"

The nobles' retainers suddenly became

The government elite

But civilian retainers must be competent as chief executives

Requires a lot of knowledge and practical experience

Then, "private school" was born.

As far as we know, the earliest teacher was Confucius.

(Statue of Confucius in Yanju, picture from @Visual China, map by @Terrace/Planet Research Institute)

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Confucius' father relied on his bravery

As a warrior, he served the nobles of Lu.

But Confucius hoped

Overthrow the brutal nobles and return power to the Zhou emperor

The ministers of Wei once made a calculation

A family of five working for a noble

No sickness, no death

After a year of hard work in farming

I still owe others 450 yuan

It can be said that " a harsh government is more ferocious than a tiger "

(Human-shaped copper lamp, people become objects of exploitation, picture from @Visual China)

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When the power of the nobility

Further delegated to retainers

These elites who came from the people

Finally, I have the people in my eyes

Confucius is one of them

He knew it was impossible but still did it

Using reform as a weapon

Draw your sword and chop at the stronger noble

(Zeng Hou Yi bronze zun plate, a little-known Zeng Hou Yi in history books, was able to accumulate huge wealth, photographer @柳叶氘, map @台田/星球研究院)

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Unfortunately, the nobles are in power

Confucius was forced to wander around

He decided to turn his dream of social reform into

All depends on the training of disciples

He put in a lot of effort

Poetry, books, and etiquette that only nobles can learn

Teach it to the common people

Eventually formed the Confucian school

(Qufu Confucius Mansion, Confucius Temple, Confucius Cemetery, photographer @李文博, map @台田/星球研究院)

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Besides Confucianism, later generations called it

Scholars of Mohism, Taoism, Yin-Yang School, etc.

Also appeared at this time

They were collectively called "scholars"

These thinkers boldly proposed

My own reform plan for the country

If it is not adopted in this country

Just go to another country for " flexible employment "

(The "Nine-Nine Table" wooden slips in the Liye Qin Bamboo Slips are the earliest and most complete multiplication formula table discovered in my country. Photographer @柳叶氘, map @台田/星球研究院)

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Born in a turbulent time, all schools and doctrines

In the end, it all comes down to governing the country and bringing peace to the world.

This has been the case for thousands of years.

The ultimate ideal of Chinese people of insight

Mozi, the only philosopher of common origin

At the beginning, he studied Confucianism from Confucius

But the ritual music advocated by Confucianism

For the lower class people who are struggling to survive

No effect

(Three people stepping on jade animal ornaments, these three people are performing acrobats, photographer @徐勤, map @台田/星球研究院)

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In Mozi's mind

Human beings should be equal and friendly

(Everyone in the world loves each other)

Rather than the Confucian rule of "ruler-ruler, minister-minister, father-father, son-son"

Many people followed Mozi for this reason.

Mozi also trained them

A defense force of 180 men

They can go through fire and water and never retreat.

(Mozi has 180 men serving him, all of whom can be called upon to walk into fire and water, and never turn back even if they die.)

They really

With the power of the people

For the weak and small people who have suffered unprovoked attacks

Take action

(Bronze statue of the State of Yan, image from @Visual China, map by @Terraced Fields/Planet Research Institute)

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At that time there was a man named Lu Ban

Respected as the ancestor of Chinese carpenters

He made a

A siege weapon called a ladder

Chu wanted to use it to attack Song

After hearing this, Mozi

It took ten days and ten nights to travel day and night

Rushed to the capital of Chu State and asked to see Lu Ban

Lu Ban asked: "What do you want from me?"

Mozi replied: "Someone from the north insulted me.

I want you to help me kill him."

Lu Ban looked displeased, and Mozi said:

"I'll pay you ten pieces of gold"

Lu Ban refused: "My principle is not to kill people"

(Ying [yǐng] 爯 [chēng], a currency of the Chu State in the Warring States Period made of pure gold, collected by Nanjing Museum, photographer @柳叶氘, map @台田/星球研究院)

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When Mozi heard this, he stood up and bowed again, saying:

"I heard in the north that you were building a ladder.

Used to attack the Song State...

Your principle is not to kill.

But it killed more people.”

Lu Ban was speechless

Mozi said: "Please give up the attack."

"No, I have already told the King of Chu"

"Then introduce me to the King of Chu"

"good"

Then Mozi met the King of Chu and said to him:

"Now there is a person who gives up his luxury car,

To steal someone else's junk car...what do you think of this person?"

The King of Chu said: "This man must have a thieving disease."

Mozi said: "The territory of Chu is five thousand miles.

The territory of Song State is five hundred li in radius.

Just like the difference between a luxury car and a junk car..."

The King of Chu said firmly: "That's right.

But Lu Ban had already built the ladder.

I must conquer Song."

(The Chu King's sword, picture from @Huitu.com, map by @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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There's no use saying anything

Mozi asked Lu Ban to compete with him

He used his belt to encircle a city.

Use small wood chips as fortification

Lu Ban set out various siege weapons such as ladders

Nine sieges, nine repulses by Mozi

Lu Ban used all his tricks, but Mo Zi still had his way

Lu Ban admitted defeat, but said:

"I know how to defeat you, but I won't tell you"

The King of Chu immediately asked how to win.

Mozi replied: "Sir, your point is simply,

Kill me"

“If you kill me, no one will be able to defend Song.

But I have three hundred disciples,

Already armed with the weapon I just used,

They are lined up on the city walls of Song State.

Even if you kill me, there will be someone to defend Song State."

(Wooden figurine of a sword-wielding warrior, image from @Huitu.com, map by @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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The King of Chu finally admitted defeat

Mozi who predicted everything

As contemporaries said

Where the Tao is, I will go even if there are thousands of people around me.

Unfortunately, Mozi spent a lot of effort

We can only stop the use of force temporarily.

At this time, the war of national subjugation

Already in the white-hot stage

16 large countries were destroyed by the Seven Kingdoms of the Warring States Period

The final competition among the seven heroes

(Gold, silver and bronze inlaid tiger devouring a deer screen stand, seven heroes are like tigers, competing for the world, photographer @李文博, map @台田/星球研究院)

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In the face of a life-and-death struggle

Confucianism is not successful

Not to mention the Mohists who opposed war

The Taoists watched from the sidelines, while Laozi retired from the world.

Zhuangzi just wants to be a

A turtle enjoying itself in the muddy water

The King of Chu sent two doctors to invite Zhuangzi to come out of the mountains. Zhuangzi said to the two messengers, "I heard that there is a divine tortoise in Chu that has been dead for three thousand years and is now treasured in the temple. What do you think is better for this tortoise to be scraped off its bones and remain famous, and be worshipped in the temple, or to keep its life and drag its tail in the mud?" The two messengers said without hesitation, "Of course it is better to live!" Zhuangzi smiled and said to them without raising his head, "Then you can go. I will live in the mud like a tortoise dragging its tail!"

This period of great brilliance

Legalists, military strategists, and diplomats

One sentence summary

You can do anything to win

Among them

There was a limping military strategist

Name is Sun Bin

"Tian Ji's Horse Racing" was the strategy he proposed

(Bronze chariots, horses, and figurines, photographer @杨虎, map @台田/星球研究院)

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Sun Bin's talent

Aroused the jealousy of his classmate Pang Juan

The bone on the knee was cut off

But he did not bow to fate.

Instead, he fled to Qi and became a counselor.

Inflicted heavy damage to the army of Wei general Pang Juan

(A bronze yuè inlaid with gold and silver in the shape of a horse or animal was unearthed from a tomb of a noble of the State of Wei during the middle Warring States Period. This tomb is the highest-standard tomb of the State of Wei known to date. Photographer: @秦南, map: @台田/星球研究院)

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The strategy used by Sun Bin to defeat Pang Juan

It was later called " Besieging Wei to Save Zhao "

The Zhao State rescued by Sun Bin

Later, he also had the famous general Lian Po

He led his troops to defeat the Qi army

The princes were shocked

However, in the battle against Qin (Battle of Changping)

Lian Po's defensive strategy of staying indoors

Suspicion of the monarch

In addition, due to the lack of national strength,

The head coach was replaced by Zhao Kuo, who was good at talking about war on paper

This battle

All 450,000 men of Zhao were killed

Qin Army Commander Bai Qi

He was also given the title of "God of Killing" by later generations.

(Photo of the corpse pit of the Battle of Changping, exhibited in Jincheng Museum, photographer @高飞)

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Lian Po's graying hair

I had to leave my homeland where I had lived for most of my life.

When the king sent someone to see him

Lian Po desperately stuffed food into his mouth

To show that he is strong and healthy and eager to return to serve his country

But the king thought that Lian Po was too old and gave up on him.

Lian Po died of depression from then on

(Lian Po, who lost his ideals, was like a salted fish, unable to turn over. The picture below is a salted fish from the Warring States Period. The picture comes from @Visual China, and the map is @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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The war is getting bigger

Even all the men in the country need to be mobilized

In the Chu State, under 60 years old and 5 feet (about 1.2 meters) tall

All men above this age must serve in the army.

In the Qin State, all men over the age of 15 had to serve in the army.

Great countries like Qin and Chu

It can fully support an army of about 1 million.

If measured by the number of troops deployed

The scale of war in the Warring States period was several times that of the Spring and Autumn period.

(Armor of the Chu people, photographer @龙世杰, map @台田/星球研究院)

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Larger scale social mobility begins

Those who distinguished themselves in the war were promoted

Fearless warrior

and resourceful strategists are especially welcome

Even if you only kill one enemy

Certain taxes and labor service can also be exempted

Everyone gets involved

Only ability determines the level

(Warring States Warrior Terracotta Warriors, Photographer @Qin Nan, Map @Terraced Fields/Planet Research Institute)

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Like a large-scale national reality show

Mencius, Mao Sui, Lin Xiangru, Zhang Yi, etc.

Selected from the civilian population

They are all poor children.

Then he threw himself into the torrent of national hegemony

Mencius was raised by his mother's three moves

He said with great pride:

"If you want to bring peace to the world,

In this world, who else but me can do this? "

Recommend oneself to the authorities

Sima Qian sighed:

"Mr. Mao used his eloquent tongue,

Stronger than a million soldiers

Lin Xiangru " returned the jade intact to Zhao "

Facing the King of Qin

He dared to threaten his life:

"Within five steps,

"Xiangru, please let your blood splash on the king!"

(The "Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao" relief stone in Wu's Ancestral Hall, image from @Wikimedia Commons, map by @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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Before Zhang Yi became famous

Participated in the banquet of the Prime Minister of Chu

A jade disk was lost during the banquet

Everyone says Zhang Yi is a poor boy.

He must have stolen it.

The Prime Minister of Chu severely whipped him.

After Zhang Yi defected to Qin

He made many moves and tricked King Huai of Chu into becoming a dog.

Finally, the Chu State was destroyed

Zhang Yi deceived Chu : Zhang Yi, the prime minister of Qin, said to King Huai of Chu: "If Chu can really break off diplomatic relations with Qi, Qin is willing to offer 600 li of land." King Huai of Chu became greedy and broke off diplomatic relations with Qi, and then sent envoys to Qin to accept the land. Zhang Yi denied it and said: "The agreement between the king of Chu and I was only 6 li, I have never heard of 600 li." King Huai was furious and sent a large-scale army to attack Qin. The Qin army killed 80,000 people and also took away the Hanzhong area of ​​Chu.

Later, the King of Qin wanted to marry the Chu State and asked for a meeting with the King of Chu Huai. However, the meeting was just an excuse, and the King of Qin detained the King of Chu Huai, who eventually died in Qin.

(Tiger-seated bird-shaped drum from the Chu State, replica, photographer @李念, map @台田/星球研究院)

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One person's strength

Can determine the fate of a country

Facing a losing situation

There are still people willing to sacrifice their lives for their country

Zhao was devastated after the Battle of Changping

It's a life-or-death moment

The righteous man Xinling Jun was willing to die with the State of Zhao

His retainers said to him:

"I am old and cannot walk with you.

I'm counting the days until you get to the front.

That day I will kill myself facing you.

See you off "

(Bronze Warrior Statue of the State of Zhao, image from @Visual China, map by @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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After King Huai of Chu was imprisoned by Qin

Qu Yuan, a noble of the Chu State, wandered by the river

He sang sadly with his hair disheveled

" I will never regret what I have in my heart, even if I die nine times "

The destruction of Chu was inevitable

But he can

Use death to express your indomitable spirit

(A silk painting of a person riding a dragon. This silk painting is a "soul banner" used in funerals to guide the soul to heaven. Photographer: @龙世杰, map: @台田/星球研究院)

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Today's Dragon Boat Festival

It was born out of the legend of worshipping Qu Yuan.

This is also a unique feeling of the Chinese people.

05New China

While the brutal war of unification was going on

The land of China is also reborn

Water conservancy projects such as Dujiangyan and Zhengguo Canal

Strengthening the agricultural foundation

(Dujiangyan, photographer @刘剑伟)

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Military factors led to the construction of a large number of cities

Thousands of cities rose from this

For example, the Gusu City built under the supervision of Wu Zixu

The original appearance has been preserved for more than 2,500 years

(Suzhou City, picture from @Visual China)

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War refugees, speculators, etc.

A large number of people flocked to the city

The city in the past

From ten households to thousands of households

During the Warring States Period,

“Towns with thousands of households face each other”

With the development of commodity economy

The currency is gradually becoming popular

"City" has become the main component of "city"

"The government in front and the market behind" is regarded as the ideal configuration of the city

(The ancient city waterway is still prosperous today, picture from @Visual China)

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The famous assassin Jing Ke plays the zhu with his friends

The place where the elegy was sung was the city of Yan.

Lü Buwei asked his men to show Lüshi Chunqiu

A place where a reward of a thousand gold is offered for changing a word

It is the city gate of Xianyang

There are many cities in China

The most prosperous of these was Linzi, the capital of Qi.

Hundreds of thousands of people fill the city

In order to describe the prosperity of Linzi

"raising sleeves to form a curtain", "sweating like rain", "high aspirations and high spirits"

From this came the words

"Strategies of the Warring States: Strategies of Qi" states: " Linzi is very rich and prosperous . All its people play the yu, the zither, the zhu, the qin, fight cocks, run dogs, play Liubo, and play ju. On the roads of Linzi, carriages and chariots collide, people rub shoulders, the hems of their clothes are connected like curtains, the sleeves of their clothes are raised like curtains, and their sweat is like rain. The families are well-off and rich, and their aspirations are high and lofty."

(Commercial cities in the Warring States Period, drawn by @Wu Xintian/Planet Research Institute)

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Since the Spring and Autumn Period

Frequent diplomacy and alliances among nations

Many water and land transportation lines were built between the major cities.

The State of Wu opened up the Honggou and Hangou

Connecting the Yangtze River, Huaihe River and other rivers

The first official road in Shu during the late Warring States period

Connecting the Central Plains and the Southwest

(Shu Road, Photographer @Forgetful Traveling World)

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The Self-Consciousness of the Chinese Nation

Also in these exchanges and collisions

First Look

Before the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period

The number of “barbarians” is no less than one hundred

Then the barbarians around the Central Plains

Integrate into the Huaxia tribe during the war

(Gold and silver inlaid rhinoceros copper belt hook, boot-shaped copper axe, gold medallion with wolf-eating-ox pattern, pictures from @Visual China, Long Shijie, Qin Nan, map @Titian/Planet Research Institute)

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Only the ones far away from the Central Plains are left

Nomadic peoples such as the Xiongnu

Gradually became a strong enemy of the Huaxia people

During the Warring States Period, the Great Wall was built in the Central Plains

Establishing new Chinese borders

(Today's Great Wall, photographer @崔缘)

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The concept of Chinese unification also appeared during the Warring States Period

"Yu Gong" attributed to Dayu

In fact, it was written during the Warring States Period.

Its author based his work on the geographical knowledge of the time.

The nine provinces of the world were demarcated

The saying " All under heaven belongs to the king" was passed down in the Spring and Autumn Period.

The unified blueprint has taken shape since then

(Yu Gong Jiuzhou Map, image from @Wikimedia Commons, map @Terraced Fields/Planet Research Institute)

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A cultural region formed over thousands of years

After the smelting of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period

Merged under one country

After thousands of wars, annexations and integrations

This has become the Yellow River Basin

Even the largest number of people in East Asia

The most developed economy and culture, the strongest strength

The region with the most advantageous geographical conditions at that time

People have already believed

No longer exists outside of China

More powerful and richer than China

A more civilized country

(The land of fish and rice in Jiangnan, picture from @Visual China)

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The self-identity of the Chinese nation was formed from then on.

The Chinese people are deeply cooperative

Organize scattered individuals into one

“A community that shares life and death, honor and disgrace”

A monarch whose organization is based on family blood ties

Rising nobles and ministers with war engines

The military and political talents are the basis of the status of the warriors

They took turns to support the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period

(Bronze figure holding a plate, photographer @Qin Nan, map @Terraced Fields/Planet Research Institute)

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After the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period

Every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of his country.

Every Chinese has a China in his heart.

As long as people are still here, this history will be remembered in our hearts.

Even if there are ten thousand universes

In every universe, there is only one China

Recently, there is always a problem

Appeared before my eyes countless times:

We are in an era of profound change

Who will answer China? Where do we go from here?

Whenever this happens

It will ring in my mind

Words from over 2,000 years ago

Knowing it is impossible to do something

Where the Tao is, I will go even if there are thousands of people around me.

My heart is good, even if I die nine times, I will not regret it

If you want to bring peace to the world, who else can do it in this world except me?

(At the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, countless people beat drums and sang "Friends Come from Afar", picture from @Visual China)

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I believe

Even if we encounter the same chaotic times as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period

Someone will still stand up

Turn the tide and save the collapsing building

I believe

I believe China will have a better tomorrow.

This belief does not come from rational analysis

It comes from Qu Yuan, Confucius, and Mozi.

And countless heroes and sages over the millennia

(At the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, many "scholars" held bamboo slips of "The Analects" and recited the classic quotes from it. Image from @Visual China)

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The perseverance and choices of each of them

Repeatedly reappearing in the later generations

Proved again and again

We can stand up again

My Today

It is the support of thousands of lives

And I am alone

There are also millions of people's beliefs

(Inside the Confucius Museum, a little boy is playing under a statue of Confucius made of books. Image from @Visual China)

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This article was created by

Written by: Lingjun

Design: Terraces

Image: Long Shijie

Map: Wu Xintian

Proofreading: Huang Taiji & Chen Jingyi

Cover Photographer: Qin Nan & Liu Ye Deuterium & Visual China

Audit Expert

Zhao Dingxin, Dean of the Institute for Advanced Humanities Studies at Zhejiang University

【References】

[1] Zhao Dingxin. A New Theory on Chinese History of the Confucian-Legalist State. Hangzhou: Zhejiang University Press, June 2022.

[2] Li Xueqin (ed.); Meng Shikai (co-ed.). History of the Warring States Period and Civilization of the Warring States Period. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Literature Publishing House, March 2012.

[3] Liang Gengyao. Chinese Social History. Shanghai: Oriental Publishing Center, 2021.01.

[4] (Japanese) Taisei Takao, translated by Zhou Jie. From the City State to the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period of China. Guilin: Guangxi Normal University Press, 2014.01. [5] Zhao Dingxin, translated by Xia Jiangqi. Eastern Zhou Wars and the Birth of the Confucian-Legalist State. Beijing United Publishing Company, 2020.08.