|
|
|
|
|
***
| HomePage | Huns | Turks & Uygurs | Tibetans | Koreans | Khitans | Manchus | Mongols | Taiwanese | Ryukyu | Japanese | Vietnamese |
| Pre-History | Xia-Shang | Zhou | Qin | Han | 3 States | Jinn | 16 Nations | South-North | Sui-Tang | 5 Plus 10 States | Song | Liao | Xi Xia | Jurchen | Yuan | Ming | Qing |
| Tragedy Of Chinese Revolution | Terrors | Wars | China: Caste Society | Anti-Rightists | Cultural Revolution | 6-4 Massacre | Land Enclosure | FaLunGong |
|
ZHOU DYNASTYThe people of Zhou Dynasty lived in an area that was considered to be the dwelling place of the Xirong & Rongdi, somewhere in western Shaanxi Prov, near Gansu border. In another sense, the original Chinese 3000 years ago could not be much different from the Xirong & Rongdi at all. While ancient Chinese were considered sedentary with fixing places like cities and castles, the Xirong & Rongdi barbarians remained nomadic, constantly on the move. In both Shenxi (Shaanxi) and Shanxi Province, records had shown that the Xirong & Rongdi barbarians and the ancient Chinese co-habitated in an interspersing way. Charles Hucker, in "China's Imperial Past", made a speculation about the distinction between the sedentary and nomadic ways of life in China's northern areas, around the Yellow River line, at the time of early history: That is, the two ways of life had existed among both the Xia-ren or Chinese and the nomadic peoples; both groups of peoples had partial agriculture and partial husbandry in the area; it was due to the Xia Chinese building up walled states that led to the polarization of the two ways of life. The Zhou people, counted as a vassal of the Shang Chinese, were living among the barbaric west. According to Shi Ji, Zhou'a ancestor could be traced to Houji, the Chinese god or father of agriculture. Houji, like Shang ancestor Xie, was the son of ancient overlord Diku. Houji's mother was named Jiang Yuan, a You-tai-shi (Fufeng and Wugong, Shenxi Prov) woman, carrying Fiery Lord tribal name. (Later statelets of Qi, Shen, Xu and Lü all belonged to the Jiang family. Zhou people, said to be descendants of Xia people, had intermarriage with Jiang-surname Qiangic Fiery Lord tribe, which would be a prevalent way of Ji-Jiang marriage among early Chinese.) Legend said that Houji was born after his mother stepped onto the footprints of a giant and that Houji, being deserted to the moutains and lakes by his mother, was taken care of by beasts and birds. Both Lord Yao and Lord Shun used Houji as the master of agriculture. Lord Yao conferred Houji the last name of 'Ji', meaning origin. Confucius had commented on the story of You-ji-shi clan. After Xia King Taikang lost his throne, Houji's son (Buzhu) left for Rong & Di land with the abandonment of the agriculture post by Xia Dynasty . Another two generations will be Gongliu who renewed agriculture in Rong & Di land. This renewal would be a basis for a claim that Zhou people had consecutively changed their mode of life. Gongliu's son (Qingjie) set up a statelet in a place called 'Bin', in today's western Shenxi Province, a place belonging to Xirong. ('Bin' was disputed by some scholars to be still in Shanxi Prov rather than Shenxi Prov.) Another eight generations or three hundred years would be Zhou's founder, Gugong (aka Tanfu). Gugong, being attacked by Rong & Di and Xunyu barbarians, would relocate to Qishan. The people of 'Bin' followed him to Qishan. Gugong abolished Rong & Di customs, built city in a plain called Zhou-yuan under the foot of Qishan, and devised five posts of si tu, si ma, si kong, si shi, & si kou per Shang Dynasty system. (Some scholars disputed the five posts since bronze inscriptions did not add up to the five counts.) Gugong declared their statelet 'Zhou'. Gugong is also known as 'Zhou King Taiwang' (grand king) posthumously. Gugong's elder son, 'Tai Bo', went to Zhejiang's Yantze Delta (Meili Village, Wuxi County, Changzhou, Jiangsu) for sake of launching own statelet. (Xu Zhuoyun speculated that Tai Bo was deliberately dispatched to the Yangtze Delta as a tactics to circumvent and attack the Shang Dynasty from both directions.) Tai Bo wanted to yield the succession to his brother because the ancient mandate said that the son of Tai Bo's brother (Ji Li) would be the future lord of Zhou people. Ji Li's mother was called Tai-jiang, a Jiang surname woman of You-tai-shi clan. (Xu Zhuoyun cited scholar Liu Qiyi's research of 'jin wen' or bronze inscriptions in stating that 12 kings of Western Zhou Dynasty had inter-married with Jiang-surname women consecutively.) Ji Li's son, born by Zhi-ren-shi or Zhi-zhong-shi woman, would be Ji Chang, i.e., Zhou King Wenwang or Count Xibo, who was said to have possessed four nipples, and Zhou King Wenwang was recorded to be bird-nosed, tiger-shouldered, and dragon-faced. A mediocre sinologist error would be to claim that Zhou people originated from the west or the Central Asia. The 'west' story could have derived from two inputs: Zhou people's locality to the west of Xia and Shang people, and Zhou King Wuwang's claim as people from the west. As we detailed below, when Zhou Lord Wuwang campaigned against last Shang King Zhouwang, he eulogized his alliance's bravery by calling his armies the "people from the west". (Zhou King Wuwang's alliance also pointed to the fact that Zhou people, by the timeframe of 1122 BC?, had basically surrounded the Shang people from north, west and south.) Scholar Liu Qiyu, in anthology Hua Xia Civilization, tackled the issue of 'xi' or west. His validations pointed to the land of 'he qu' (i.e., the inflexion point of the Yellow River Bends) as the 'land of the west', i.e, later land between Qin and Jinn principalities. 
Liu Qiyu cited Guo Yu's statement in regards to You-yu-shi as proof that Yu clan had deep connection with Xia people. The statement from Guo Yu could be paraphrased like this: "In ancient times, Count Chong-bo Gun also reigned in the land of You-yu-shi clan." Count Chong-bo Gun was the father of Lord Yu and dwelled in southern or southwestern Shanxi Prov, i.e., the east bank of today's East Yellow River Bend. You-yu-shi clan's locality, considered the second 'Xia Ruins' in archaeology, would be in today's eastern Shenxi Prov, i.e., Hancheng (west bank of the today's East Yellow River Bend) and Pucheng (west bank of Luo-shui River). This shows that Xia people had in fact dwelled on both banks of the Yellow River plus the inflexion point in northeastern Henan Prov. Today's East Yellow River Bend was known as 'Xi-he' or western river because the Yellow River did not flow horizontally into the sea via Shandong Prov but made a eastern bend northward for exit into the sea via Hebei Prov. Liu Qiyu researched into ancient classics Mu Shi (i.e., Oath of War at Muye) and concluded that Zhou King Wuwang's reference to 'xi tu' would be the land to the west of later Tongguan Pass of eastern Shenxi Prov. Zhou People's Origin Zhou ancestor Buzhu, i.e., Houji's son, left for Rong & Di land after Xia Dynasty abandoned agriculture post. Some confusion existed as to the place Buzhu had left for, either somewhere still in southwestern Shanxi Prov or somewhere across the Yellow River in Shenxi Prov. Xu Zhuoyun, in Xi Zhou Shi (i.e., History of Western Zhou Dynasty, 1973 edition, Lianjing Publishing House, Taipei, Taiwan), stated that Zhou ancestors, per scholar Qian Mu 1931 dissertation, migrated westward to Shenxi Prov from Shanxi Prov. Xu Zhuoyun cited Ban Gu's Hou Han Shu in stating that Fen-yin area of southern Shanxi Prov, possessing a temple in the name of Zhou ancestor Houji, should be Zhou people's original habitation area. Xu Zhuoyun listed 16 sentences in Shang Dynasty's divination and oracle records to prove that Shang people, at the reign of Shang Dynasty King Aoding, had instructed subordinate tribes in campaiging against Zhou people and speculated that Zhou ancestors must have lived around southern Shanxi province, a place to the northeast of the inflexion point of the Yellow River. Liu Qiyu pointed out that after the demise of Xia, whoever stayed in Shanxi/Shenxi provinces continued to call themselves 'Xia' people. First Zhou King Wenwang eulogized the eastward flow of Feng-shui River to Lord Yu's accomplishment and numerous Zhou Dynasty records stated that they were descendants of Xia Dynasty founder Lord Yu. Shang & Zhou Relations Often neglected would be the oracle or divination inscriptions on bronze utensils left by Zhou people at Mt Qishan. During the earlier reign of Shang King Aoding, Zhou people were often campaigned against by Shang Dynasty. But later on, Zhou began to submitt to Shang and assist Shang in numerous campaigns against barbarians in Shanxi Prov. In Shang Dynasty's oracle bones, two vassals, i.e., Zhou statelet and Marquis Jiu-hou [Gui-hou of Gui-fang statelet] had taken charge of fighting the Qiangic barbarians on behalf of Shang, and furthermore surrendered Qiangic prisoners to Shang for live burial. Xu Zhuoyun cited Chen Mengjia's research in pointing out that Zhou Taiwang, during Shang King Wuyi's reign, relocated to Mt Qishan under the pressure of Doggy Rong; that Zhou Lord Ji Li [Ji-li or Jili], during the 34th year reign of Shang King Wuyi, paid pilgrimage to Shang court; that Jili defeated Xiluo-Gui-rong barbarians and captured 20 Di[2] kings the next year on behalf of Shang court but Shang King Wuyi was killed by a lightening around the Wei-shui River; that Jili campaigned against Yanjing-rong barbarians but got defeated during the 2nd year reign of Shang King Taiding; that Jili, two years thereafter, defeated Yuwu-rong barbarians and received conferral as 'mu shi' (shephard chancellor) from Shang King; that Jili first campaigned against Shihu-rong barbarians during the 7th year reign of Shang King Taiding and against Yitu-rong barbarians during the 11th year reign; that Jili was killed by Shang King Wending (Taiding) thereafter; and that Zhou people began to attack Shang Dynasty during the 2nd year reign of Shang King Di-yi (Yili). Xu Zhuoyun speculated that Shang King most likely died in the hands of Zhou people rather than a lightening in a similar coverup as later Zhou King Zhaowang's death on the Huai-shui River as a complication of conflict with southern barbarians. However, Shang-Zhou relationship had improved since Jili's successor, i.e., Zhou King Wenwang, had again married with Shang princess. Both the mother and the wife of Zhou King Wenwang, per scholar Fu Sinian, were princesses of Shang royal house. Zhou people were conferred the title of 'Xi Bo' (Count of the West) by Shang Dynasty King Zhouwang as a buffer state against the Western nomads. Zhou's Feudal System Charles Hucker had another point, namely, Zhou Dynasty's system is exactly the same feudal system as the Medieval Europe, except for one distinction: Zhou's feudal statelets shared a blood relationship with the Zhou king, either through hereditary rights or inter-marriages. This assertion has its historical merits because China's academics, under the influence of the so-called 'historical materialism', treats the first Chinese Empire of Qin as the start of the feudal society while anything preceding it as 'slave society'. Zhou's feudal system, in fact, never fully died away, except for a short time period of the Qin Empire during which time the 'Jun-Xian System' (namely the Commandary-County System) was erected after Emperor Shihuangdi first united China under an autocratic centralized rule. The end of Qin marked a restoration of various Zhou statelets or dukedoms, and early Han Dynasty continued with the conferral of Kings and Dukes. Emperors of later dynasties frequently played with the game of upgrade and downgrade of the feudal titles between king and duke. Zhou Kings As Moral, Political, Military & Familial Leaders: Zhou King Wuwang's campaign against the Shang Dynasty in the 11th century BC had been glorified by later historians and rulers. Charles Hucker treated the success in capturing Chaoge (the Shang capital) as nothing other than a looting. www.chinaknowledge.de also disputed Shang China's influence as extending nowhere beyong its capital which we called by the name of 'Shang Wastes' or 'Shang Ruins'. My opinion is that we should treat ancient Chinese overlords as moral, political, military and familial leaders; hence, both Shang and Zhou government had adopted a kind of 'laissez fair' attitude in governing the domain and vassals. Zhou King Wuwang, after his success in defeating Shang, went back to his home in western China. Further, he allowed two of his brothers (Guan-shu and Cai-shu) to stay on in Shang capital together with the Shang prince (Lufu). After King Wuwang's death, his brother, Duke Zhou, would assume the post of a regent, and this led to the rebellion of Shang people (under Shang Prince Wugeng) and the two Zhou brothers. It would be Duke Zhou who would be responsible for quelling the rebellion, and further Duke Zhou took measures to exert Zhou influence throughout China proper, extending influences and rules via re-zoning of vassalage and conferring of duke and marquis titles. For the first time, Duke Zhou (Zhougong) laid out the blueprint of a relatively uniform society that will continue on for one millennium. Xun-zi commented that Zhougong had re-zoned the land into 71 vassals, with 53 carrying the Zhou surname of 'Ji(1)'. Early Zhou kings are the true commander-in-chief. They were in constant wars with barbarians on behalf of the fiefs called 'guo', namely, statelet or principality. Charles Hucker noted that Zhou had 14 standing royal armies, with 6 stationed in Haojing, near today's Xi'an, and 8 armies stationed in the east. Zhou King Zhaowang (r. 1052-1001 BC) was famous for repeated campaigns in the Yangtze areas and died in his last action. Zhou King Muwang (r. 1001-946 BC) was a legendary figure famous for fightings in the west and maybe today's Central Asia where he met and rondevous on Kunlun Mountain with so-called Xi Wang Mu, namely, Queen Mother of the West, rumored by the western historians, including Charles Hucker, to be Queen of Sheba. (The actual place for Kunlun Mountains would be somewhere close to today's Jiuquan County, Gansu Province. Mt Kunlun, extending for almost 2000 miles, from Kara-Kunlun bordering Tibet in the west to Qilian Mountain in the east, was a source of many Chinese myths and legends.) Later kings' campaigns were less effective. King Liwang (r. 878 - 827 BC) led 14 armies against barbarians in the south but failed to achieve any victory. King Xuanwang (r 827-782 BC) fought the Jiangrong nomads in vain. King Youwang was killed by Quanrong, and capital Haojing was sacked. Zigzags With Rong & Di Barbarians In the hun.htm section, I had expounded the ethnic nature of various Rong-di people, cleared the dispute in regards to the ethnicity of 'Rong' people, and proven that Rong people, being mainly Sino-Tibetan speaking Qiangic people, shared the same blood-line as Xia Chinese but differred in 'Culture' such as cuisine, clothing, money and language. At times of Zhou Dynasty, pockets of nomadic tribes and statelets still existed in the hearts of the Yellow River area and on Shandong Peninsula, as in the case of Di Statelet, Chi Di Statelet & Sou Man's Chang-di Statelet etc. Count of West, Xibo, namely, Zhou Ancestor Ji Chang, once attacked the Doggy Rongs (said to be same as Xianyun barbarian on the steppe). Dozen years later, Zhou King Wuwang exiled the Rongs north of the Jing & Luo Rivers. The Rongs were also called Huangfu at the time, a name to mean their 'erratic submission'. 200 years later, during 17th year reign [i.e., 985 BC per Bamboo Annals], Zhou King Muwang was noted for defeating the barbarians, reaching Qinhai-Gansu regions in the west, meeting with Queen Mother of West on Mt Kunlun [possibly around Dunhuang area], and then relocating the barbarians eastward to the starting point of Jing-shui River for better management [in a similar fashion to Han Emperr Wudi's relocating Southern Huns to the south of the north Yellow River Bend]. History recorded that King Muwang captured four white wolves & four white deers (white deer and white wolf being the titles of ministers of Rongdi barbarians) during his campaign. The Huangfu (Doggy Rong) people then no longer sent in yearly gifts and tributes. Zhou King Yiwang, the grandson of King Muwang (r. 1,001 - 946 BC), would be attacked by the Rongs. The great grandson, King Xuanwang (reign 827 - 782), finally fought back against the Rongs. Shi Jing eulogized King Xuanwang's reaching Taiyuan (original Taiyuan in southern Shanxi Prov, not the appropriated one in the north of today's Shanxi Prov; however, 'Taiyuan' at the times of King Xuanwang would be the place where Jing-shui River originated, i.e., Shenxi-Ningxia area, not Shanxi). Thereafter, King Youwang (reign 781-771) was killed by the Doggy Rongs at the foothill of Lishan Mountain and capital Haojing was sacked. Rongs who stayed on at Lishan were called Li-rong. The Rongs moved to live between the Jing & Wei Rivers. Lord Qin Xianggong was conferred the old land of Zhou by Zhou King Pingwang (reign 770-720). Zhou King Pingwang encouraged the Qin Lord to drive out the Quan-rongs. 65 years later, in the east, the Shan-rong or Mountain Rongs went across the Yan Principality of Hebei Province to attack Qi Principality in today's Shandong Province. 44 years later, the Mountain Rongs attacked Yan Principality. Around 664 BC, Yan-Qi joint armies destroyed the Mountain Rong Statelet as well as the Guzhu Statelet. The story of 'old horses knew the way home' would be about the joint army being lost after they penetrated deep into the Shanrong land. Hence, Yan Statelet extended by 500 li to the northwest, in addition to the eastward 50 li which was given to Count Yan for his escorting Marquis Qi all the way into Qi Statelet. During the 16th year of Zhou King Huiwang (reign 676-652), namely, 661 BC, the Chang Di barbarians who were located near today's Jinan City of Shandong Province, under Sou Man, attacked the Wey and Xing principalities. The Chang Di barbarians, hearing of Qi army's counter-attacks against Shanrong, embarked on a pillage in central China by attacking Wey (spelled in same way as www.chinaknowledge.de for sake of differentiation from former Wei eliminated by Jinn and later Wei that was split from Jinn) and Xing statelets. The Chang Di barbarians killed Wey Lord Yigong who was notorious for indulging in raising numerous birds called 'he' (cranes), and they cut him into pieces. A Wey minister would later find Yigong's liver to be intact, and hence he committed suicide by cutting apart his chest and saving Yigong's liver inside of his body. 20 years later, the Rongdi barbarians attacked Zhou King Xiangwang (reign 651-619) at the encouragement of Zhou Queen who was the daughter of Rongdi ruler. Per section "Qi Yu" of "Guo Yu", Qi Lord Huan'gong (r. 685-643 BC), who proclaimed himself a 'hegemony lord' in 679 BC and destroyed the statelets of Shan-rong and Guzhu in Manchuria in 664 BC, had campaigned against Bai-di barbarians in the west in 651 BC (i.e., 9th year of Lu Lord Xigong). Qi Huan'gong was recorded to have occupied 'da xia' (i.e., Grand Xia land) in Shanxi Prov and might have crossed the river to subjugate 'xi yu' (i.e., western Yu-shi clan's land) in Shenxi Prov. (Senior scholar Wei Juxian speculated that Qi Huan'gong had at one time reached the Bering Straits where the ex-Shang remnants had dwelled since Shang-Zhou transition time period and that it was due to Qi Huan'gong's contacts with Shang remnants that American Indians or Shang people paid a visit to China with tributes of humming birds that were recorded in Song Principality's chronicles.) Jin (Jinn) Principality also helped Zhou King by attacking the Rongs and then escorted the king back to his throne 4 years after the king went into exile. Rong-di moved to live in a place called Luhun, and they would later be forced to relocate elsewhere by Qin-Jinn principalities. When Qin intended to get rid of Luhun-rong & Jiang-rong around capital Yong in 638 BC, Jinn Principality adopted a policy of allowing remotely-related barbarian clan to stay closer to the land between Qin, Jinn and Zhou Dynasty capitals: Jinn Lord Huigong, for his mother's tie with Luhun-rong clan, relocated Luhun-rong to Yi-chuan and Jiang-rong to southern Shanxi Province, i.e., namely, the southward migration to Mt Songshan area of Yun-surnamed Xianyun [Huns] clan whose Qiangic nature was validated about 80 years later by the dialogue between Fan Xuan-zi of Jinn Principality and the descendant of Jiang-rong. Jinn Principality began the process of expansion that would merge and conquer dozens of barbarian statelets to the east of east Yellow River Bend, with Jinn Lord Xiangong merging 17 statelets and subjugating 38 others [per "Haan Fei-zi"]. After the defeat in the hands of Jinn, the Rongs moved to the land between the Xi-he (today's east segment of the Yellow River loop or bend) and the Luo River, and two groups were known at the time, Chidi (Red Di) and Baidi (White Di). (Note that Ancient West Yellow River Bend is the same as today's East Yellow River Bend. Ancient Yellow River Bend did not equate to today's inverse U-shaped course with the North Bend lying inside Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, but the U-shaped Bend with South Bend in southern Shanxi Prov and then a south-to-north turn in Hebei Province for exit into the sea.) Baidi (White Di) dwelled in ancient Yanzhou (today's Yan'an), Suizhou (today's Suide) and Yinzhou. Zuo Shi Chunjiu stated Jinn defeated Baidi and remnants were know as Bai-bu-hu nomads later. Chidi (Red Di) dwelled in a place called Lu(4), near today's Shangdang. Zuo Shi Chunjiu stated that Jinn Principality destroyed the Lu(4) tribe of the Chidi, and the remnants were know as Chi-she-hu nomads later. Details about barbarians were also covered at prehistory section. [Here, I had deliberately spelled Jin(4) into Jinn for sake of distinction from Jurchen Jin(1). Jin(4) is spelled Tsin in Wade-Giles.] In 623 BC, i.e., during the 37th year reign, Qin Mugong, using You Yu as a guide, campaigned against the Xirong nomads and conquered the Xirong Statelet under their lord Chi Ban. Qin Lord Mugong conquered 12 Western Rong tribes. Around this time, there were Mianzu-Quanrong-Di-Wanrong to the west of Qin Principality, Yiqu-Dali-Wushi-Xuyan etc to the north of Qin Principality, Linhu-Loufan to the north of Jin (Jinn) Principality, and Donghu-Shanrong to the north of Yan Principality. (Mianzu could be pronounced Raozhu. Quanrong was know as Kunrong or Hunrong or Hunyi. The character 'hun4' for Hunyi or Hun-yi is the same as Hunnic King Hunye or Kunye and could mean the word of mixing-up. Wan-rong dwelled in today's Tianshui, Gansu Prov. Yiqu was one of the Xirong or Western rong stateles at ancient Qingzhou and Ningzhou. Dali-rong dwelled in today's Fengxu County. Wushi was originally Zhou land, but it was taken over by Rong. Qin King Huiwang took it back from Rong. Linhu was later destroyed by General Li Mu. Loufan belonged to Yanmenguan Pass.) One hundred year later, Lord Jinn Daogong made peace with Rongdi (who attacked Zhou King Xiangwang earlier), and the Rongdi sent in gifts and tributes to Jin (Jinn). Jin (Jinn) later split into three states of Haan(2), Zhao & Wei. The two successive Jinn states which bordered the northern nomads, Wei & Zhao, plus Qin and Yan, would be busy fighting the nomads for hundreds of years, and they built separate walls to drive the nomads out. Another one hundred years, Zhao Xiang-zi of Zhao Principality took over Bing and Dai areas near Yanmenguan Pass. Zhao, together with Haan and Wei families, destroyed another opponent called Zhi-bo and split Jin (Jinn) into three states of Haan, Zhao & Wei. Barbarian statelets like Dali & Yiqu built dozens of castles. Yiqu-Rong built castles to counter Qin. After about one century of relative peace, Qin began to expand by attacking Dali & Yiqu. Qin King Huiwang took over 25 cities from Yiqu-rong. At the time of Qin King Zhaowang, Qin Queen Xuantaihou killed Yiqu-rong King. (King Zhaoxiangwang's mother, Queen Dowager Xuantaihou, adultered with the former Rong king from Yiqu Statelet, with two sons born.) Qin took over Shangjun from Wei. Qin took over Longxi of Gansu, Beidi and Shangjun of Shenxi, and built the Great Wall. Zhao King Wulingwang adopted reforms by wearing Hu nomads' cavalry clothing and he defeated Linhu and Loufan and built Great Wall from Dai to Yinshan Mountain. Zhao set up Yunzhong, Yanmen and Dai prefectures. A Yan Principality General by the name of Qin-kai, after returning from Donghu [Eastern Hu] barbarians as a hostage, would attack Donghu and drive them away for 1000 li distance. Yan built Great Wall and set up Shanggu, Yuyang, You-beiping, Liaoxi and Liaodong prefectures. Qin State founded the first united empire of Qin in 221 BC. After Qin's unification of China, Emperor Shihuangdi ordered General Meng Tian on a campaign that would drive the so-called Hu nomads or the Huns out of the areas south of the Yellow River. The Huns under Modok's father, Tou-man, fled northward and would not return till General Meng Tian died ten years later. Speculations about the nature of Rong & Di Peoples, Qiang, Sanmiao & Yuezhi was given in the Qin section and Hun section. For further discussions on Barbarians & Chinese, please refer to
Relationship Between Shang Dynasty, Succeeding Zhou Dynasty & Barbarians Difference Between Rong and Chinese In 'Culture', Not 'Blood-line' Merging and Subjugating Barbarians By Zhou Dynasty & Principalities Assertions By Luo Xianglin & Wang Zhonghan Continuing Zigzags With Barbarians Where Were Yuezhi, Wusun & Sai-ren [Scythians]? The concept of 'Heaven' as an ancient 'Di(4)' or overlord had been with Chinese since the era of Eight Ancient Lords. 'San Huang', termed the Three Sovereigns (Fuxi, Yandi the Fiery Lord, and Huangdi the Yellow Emperor), would have an alternative saying which included 'Heaven Huang', 'Land Huang', and 'Human Huang' or 'Taishan Mountain Huang'. 'Heaven' concept was widely adopted by Euroasian nomadic peoples and incorporated in their shamanism. 'Heaven' was equivalent to 'Tengri'. There is no definite way to tell where the original concept of 'heaven' had originated. Shang Dynasty's founder, Shang-Tang, claimed that Lord Highness (Heaven) instructed him to campaign against Xia Dynasty' Lord Jie because of Jie's corruption, lasciviousness and cruelty. Shang-Tang was also named 'Tian Yi' or 'Heavenly Yi'. Since 'Heaven' was considerd a Di(4), Shang-Tang was called 'Heavenly Yi'. Last Shang ruler, Jie, had refused to take admonition by claiming that the 'mandate' was with him the minute he was born. Later, Confucius would term it 'Cheng Tang Revolution' or 'Shang Tang Revolution', a word that would be used by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in his efforts at overthrowing Manchu rule. Professor Lock Hoe had commented that China's dynastic changes and revolutions (as seen in the saying 'Every 50 Years, A Cycle In Cathay') had served as an illuminating guide for the Jesuits who visited China in the 16-17th centuries, and it was due to the Jesuits who propogated the egalitarian and revolutionary ideas that led to the conclusion that French or British royal houses could be overthrown by a 'revolution'. The citation of the 'Mandate of Heaven' could be seen in Zhou King Wuwang's campaign against the Shang Dynasty in the 11th century BC. Zhou was a small tribal state in today's Shaanxi Provice, southwest of the Mount Qishan, in a place called 'Zhouyuan'. The last Shang ruler, Zhouwang, would be a despotic ruler. He killed one marquis (Jiuhou or Jiu Hou) and the marquis' daughter because the marqui's daughter was not lewd to him. Another marquis (Er Hou or Er'hou) was killed when he tried to protect Jiuhou. Count Xibo, i.e., Ji Chang, sighed about the killings. At the vilification of Shang minister Chonghouhu, Ji Chang was imprisoned by Shang King Zhouwang. When imprisoned in a place called Youli (in Henan Prov), Ji Chang renovated the ancient Fu-xi '8 Gua' into '64 Gua', a divinity method called 'milfoil divination' (Yi Jing, Book of Changes). Zhouwang would kill Count Xibo's elder son, Boyikao, and made a dish out of Boyikao's flesh for Xibo to eat. Zhouwang laughed when Xibo ate it without knowing that it was his son's flesh. Count Xibo was set free only after Xibo's minister bribed Zhouwang through a Shang minister (Fei Zhong) by presenting a beauty from You-xin-shi clan, a stallion from Li-rong Statelet and other treasures. (Xibo was titled a marquis, at the same level as Jiu Hou and Er Hou. Ancient title for 'Count' might not be of same level as that in Europe and could be higher than marquis in Zhou times.) Ji Chang would manage his statelet so well that old people went there for retirement, and two princes of Guzhu Statelet (Mo-tai-shi clan) in southern Manchuria, Bo-yi and Shu-qi, came to live in Zhou land. Two lords of ancient Yu and Rui statelets had disputes over a patch of land and they decided to have Ji Chang arbitrate it; but once they entered the Zhou land, they felt guilty about it after observing the civility of Zhou people; and they called off their trip and returned to home statelets, and vacated the land disputed. Some Shang ministers defected to Zhou. Over 40 statelets defected to Zhou and proposed that Ji Chang be the king. Prince Bigan, son of Shang King Zhouwang, would be deposed for admonishing Zhouwang on the deeds. Xibo would attack Quanrong or Doggy Rong (said to be descendants of Panhu, i.e. southern barbarians in Wuling, Changsha Commandary, and possibly hinting the relocation to western China of early San-Miao people. Later Chidi was said to be of same family as Quanrong). Then, Xibo invaded a Shang vassal called Mixu-guo Fief (Lingtai of Gansu Prov) and took over Mixu drums as bounty for Tang-shu. The next year, when Count Xibo invaded another Shang vassal called the Ji-guo (also pronounced as Li2 or Qi2) Statelet, somewhere near Shangdang of eastern Shanxi Prov, Zu Yi, a Shang minister, expressed the worry that the 'Mandate Of Heaven' might be changed. Shang King Zhouwang rebutted Zu Yi, saying that the 'Mandate Of Heaven' was with him the minute he was born. In the next two years consecutively, Xibo then invaded Yu-guo fief (Qinyang of Henan Prov, next to Shang capital), and then conquered Chong-guo fief (i.e., Chonghouhu's fief at Songxian County of Henan Prov) after two sieges within 30 days. Xibo then built city at Feng-yi [Yunxian county of Shenxi Prov] and relocated capital there from Zhou-yuan of Qishan Mountain. Jiang Taigong (i.e., Luu Shang of Lü-shi clan or Jiang Ziya with Jiang surname, aka Taigongwang) abandoned his post of 'da fu' with Shang King for the west. (Mencius said that Luu Shang, i.e., descendant of Luu-shi clan from Yao-Shun time period, first fled to the east sea coastline to evade Shang rule after last Shang King Zhouwang enthroned around 1154 BC and refused to take admonition, then came back to capital Caoge as buffalo butcher, then went to Mengjin as a peddler, and finally went to northwest to fish on Wei-shui river bank.) Lü Shang was against the extravagent task of building 'Lu Tai' (deer platform) palace for Shang King Zhouwang. Lü Shang then left with his wife Ma-shi and went to Wei-shui River for fishing till Zhou King Wenwang came along and met him. Wenwang commented that his father, Zhou ancestor Taigong, was in anticipation of Lü Shang for a long time. Xibo died at age 97, with a claim of king title for 9 years. (Ancient scholars disputed Xibo or Zhou King Wenwang's king title since Zhou king could not have existed at the same time as Shang king.) Wuwang, named Ji (last name) Fa (first name), expanded his influences on basis of 50 years of management by his father Ji Chang who was conferred the title of Xibo (Count West) by last Shang King. After Xibo passed away, Zhou King Wuwang would rally eight hundred Shang vassals on the bank of the Yellow River, Mengjin. Bo-yi & Shu-qi came to rebuke Wuwang as to the military campaign while father was not properly buried yet. (Scholars disputed the number of 800 vassals as unrealistic.) When Zhou King Wuwang first called upon various tribes to rebel against Shang, he stated that he was carrying out the order from the Heaven to penalize Shang king who had disrupted his kingdom by killing his elder son (Bigan) and imprisoning the uncle (Ji-zi) under the influence of the witch-like Shang queen (Daji). While crossing the Yellow River, a white fish jumped aboard. Fish was interpreted as a sign of war for carrying scales or shields on its body, while the color of whiteness was the embodiment of Shang. Interpreting the white fish as an omen, he called off the first campaign on the Yellow River bank after rallying 800 Shang vassals. The vassals said to Wenwang, "Zhouwang could be campaigned against by now." Wuwang said, "You guys did not know the 'Mandate Of Heaven' yet." Zhouwang's brother, Wei-zi, fled the Shang Dynasty capital. Zhouwang's son, Prince Bigan, seeing the departure of Wei-zi, would try to pursuade Zhouwang again, but he was ordered killed by Zhouwang to see how many compartments Bigan's heart had. Zhouwang's uncle, Prince Ji-zi, would pretend to have gone mentally ill for sake of avoiding Zhouwang's persecution, but he was still imprisoned by Zhouwang. When Shang's chief ritual and music ministers, Tai-Shi (grand musician) and Shao-Shi (junior musician), fled to Zhou with Shang's ritual instruments, Zhou King Wuwang now orderd a campaign against Shang, two {? ten per Chu Bosi) years after Mengjin Assembly. With the help of counsellor, Jiang Taigong, Zhou Lord Wuwang launched an attack at Shang Dynasty which controlled central China at the time. Wuwang assembled 300 chariots, 3000 brave soldiers, and an army of 45000 and crossed the Yellow River at Mengjin on Wuwu day of Dec of 11th year reign. "Shi Ji" recorded that Wuwang called his troops by the name of 'people from the west', and that his allies included eight barbarian statelets, the Qiangs from Gansu, the Shu-Sou-Mao-Wei statelets in Sichuan Province, Lu and Peng from the northwest, and Yong and Pu south of the Han-shui River. In the outskirts of Shang capital Chaoge, a place called Muye [i.e., Jixian county of Henan Prov], he met his alliance who had joined him with 4000 more chariots. The allied army confronted the Shang army of 700 thousand and defeated them. (Some scholar disputed the Shang army's number of 700,000 as unrealistic since Shang China's population at the time would not be too far away from 1 million, and Xu Zhuoyun cited Mencius statement of 'weapons floating above blood stream' in disputing the popular claim that Shang army defected to Zhou during the battle. Scholar Xu Zhuoyun and Wei Juxian both cited ancient classics in attributing last Shang King's exhaustion in eastward campaign against Dong-yi or Huai-yi barbarians to his losing control in the west.) Scholar Luo Xianglin claimed that Zhou people had asserted control over the Shang people via advanced weaponry of chariots. Luo Xianglin further pointed out that Zhou had special ministry in charge of standardization, materials, quality of chariot manufacturing. Ji Fa hence proclaimed the founding of Zhou Dynasty under the 'Mandate of Heaven'. The 'Mandate of Heaven' become a norm for the substitution of Chinese dynasties. To enforce the concept, some legends would be made to support the claim of the will of the Heaven. For Han Dynasty founder Liu Bang, there was the legend that his mother had dreamt about some dragon flying into the house when she gave birth to his son. Even nomadic rulers, like the Hunnic king Liu Yuan of Hunnic Zhao Dynasty (AD 304-329) would proclaim himself emperor in AD 308 and declared his dynasty as 'Han' on basis of one sound logic that Hunnic kings had historically ackowledged that they were the nephews of Han Chinese emperors. By designating his dynasty as 'Han', he intended to play the card of asserting the so-called 'Mandate of Heaven'. Timeline of Zhou Dynasty Prior to Zhou Dynasty, the rulers of Xia and Shang Dynasties called themselves 'Di(4)' posthumously, namely, the word that would denote the equivalent of legendary overlords for Heaven, Earth and Mount Taishan in Chinese history or 'emperor' in the western sense. Zhou King Wuwang, after overthrowing Shang Dynasty , decided to adopt the title of 'wang' or king to show his humbleness in front of the legendary overlords. They were called 'wang' posthumously as well. First part of Zhou, Western Zhou, with its capital near today's Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, ended in 771 BC when King Youwang was killed by Quanrong (i.e., the Doggy Rong nomads) who were invited by Marquis Shenhou of Shen Principality to avenge the king for deposing his daughter-queen and crown prince. The son of Youwang, King Pingwang, moved his capital to Luoyang, Henan Province in 770 BC, with the help of the ancestors of later Qin Empire. Qin Lord Xianggong was conferred the title of Count by Zhou King Pingwang for assisting Zhou King Pingwang in the crackdown on the Rong nomads and relocation of Zhou capital. Zhou King Pingwang also conferred Qin the old Zhou land of Qishan and Feng should Qin receover it from the Rongs. Historians named the later part of Zhou as Eastern Zhou and it ended in 256 BC when the great grandfather of First Qin Emperor Shihuangdi invaded the Zhou capital and removed all Zhou Kingdom's bronze utensils (i.e., ding or cauldron). Eastern Zhou, however, was further sub-divided into the two time periods of 1) Spring and Autumn and 2) Warring States. This division was based on the emergence of six prominent families in determing the politics of Jinn Principality in 475 BC. Rankings Of Zhou Lords & Principalities In Chinese, there exists a fixed phrase called 'wang hou jiang xiang' which means the four titles of king, marquis, general and prime minister. Though the rulers of dozens of Zhou principalities called themselves 'Gong', a word that denotes the title of 'Duke', this word is more like a general title to mean a ruler or a lord or simply a complimentary title. A similar word to be found in English would be probably 'Sir' or 'Grandpa'. Scholar Fu Sinian studied the bronze inscriptions, i.e., jin wen, from Zhou times and concluded that the ancient five rankings of duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron did not conform with bronze iinscriptions or classics such as Shang Shu or Shi Jing. Fu Sinian stated that duke-gong, count-bo, viscount-zi, and baron-nan were originally used within a royal family as rankings; governmentally, 'bo' or count was the leader of a conferred fief while 'hou' or marquis was for denoting the vassal guarding border posts. Ancient title for 'Count' might not be of same level as that in Europe and should be higher than marquis in Shang-Zhou times. Zhou King Wenwang, i.e., Xibo or Count Of West, originally titled a marquis, at the same level as Jiu Hou and Er Hou, received the conferral of count from last Shang King. The Zhou court conferred the title of count on the descendants of the two uncles of Zhou King Wenwang. The ancestor of Chu Principaility, Xiong Yi, was conferred by Zhou King Chenwang the title of count and the land of Dan'yang. Qin Lord Xianggong was conferred the title of Count by Zhou King Pingwang for the crackdown on the Rong barbarians. During the 10th year of the reign, Zhou King Huiwang conferred onto Lord Qi, i.e., Marquis Qi Huan'gong, the title of Count. King Xiangwang conferred onto Jinn Lord the title of Count and the land of Yangfan or 'he nei' (pronounced as He-rui in ancient Chinese to mean the winding section of the Yellow River). In Zhou times, some of the 'gong' lords were indeed titled as equivalent to dukes. The brothers of Zhou King are entitled 'Duke'. The Shang capital areas were divided into three parts, Bei (Tangying, Henan or north of Jixian county per Chu Bosi) to the north, Yong to the west, and Wey to the east. Three brothers, Cai-shu, Guan-shu & Huo-shu, were named three superintendents over Shang remnants. Guan-shu, i.e., brother Shu-xian, was conferred Duke of Guan (Zhenzhou, Henan) as well as superintendent of Yong. Cai-shu, i.e., brother Shu-du, was conferred Duke of Cai (Shangcai, Henan) as well as superintendent of Wey. Bei was left with Shang Prince Wugeng, but under the supervision of brother Huo-shu. Brother Dan, i.e., Zhougong, was conferred Duke Zhou of Qufu, Shandong Province. (Duke Zhougong would later send his son, Boqin, to Qufu, and Boqin built the city of Qufu.) Boqin's statelet would be Lu. Brother Shi, i.e., Zhaogong (Shaogong), was conferred the land of Yan (Jixian County, Tianjin, Hebei Prov), and he was referred to as 'Yanbo' or count of Yan. Duke Zhougong's taking over regency after King Wuwang's death triggered a rebellion by brothers Guan-shu & Cai-shu. Guan-shu & Cai-shu allied with Wugeng, Yan3 [Qufu of Shandong Prov], Pugu [Boxing of Shandong], Xu-yi [northern Jiangsu] & Huai-yi [northern Anhui] for a rebellion. Zhougong mounted an eastern campaign that lasted three years. Per Mencius, Zhougong drove King Feilian of eastern people to the coast and killed him. Altogether 50 statelets were routed. Zhougong would kill Wugeng and Guan-shu, and exiled Cai-shu. To the northeast of Luoyang, Zhougong built a city called Chengzhou and relocated Shang people of Bei-Yong-Wey to Chengzhou (Luoyi). Alternatively, Duke Zhaogong was said to be responsible for building Chengzhou city under the order of Zhou King Wuwang, while the original Zhou capital in Shenxi Prov was named 'Zongzhou' or ancestral Zhou capital. Zhougong devised a new 'jing [square-shaped] tian [land]' system on basis of Xia and Shang experiences, and endorsed the elder son inheritance system. Zhougong conferred onto the younger brother the title of Wey-kang-shu, i.e., Marquis of Wey or Marquis of Meng. (The 16th generation descendant of Wey-kang-shu would be Wey Lord Yigong who died in the hands of Chang Di barbarians. Qi Lord Huangong, after defeating Chang-di, erected Wey Lord Wengong and relocated Wey capital to Chuqiu of Henan Prov.) King Wuwang built a tomb for Shang Prince Bigan and then west back to the west. Wuwang made further conferrals, and made the descendant of Shen-nong-shi (Lord Yandi) inherit the land of Jiao (Shanxian County, Shenxi), the descendant of Lord Huangdi inherit the land of Zhu, the descendant of Lord Yao inherit the land of Ji (a statelet to the southwest of today's Beijing, Hebei which was taken over by Yan later), the descendant of Lord Shun inherit the land of Chen (Wanqiu County), and the descendant of Lord Yu inherit the land of Qih (Yongqiu, Bianzhou, near Kaifeng of Henan) with the title of Donglougong (whose 21st generation grandson was exterminated by Chu Principality). Remnants of Chen, pronounced as 'dan' in ancient Chinese and in today's Fujian dialect, later fled to Qi Principality, changed their name to Tian, and ultimately usurped the Qi principality of Jiang lineage. The rest of the lords are mostly marquis, and this include Marquis Shenhou. (One of Marquis Shenhou was the father-in-law of last Western Zhou king.) Zhou King Wuwang, to thank his counsellor Jiang Taigong for the efforts in overthrowing Shang, had conferred the land of Yingqiu (today's Linzi, Shandong Province) as Qi Principality. Lord Qi Huangong was the first of the five hegemony lords during the Spring and Autumn time period. Jin (Jinn) Principality, i.e., today's Shanxi Province or the land of Tao-tang-shi clan, was conferred to the king's brother (Shu-yu) by Zhou King Chengwang after Zhou Duke Zhougong quelled the Tao-tang-shi. King Chengwang was the son of King Wuwang and Yi-jiang (daughter of Jiang Taigong). Shu-yu's son, Ji Xie, was called Marquis Jinhou by citation of the Jinn-shui River of Shanxi Prov. (Scholar Liu Qiyu stated that ancient Jinn-shui was near Pingyang County of southern Shanxi Prov and later approriated to northern Shanxi Prov's Taiyuan area. Tao-tang-shi was a vassal of Xia/Shang Dynasties and had a history of over 1100 years.) Shu-yu made the city of Ji[4] (i.e., Lord Yao's capital) as his capital. After Jinn Principality split into three states of Han, Zhao and Wei in 475 BC, the Zhou court had conferred the titles of marquis to all three rulers, respectively. While Marquis Wei Wenhou was a marquis, his son, King Wei Huiwang, called himself 'king'. But this was during the Warring States time period. The lords who called themselves kings during the Spring and Autumn time periods would be those in southern and southeastern China, namely, the states of Chu, Wu and Yue. The ex-Shang Prince Wei-Zi (Qi) was made the duke of Song. The inheritor of last Shang(1) Dynasty heritage was given the title of 'Shang(4) Gong', namely, the Highest Duke. This would be after Duke Zhougong quelled the rebellion of Shang Prince Wugeng and two brothers (Guan-shu and Cai-shu) in a matter of three years. Lord Song Xianggong was one of the five hegemonies, too. Chu Principality Of The South The ancestors of Chu, Xiong Yi, were originally conferred by Zhou King Chenwang the title of count and the land of Dan'yang (near today's Zigui, Three Gorges area, Hubei Province). Chu ancestors carried the last name of Xiong [i.e., bear]. Chu was the first state to declare themselves king during the Spring and Autumn time period. It was said that Xiong Tong was enraged into declaring himself a king after Zhou King Pingwang refused to elevate his ranking above viscount. After Zhou King Dingwang dispatched a minister, Wangsun Man, to the Chu army camp to disuade Chu Lord Zhuangwang from an attempt at seeing the nine bronze cauldrons, Chu Kingdom manufactured three shelves of music-purpose bronze bells, with the nine top bells weighing 10,000 jin [i.e., 5000 kg in today's measure]. Shi Ji stated that Chu ancestors derived from Lord Zhuanxu, i.e., Lord Huangdi's grandson. The great grandson of Lord Zhuanxu would be called Chongli who was named 'Zhu Rong' or the god of fire by Lord Diku. One brother, by the name of Wu-hui, inherited his brother's title of 'Zhu Rong'. Wu-hui born a son called Lu Zhong, and Lu Zhong married a woman from 'Gui-fang-shi' (ghost domain family) and born six sons, including Kunwu, Canhu, Pengzu, and Jilian etc, the youngest of whom would be traceable ancestor of Chu. At the end of Shang Dynasty, a Chu descendant, by the name of Yu-zi (Xiong), after admonishing on Shang King Zhouwang 57 times in vain, left for the Zhou statelet, and Zhou King Wenwang conferred him the land of Shangdang and the post of 'gong qing'. Yu-xiong, who served the Zhou court, was a Jilian descendant. The great grandson of Yu-xiong would be Xiong Yi, the founder of Chu Statelet. Wu Principality Of The Yantze Delta The Wu State was founded by two uncles of King Zhou Wenwang. The two uncles, headed by Tai Bo, decided to go to the Yantze Delta to launch a state because they did not want to contend with the necromancy note which stated that their nephew (Zhou King Wenwang) would revive Zhou. The Zhou court later conferred, on the descendants of the two uncles, the title of count. The Wa Japanese, who came to Han China in the first century, claimed to be descendants of Tai Bo, the uncle of Zhou King Wenwang (posthumously); Wa Japanese called themselves by the ancient title of 'Da Fu'. Yue Principality Of The Yantze Delta Lord Yu's tomb, on Mount Kuaijishan, in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, was a good monument validating the stories of Lord Yu. One of the sons of King Shaokang of Xia Dynasty was permanently assigned to the Kuaiji land to guard the tomb, and the later Yue Principality was said to have descended from this lineage. Western Zhou (1134 - 771 BC; 1122 - 771 BC) Zhou King Wuwang (Ji Fa, reign approx 1134-1115 BC; 1122-771 BC) Wuwang established the Zhou Dynasty with the help of Jiang Ziya (Jiang Taigong, l. 1212-1073 BC per Chu Bosi). King Wuwang married the daughter of Jiang Ziya. King Wuwang conferred the land of Linzi [Shandong Prov] onto Jiang Ziya as Qi Principality. Qi continued their lineage till Tian family usurped it. Details about King Wuwang were provided in topics above. Ex-Shang royal family member, Ji-zi (Qi Zi or Kija), was conferred the land of northern Korea in 1,121 BC (?). Year 1122 BC was commonly treated as the year when Shang Dynasty ended. Using the first full year as the reign for a new dynasty, Zhou Dynasty counts 1121 BC as the first year of existence. In ancient times, two derivations had been used to determine the exact year Shang Dynasty ended. Ancient Scholar Liu Xin derived 1122 BC, while some others, including Seng Yixing's version in "New History of Tang Dynasty", derived 1111 BC instead. Zhou King Chengwang (Ji Song, reign approx 1,115-1,078 B.C.) Zhou King Wuwang died after 7 years of reign or two years after defeating Shang Dynasty. Archduke Zhougong (Ji Dan) took regency in 1115 B.C. and did not return the regency till King Chenwang grew up in 7 years. Eastern capital was established at Luoyi (Luoyang). Zhougong (Duke of Zhou), under the order of King Chengwang, fulfilled the wish of King Wuwang in building the city of Luoyi (Luoyang) and moved the nine bronze utensils there. Duke Zhougong defeated the rebellion of two brothers and Shang Prince Wugeng. The ex-Shang Prince Wei-Zi (Qi) was made into the duke of Song. Duke Zhougong and King Chengwang further attacked Huai-yi (ancient Xu-guo statelet) barbarians around the Huai River, and attacked ex-Shang Marquisdom of An-guo fief and relocated An-guo marquis away from Qufu County, Shandong Prov. After King Chengwang attacked the Dong-yi barbarians, a statelet called Xi-shen (Sushen of Manchuria ?) came to pay pilgrimage. Qin's ancestors, i.e., the great grandson of Ji Sheng (Feilian's junior son), Meng Zhen, was hired by Zhou King Chengwang. King Chenwang also conferred on the descendent of Bo Yi the title of Marquis of Shen(1) or Shenhou. King Chengwang, upon death, decreed that Duke Zhaogong and Duke Bigong be responsible for assisting crown prince Ji Zhao. Zhou King Kangwang (Ji Zhao, reign approx 1,078 - 1,052 B.C.) King Kangwang, during his 40 year reign, had ruled the country in the spirits of King Wenwang and King Wuwang. Penalization tools were never called upon to punish the people. King Kangwang asked Duke Bigong dwell in the east. Jiang Taigong [l. 1212-1073 per Chu Bosi] died after a life of over 100 years during the 6th year reign of King Kangwang per "Bamboo Annals". Jiang Taigong was renowned for writing the first military strategy and tactics books, six volumes of "Liu Tao", a book that future tacticans, like Guan Zhong, Sun Wu, Wu Qi, Sun Bin, Su Qin, Huang-shi-gong [yellow rock grandpa, i.e., Zhang Liang's master], Zhang Liang, and Zhuge Liang had inherited. Zhou King Zhaowang (Ji Xia, reign approx 1,052 - 1,001 B.C.) King Zhaowang was hated for his lack of so-called 'De', i.e., virtues. He campaigned in the south. When he crossed the Huai River, sailors deliberately used rubber to seam the boat for King Zhaowang to use. The rubber-seamed boat melted mid-stream, and King Zhaowang, Duke Jigong and entourage all drowned. Zhou King Muwang (Ji Man, reign approx 1,001 - 946 B.C.) King Muwang would set up several posts, including the position of 'tai pu', for sake of restoring Zhou kingdom's prestige and power. Against the advice of Duke Jigong's counsellor, King Muwang attacked the Rong-di people. Hence, Rongdi no longer came to pay pilgrimage to Zhou court. King Muwang, after defeating Quan Rong, exiled Quanrong to Taiyuan of Shanxi Province. Muwang was said to be indulgent in travelling to the west. In the 17th year of his reign, he visited the Kun Lun Mountain. When he was toasting with Queen Mother of the West at Yao-Ci Lake on Mount Kunlun, the Xu statelet rebelled against Zhou. His chauffeur, Zaofu (or Zao Fu, i.e., Qin's ancestoral relative), drove him home to quell the rebellion, in an eight horse chariot. Zhou King Gongwang (Ji Yihu, reign approx 946 - 934 B.C.) King Wuwang died after a reign of 50 years. King Gongwang visited the Mi-guo Statelet at Jingzhou Prefecture and saw three beautilful women in Mi-guo Lord Kanggong's residence. Kanggong's mother asked his son to surrender the three beauties, but Kanggong refused. One year later, King Gongwang attacked Mi-guo Statelet and exterminated it. Zhou King Yiwang (Ji Jian, reign approx 934 - 909 B.C.) King Yiwang relocated the Zhou capital from Hao (Haojing or Chongzhou) to Quanqiu (i.e., Feiqiu). Zhou Kingdom degraded in its ruling, and poets began to record events via poems. Zhou King Xiaowang (Ji Pifang, reign approx 909 - 894 B.C.) King Xiaowang ordered Marquis Shen (Shenhou) to attack Quan-Rong around 909 BC. Qin's ancestor, Fei Zi, lived in a place called Quanqiu (a place near Fufeng of Shenxi), and he was good at raising horses around the Wei-shui River. Marquis Shenhou, whose daughter married Daluo (Fei Zi's father), somehow pursuaded Zhou King Xiaowang into bestowing the last name of 'Ying' on Daluo descendant for sake of pacifying or controlling the Xi Rong or Western Rong people. (This shows the influence of Daluo descendants in this barbaric area.) Marquis Shenhou was quoted to have mentioned to Zhou King Xiaowang that his ancestor had married their woman to 'Rong Xuxuan' where Rong meant for the barbarians and 'Xuxuan' was the great grandson of Zhongyan. (In the eyes of Marquis Shenhou, Qin people might be equivalent to the 'rong' people.) Shi Ji was ambiguous in this section: Interpretation would be that Daluo had another son born with Marquis Shenhou's daughter, called 'Cheng'; Fei-zi, not Cheng, was conferred the ancestral name of 'Ying'. Note my general designation of 'Daluo descendants' below in lieu of either Fei-zi or Cheng. Zhou King Xiaowang conferred them the land of Qin (today's eastern Gansu Province) as a vassal, and hence Daluo's son was know as 'Qin Ying'. Qin became the vassal which was situated to the western-most part of then China. History records that two more groups of people dwelled to the west of Qin and Zhou Chinese, namely, the Western Rong nomads and the Yüeh-chih people. Zhou King Yi(2)-wang (Ji Xie, reign approx 894 - 878 B.C.) King Yiwang was another son of King Yiwang. He steam-killed Marquis Qi Aigong in a bronze utensil called 'ding' or cauldron. Zhou King Liwang (Ji Hu, reign approx 878 - 827 B.C.) King Liwang was in reign for over 30 years. He paid attention to material interests and used a minister called Rongyigong as his prime minister. Duke Zhaogong (descendant of Zhaokanggong Mugonghu) admonished him by saying that civilians had complaints. King Liwang then hired a witch from Wey-guo fief to report on the populace. Liwang killed those who talked about him. Vassals did not come to Zhou court to show respect. During his 34th reign, people walking on the streets dared not talk to each other. Liwang gloated, saying to Zhaogong that nobody dared to villify him any more. Zhaogong cited i) that controlling the mouth of the populace would be more difficult than controlling the mountain torrents, ii) that floods could kill lots of people once a dam was broken, and iii) that the populace would not be kept under control once their dissatisfaction broke out. King Liwang refused to take Zhaogong's advice. Three years later, ministers colluded with each other and attacked King Liwang. King Liwang fled to a place called Zhi (Huoyi or Yong'an in Shanxi), east of the East Yellow River Bend. Liwang's son fled to Zhaogong's home for asylum and when being attacked by the Guo-ren or civilians, Zhaogong said he would be willing to substitute his own son for the life of the prince because it was his fault that King Liwang did not take his advice. While Zhou King Liwang was ruling despotically, the Xi Rong (Xirong or Western Rong) people had rebelled in the west and killed most of the Daluo lineage of Qin people. Zhou King Xuanwang conferred Qin Zhong (r. BC 845-822 ?) the title of 'Da Fu' and ordered him to quell the Xirong. Qin Zhong got killed by Xirong after being a ruler for 23 years. Qin Zhong's five sons, under the elder son (Qin Lord Zhuanggong), would defeat Xirong with 7000 relief army from Zhou. Qin Lord Zhuanggong (r. BC 821-778) hence recovered the territories called Quanqiu and enjoyed Zhou court's conferral of the title of 'Xi Chui Da Fu', i.e., the 'Da Fu' on the western-most border. (Qin ancestor tombs had been discovered in Li-xian county of Gansu Prov.) Interregnum, i.e., Republican Administrative Period (841 - 828 B.C.) Duke Zhaogong and Duke Zhougong took the regency as "interregnum". During the 14th of "interregnum", King Liwang passed away in Zhi, east of the Yellow River. Prince Jing, who spent the years in Zhaogong's home, was selected as the new Zhou king. Zhou King Xuanwang (Ji Jing, reign 827 - 782 B.C.) With two dukes as prime ministers, King Xuanwang renewed the Zhou spirits. Vassals began to come to show respect. During the 12th year of the reign, Lu Lord Wugong (r. BC 825-816) came to Zhou court. King Xuanwang, against the advice of Guo-fief Lord Wengong (descendant of Guo Zhong or Guo-shu, a brother of King Wenwang), did not take care of the thousand acre royal field. (This Guo-fief was the so-called West Guo Statelet in Chencang, Shenxi Prov.) During the 39th year of his reign, King Xuanwang attacked Jiang-rong barbarians (a race of Xi Yi or western Yi barbarians, said to be descendants of ancient minister 'Si Yue' or 'four mountains'), but he was defeated by Jiang Rong and lost his Nan-ren (i.e., soldiers from Nanyang, Henan Prov) troops. King Xuanwang ordered Bo Yi to attack the west. He made his brother, Ji You, the inheritor of Zheng (i.e., Zheng Lord Huangong). King Xuanwang refused to listen to advice from a minister called Zhongshanfu of Fan-guo fief, and King Xuanwang killed another minister called Du Bo for no reason. Legends said that three years later, in his 46th reign, King Xuanwang died of an arrow shot by the ghost of Du Bo. Zhou King Youwang (Ji Gongnie, reign 781 - 771 B.C.) During the 2nd year of his reign, the San Chuan area, i.e., three rivers areas of Jing-Wei-Luo & Yellow River, had a big earthquake. Qishan Mountain shook during the quake, and rivers dried up. A Zhou minister, Boyangfu, commented that Zhou Kingdom might have bad fate. King Youwang would use Guozhifu as his minister. During the 3rd year, Youwang took in Baoshi (a woman from Shi family, of Xia heritage, who was adopted by people of Bao-guo fief) as the new queen and then bore a son called Bo-fu. At one time, King Youwang, for sake of making Bao-shi laugh, would ridicule the vassals by lighting the fire on the beacon towers that were designed for national defence. When King Youwang deposed the prince born from the old queen, the father-in-law, Marquis Shenhou, would invite Quanrong, Zeng-guo fief (descendants of Lord Yu of Xia Dynasty) and Xi Yi (western Yi barbarians) to help him in attacking the Zhou king. Since vassals no longer responded to Youwang's beacon signal as a result of early ridiculing, King Youwang was killed by Quanrong at Lishan Mountain (today's Lantian, Shenxi). The Rong people who stayed on in Lishan Mountain areas were called Li-rong, and later Jinn Principality had married a woman called Li-ji who caused Prince Chong'er go into exile for 19 years. Western Zhou Dynasty ended after a duration of 257 years. Eastern Zhou (770-256 BC) Zhou King Pingwang (Ji Yijiu, reign 770-720 B.C.) Zhou King Pingwang moved eastward to Luoyi in 770 BC under the escort of Qin lord, and promised to Qin the land of Feng and Qishan should Qin defeat Quanrong and recover the territories. Zhou King Pingwang conferred Ying Kai the title of count. Qin Lord Xianggong (Ying Kai, reign BC 777-766) assisted Zhou King Pingwang (reign 770-720) in cracking down on both Western Rong and the Dogggy Rong. Ying Kai came to the aid of Marquis Shen after Marquis Shen wrote four letters, including requests to: i) Ying Kai, Marquis Jinn (Ji Chou), ii) Marquis Wei (Ji He, Wei Lord Wugong, over 80 years old at the time) and iii) the son of count Zheng, requesting for help in driving the Doggy Rong nomads out of Zhou capital, Haojing. Zhou court had to rely upon vassals, such as Qin, Chu, Qi and Jinn, for governance. The title given for the vassal would be 'Fang-bo', i.e., the elder count or the count of a certain domain. Ying Kai died during the 12th year of his reign (766 BC ) when he campaigned against the Rong at Qishan. After Ying Kai would be Qin Lord Wengong (r. BC 765-716). Wengong, during his 3rd year reign, had a hunting in east, and the next year, he selected Qishan area for building a city as the capital. During his 13th year reign, Wengong began chronicle recording, and during his 16th year reign, Qin Wengong defeated Rong at Qishan. Qin Wengong would give the land east of Qishan back to Zhou court. The records of 'Chun Qiu', Spring and Autumn, started in Lu Principality in 722 BC when Lord Lu Yingong (r. BC 722-712) got enthroned. Zhou King Huanwang (Ji Lin, reign 719-697 B.C.) When King Pingwang died, his son, Xiefu, also passed away. A grandson by the name of Ji Lin was selected. During the 3rd year of his reign, count Zheng Zhuanggong came to the court. King Huanwang was not respectful to the Zheng count. Count Zheng was angry. 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 8th year of his reign, i.e., 712 BC, Lord Lu Yingong was killed and Lu Huangong was enthroned. 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 son of Jinn's Quwo Zhuang-bo, a relative of Jinn marquis, would attack, capture and kill Marquis Jinn Aihou (r 717-710 BC) in 710 BC. Qin Lord Ninggong (r. BC 715-704) would defeat King Bo and drove King Bo towards the Rong people in 713 BC. Ninggong conquered King Bo's Dang-shi clan in 704 BC. In 703 BC approx, Song captured Zheng lord and erected a new Zheng lord. Zhou King Zhuangwang (Ji Tuo, reign 696-682 B.C.) Duke Zhougong, Heijian, wanted to kill King Zhuangwang for sake of having Prince Ke (King Zhuangwang's brother, Ziyi) enthroned. A minister by the name of Xin-bo informed Zhou king of Heijian's scheme. King Zhuangwang killed Zhougong. Prince Ke fled to Yan Principality. Qin Ninggong's elder son (Wugong) was deposed, and Chu-zi, the son of Ninggong's junior son, was enthroned by three ministers at the age of 5. Chu-zi was killed 6 years later and Qin Lord Wugong (r. BC 697-677) was selected. About this time, Qin Wugong campaigned against 'Pengxian-shi Rong' and reached the foot of Huashan Mountain. Qin Lord Wugong, in 688 BC, exterminated Gui-rong (Shanggui of Longxi) and Ji-rong (Tiansui Commandary), and the next year, exterminated Du-bo Fief (southeast of Xi'an), Zheng-guo Fief (Zheng-xian County) and Xiao-guo Fief (an alternative Guo Fief from the domain conferred by Zhou King Wenwang onto his brother, Guo-shu). At Zheng Principality, a minister by the name of Gaoqumi killed his lord Zheng Zhaogong (r. BC 696-695) in 695 BC. Qi Lord Xianggong (r. 697-686 BC) was assassinated by his minister (Guan Zhifu) in 686 BC; Jinn exterminated the fief statelets of Geng, Huo and Wei; another assasination in Qi would see Qi Lord Huan'gong (r. 685-643 BC) selected in 685 BC. Zhou King Xiwang (Ji Huqi, reign 681-677 B.C.) Lord Qi Huangong made Guan Zhong (l. 715-645 BC per Chu Bosi) the counsellor in 685 BC. Qi Huangong (Xiao-Bai, ?-643 BC) rose to prominence in vassal politics beginning in 679 BC. During the 3rd year of the King Xiwang reign, i.e., 679 BC, Qi Lord Huan'gong proclaimed himself a 'hegemony lord'. Guan Zhong, skillful at accumulating wealth [by ironically endorsing prostitution as tax revenue collection], had helped Qi Huan'gong in assembling vassals nine times. Qi Huan'gong called Guang Zhong by 'zhong fu', i.e., proxy father. Also in 679 BC, Marquis Jinn Min-hou was killed by Jinn Quwo Wugong. Zhou King Xiwang conferred Marquisdom onto Quwo Wugong. Quwo Wugong called himself Jinn Wugong and died two years later. Qin Lord Wugong passed away in 677 BC, and 66 persons followed to his tomb as live burial. Zhou King Huiwang (Ji Lang, reign 676-652 B.C.) During the seond year of the reign, an uncle by the name of Tui rebelled against King Huiwang. King Huiwang sought asylum in Zheng's capital, i.e., today's Yangdi County, Henan Prov. During the 4th year of the reign, Count Zheng Ligong and Lord of Guo-fief (Guogong Linfu) aided Zhou King Huiwang by killing Tui and restoring Huiwang's kingdom. During the 10th year of the reign, King Huiwang conferred onto Lord Qi, i.e., Marquis Qi Huangong, the title of Count. (Count is apparently higher ranking than marquis during the Zhou kingdom time period.) Jinn Wugong's successor, Jinn Xian'gong (r. 676-651 BC), attacked Li-rong (Xi Rong) barbarians in 672 BC approx, and captured a Li-rong woman called Li-ji. Jinn Xian'gong killed most of the princes from the deposed Jinn Marquisdom lineage, and one such prince fled to Guo-guo statelet. Wars erupted between Jinn and Guo-guo. In 665 BC approx, Li-ji born Xiqi and then conspired to have Jinn Xian'gong's elder princes deposed or killed, pushing Jinn into another round of turmoils. In 664 BC, Qi Lord Huangong destroyed the statelets of Shan-rong and Guzhu. (Guzhu was formerly Zhu-guo Statelet, a vassal of ex-Shang dynasty.) In 661 BC, the Chang Di barbarians who were located near today's Jinan City of Shandong Province, under Sou Man, attacked the Wey and Xing principalities. The Di barbarians killed Wey Lord Yigong (r. BC 668-660 ?) who was notorious for indulging in raising numerous birds called 'he'. In 661 BC approx, Jin (Jinn) Principality eliminated Huo (Huozhou, Shanxi Prov), Wei and Geng fiefdoms. Jinn Xian'gong built the city of Quwo for Prince Shensheng, conferred General Bi-wan the domain of Wei and General Zhao Su the domain of Geng. Shiwei advised Prince Shensheng to flee as Zhou King Wenwang's uncles did. Jinn minister Po-yan advised against the conferral of Wei land onto Bi-wan. The next year, Prince Shensheng was ordered on a new campaign against Dongshan-Chidi barbarians. Shensheng sought advice with Li'ke as to his crown prince status. (Scholar Liu Qiyu pointed out that in southwestern Shanxi Prov, a statelet called Ji-guo, possible of Xia Dynasty descendants, with ancient Ji-zhou character embedded, had at one time attacked Jinn Principality and hence it should be looked at as a considerable power. Ji-guo, subsequently quelled by Jinn, had become the fiefs of several Jinn ministers consecutively, from 650 BC to 627 BC. Liu Qiyu mentioned excavations of Zeng-guo to prove that various powers had existed quite independently at the ancient times.) In 658 BC approx (i.e., 2nd year of Lu Lord Xigong), Jinn borrowed a path from Yu-guo and attacked Xiangyang of Guo-guo. In 656 BC approx, Li-ji conspired to put poison into the meat Shensheng gave to his father; Li-ji pasted honey onto her body to attract bees, asked Shensheng help her drive away the bees, and then accused Shensheng of trying to take advantage of her. Shensheng fled to Xincheng city and committed suicide. Jinn Lord Xian'gong (?-651 B.C.) hence fell under the trick of his concubine (a Li-rong woman), and Prince Chong'e (Chong Er, ?-628 BC) escaped to Di(2) Statelet in 655 BC. (Prince Chong Er's birth mother was from Di barbarian.) This year, Jinn borrowed path from Yu-guo again by sending Jinn Xian'gong stallion as a gift. A Yu-guo minister, Gong Zhiqi, advised against it, saying Yu-guo and Guo-guo were like lips and teeth to each other. Gong Zhiqi led his whole family away from the Yu-guo. Jinn Principality eliminated Guo and Yu statelets in the winter of 655 BC. Guo-gong fled to Zhou court. Yu-gong and his minister Baili Xi were captured and the stallion was found by Xunxi and delivered back to Jinn Xian'gong. In 654 BC approx, Jinn attacked Prince Yiwu at Quwo land, and Yiwu fled to a different statelet, Shaoliang land, at the advice of Ji-rui. Ji-rui said that should Yiwu flee to Di2 barbarians, Jinn would attack Di because Chong'er was already there. Two years later, Jinn attacked Di2, and Di counter-attacked Jinn; hence, Jinn withdrew from their siege. Concubine Li-ji's brother had a son called Dao-zi in this year. Zhou King Xiangwang (Ji Zheng, reign 651-619 B.C.) Lord Qi Huangong held a meeting at Kuiqiu in 651 B.C. as a demonstration of his hegemony status. Qi Lord Huan'gong (r. 685-643 BC), who proclaimed himself a 'hegemony lord' in 679 BC and destroyed the statelets of Shan-rong and Guzhu in Manchuria in 664 BC, campaigned against Bai-di barbarians in the west in 651 BC, occupied 'da xia' (i.e., Grand Xia land) and crossed the river to subjugate 'xi yu' (i.e., western Yu-shi clan's land). After the death of Jinn Lord Xian'gong, 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 as the new Jinn lord, but Chong'er declined. Li'ke then went to Prince Yiwu. Jinn Prince Yiwu sought for help from Qin Lord Mugong (r. BC 659-621) in escorting him to the throne at Jinn, with a promise of secceding to Qin 8 cities to the west of Yellow River. Qi Huan'gong sent forces to help Yiwu as well, and Qi forces stopped marching at Gaoliang after finding out that Qin already delivered Yiwu, i.e., Jinn Huigong (r. 650-637 BC). 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. (In Sima Qian's self account of his lineage, Pi-zheng appeared to be a remote ancestor.) Pi-zheng was killed upon returning to Jinn, and his son (Pi-bao) fled to Qin. During 12th year reign, i.e., 648 BC, counsellor Guan Zhong of Qi passed away. During the 3rd year of the King Xiangwang reign, a half brother, by the name of Shu-dai, colluded with Rong and Di barbarians in attacking King Xiangwang. (Rong-di barbarians had come to aid Shu-dai as a conspiracy of Shu-dai's mother, ex-queen Huihou.) Jinn Principality attacked the Rong to help the Zhou court. Shu-dai fled to Qi Principality. Qi Principality also helped Zhou court by sending Guan Zhong on a campaign against the Rong people. At Zhou court, King Xiangwang expressed gratitude to Guan Zhong, mentioning the fact that Zhou King Wuwang had married the daughter of Jiang Taigong (founder of Qi Principality) as wife. Three years after the death of Qi Lord Huan'gong, Shu-dai returned to Zhou court from Qi Principality at the request of Zhou King Xiangwang. During 12th year reign of Qin Mugong, i.e., 648 BC, Guan Zhong of Qi passed away. Around 648 BC, when Jinn had a drought-related famine, Qin, against the proposal of Pi-bao in attacking 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. (See The Battle Of Han-Yuan). When Mugong saw Yiwu and his horse trapped in the mud, Mugong intended to capture Yiwu. But Jinn army came to aid Yiwu and encircled Mugong. Three hundred 'yeren' (countryside people) solders, who were spared death by Mugong for eating good horses as meat, 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 as new Jinn lord. Yiwu, upon return to Jinn, killed Qingzheng who refused to rescue him during the prior war, surrendered 8 cities to the west of Yellow River to Qin, and sent his son (Zi-yu) to Qin as a hostage. Yiwu, fearing that Prince Chong'er might stir trouble, sent an assasin to Di statelet and forced Chong'er into fleeing to Qi after a stay of 12 years with Di people. Qin gave Zi-yu a royal family girl for marriage. In 642 BC, Qi Huangong passed away. Around 641 BC, Qin exterminated Liang and Rui statelets. (Zi-yu's mother was the daughter of Liang-bo, and hence Zi-yu was angry with Qin.) Another two years later, Jinn Prince Zi-yu fled the Qin capital, without taking his Qin wife, when he heard that his father was getting ill. Zi-yu's wife did not report his fleeing to Qin court but refused to follow Zi-yu. Jinn Lord Yiwu passed away the next year, i.e., in 637 BC, and Zi-yu was enthroned as Jinn Huaigong (r. 637-636 BC). Zi-yu killed a minister called Hu-tu for not recalling his two sons from Chong'er enrourage. Qin Lord Mugong, hating Zi-yu for his fleeing home, would retrieve ex-Jinn Prince Chong'er from Chu, and further gave ex-wife of Zi-yu to Chong'er. In 636 BC, Qin Mugong, with 500 chariots, 2000 cavalry, and 50,000 field soldiers, escorted Prince Chong'er to Jinn capital to become Jinn Lord Wengong (r. 636-628 BC), and Chong'er sent an assasin to have Zi-yu (Jinn Lord Huaigong) killed at Gaoliang. At the age of 62, Chong'er returned to Jinn after an exile of 19 years. In 639 BC, during the 13th year reign of King Xiangwang, Zheng Principality attacked Hua-guo fief for its defection of loyalty to Wey Principality. (Hua-guo fief was of Lord Huangdi's surname and it was subservient to Jinn and Zheng. It was later exterminated by Qin Principality.) When King Xiangwang sent two 'da fu' ministers to mediate on behalf of Hua-guo, Zheng Lord Ligong imprisoned the two ministers for his unhappiness over Zhou King Xiangwang's bestowing gifts on Lord of Guo Fief. Against the advice of a minister called Fuchen (who said that Zhou court had enjoyed protection from Zheng for past four generations), King Xiangwang campaigned against Zheng Principality in collaboration with Rong-di barbarians in 637 BC. King Xiangwang, to show his favor for Rong-di, took in the daughter of Rong-di ruler as his queen. But in the next year, King Xiangwang abandoned queen of Rong-di origin, and the Rong-di came to attack Zhou court as a revenge. In the autumn of 636 BC, the brother of Zhou King Xiangwang, Shu-dai, hired the Di barbarians in attacking the Zhou court. King Xiangwang fled to Zheng. When Rong-di sacked Zhou capital, King Xiangwang fled to Zheng. Shu-dai was made the king, and Shu-dai took over King Xiangwang's Rong-di queen as his concubine. Rong-di hence moved to live next to Zhou capital. Rong-di extended their domain as eastward as the Wey Principality. Chong'er, at the age of 17, possessed five tutors: Zhao Shuai, Huyan Jiufan (uncle-in-law), Jia Tuo, Xian Zhen, and Wei Wu-zi. (Later, one follower, by the name of Jie Zi-tui, went to the mountains to be a hermit instead of accepting Chong'er awards. Jie might have perished after Jinn lord burnt the mountain to force him out of hermitage.) At Di statelet, he was given a Jiuru-Chidi (Gaoru-Chidi) woman of Kui surname; and a sister of the woman married with Zhao Shuai and later bore Zhao Dun. After staying in Di statelet for 12 years, Chong'er was forced into an exile tour of various Zhou vassals. Passing through Wey, Chong'er was mistreated by Wey Wengong and left Wey. At Wey land of Wulu, Chong'er begged for food from peasants who poured mud into the food. At Qi, Chong'er was given a royal girl and twenty carts for marriage. Chong'er stayed in Qi for five years, and under the collusion of Zhao Shuai, Huyan Jiufan and Qi wife, Chong'er was fed a lot of wine and carried out of Qi capital in intoxicated status. Chong'er wife had asked him to think more about recovering his country than staying stuck with a woman for life and doing nothing good. Passing through Cao statelet, Chong'er was mistreated by Cao Gonggong, but received assistance from a Cao minister. Passing through Song, Chong'er was received by Song Xianggong in the rituals of a lord. (Song Lord Xianggong was 17th generation grandson of Song Duke Wei-zi, and Song Xianggong died of an arrow wound incurred during the Battle Of Hong-shui.) Passing through Zheng statelet, Chong'er was mistreated by Zheng Wengong. At Chu, Chong'er was given vassal treatment by Chu King Chengwang. When Qin retried Chong'er, Chu King escorted Chong'er with big gifts to Qin. Qin gave Chong'er 5 royal family girls, including Zi-yu's wife. At the age of 62, Chong'er retruned to Jinn after an exile of 19 years. When two ministers (Lü Sheng and Qie Rui) planned to rebell against Jinn Wengong, an eunuch, Lüti, who previously tried to assasinate Chong'er twice, informed Chong'er of the plot. Chong'er received the assiatance of Qin Mugong in having the rebels killed over the river. Qin Mugong dispatched 3,000 soldiers as Jinn Wengong's bodyguards. In 635 BC, King Xiangwang sought help with Qin/Jinn. This is during Jinn Wengong's 2nd year reign. Qin Mugong led an army against Shu-dai and reached the Yellow River during the spring. Zhao Shuai advised that Jinn Wengong should aid Zhou court, too, and Qin-Jinn armies killed Shu-dai in April of the year. King Xiangwang conferred onto Jinn Lord the title of Count and the land of Yangfan or 'he nei' (pronounced as He-rui in ancient Chinese to mean the winding section of the Yellow River or equivalent 'Hanoi' ["Inside the Riverbend" in Vietnamese] for the meaning of the innerside of the Yellow River, i.e., northern Henan Province where Yellow River flows to the east with a 90 degree turn). 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, i.e., 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. 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. Jinn have Chu da fu Wan-chun retained under custody to anger Zi-yue and 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. (See 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. Zheeng, 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, Jinn 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. In 630 BC, Jinn Wengong wanted to punish Zheng for not helping him while he was in exile years ago, and Jinn Wengong sought help from Qin. Jinn/Qin lay a siege of Zheng and forced a Zheng minister to commit suicide. But Jinn refused to back off. Zheng dispatched Zhu Zhi-wu to Qin Mugong and successfully pursuaded Qin into a withdrawal. Qin left three da fu and a small army at the north gate of Zheng. Jinn withdrew army, too. Two years later, 628 BC, Jinn Wengong passed away. Zheng-bo, the lord of Zheng, also died. A Qin da fu at the north gate of Zheng sent a message to Qin Mugong, stating that Zheng could be taken over by a surprise attack. This would be during the 24th year reign of Zhou King Xiangwang. Qin Mugong, against the advice of Jian Shu and Baili Xi, dispatched Mengmingshi (Baili Xi's son), Xiqishu (Jian Shu's son), and Baiyibin on a long distance campaign against Zheng. Baili Xi and Jian Shu were reprimanded for crying for their sons before the march, and the two old men said to their sons that Qin might suffer defeat at Xiao'er (Xiaoshan Mountain). In Dec of 627 BC, when Qin army passed through the front of the north gate of Zhou capital, Wangsun Man, still a kid at the time, commented that Qin army lacked respect for Zhou court and would for sure lose the war. At a place near Hua-guo, a Zheng merchant, by the name of Xuan Gao, donated his 12 buffalos to Qin army by pretending to do so under the order of Zheng lord. Three Jinn generals were surprised to know that Zheng had advance knowledge of the Qin attack, stopped at the Hua-guo Fief, and exterminated Count Hua's fief instead. Hearing of Qin attack on Hua-guo of Ji surname, Jinn Wengong's son, Jinn Xianggong (r. 627-621)), in the spring of 627 BC, sent an army to have Qin army ambushed at Xiao'er. Three Qin generals were captured, while their soldiers were all killed. Jinn Wengong's dowager wife requested with Jinn Xianggong to have the three guys released. Jinn Wengong later changed mind when Xian Zheng objected to the release, but Xian Zhen failed to chase the three guys who had been inside ship crossing the river. Qin Mugong wore mourning clothing and received the three generals at the outskirts of the Qin capital. In 626 BC, Chu Prince Shang Chen assassinated his father King Chu Chengwang. Two years after Xiao'er defeat, in 625 BC, Qin Mugong dispatched Mengmingshi on another campaign against Jinn. Meantime, Qin Lord Mugong began to conquer the Western Rong tribes. Qin Lord Mugong began his expansion by attracting talents around China. Earlier, he played a trick to trade with Chu Principality for Baili Xi at the price of 5 sheep skins, claiming that Baili Xi was wanted for a crime in Qin Principality. Baili Xi was titled 'Five Sheep Da Fu'. Baili Xi later recommended his best friend, Jian Shu, for the position as a prime minister. Qin Mugong sent a minister disguised as a merchant on a trek to the Song Principality for Jian Shu. Qin Mugong's emissary, Gongzi Zhi, found Jian Shu in the countryside of Song and invited him over to Qin Court. Jian Su was titled 'Shang Da Fu', i.e., highest Dafu. Qin Mugong heard of the fame of a talent called You Yu who deserted the Jin (Jinn) Principality for the Xirong (Western Rong) nomads, and he played a trick of dissension and managed to hire over this person when Xi-rong sent You Yu to Qin as an emissary. Qin Mugong and You Yu had an exchange of opinions on China's system, law, music/rituals and the lack of such things in Xi-rong Statelet. You Yu rebutted the dilapidation of China's systems and laws that occurred after Huangdi and commented that Xi-rong had reached governance without knowing a sophisticated system via their king's self-perfection into a saint and that Xi-rong did not have to undergo the patricides and usurpations as Chinese did. Qin Mugong deliberately retained You Yu for one year while he sent some beauties and music to Xi-rong King as gifts. When You Yu went back to Xi-rong, Xi-rong king was indulgent in women and music. Hence, You Yu deserted Xi-rong for Qin at several invitations of Qin Mugong. In 624 BC, Qin Mugong dispatched Mengmingshi against Jinn again. Qin armied burned their ships after crossing the river, and defeated Jinn and captured one of their outskirts palaces. Then, Qin armies crossed river at Maojin and buried Qin soldier's bodies at Xiao'er. Qin armies mourned for three days at Xiao'er, and Qin Mugong again expressed regrets about not taking the advice of Jian Shu and Baili Xi. The next year, in 623 BC, Jinn counter-attacked Qin and took over Xincheng. In 623 BC, Qin Mugong, using You Yu as a guide, campaigned against the Xirong nomads and conquered the Xirong Statelet under their lord Chi Ban. Once Chi Ban submitted to Qin, the rest of Western Rong nomads in the west acknolwedged the Qin overlordship. Qin Mugong would conquer altogether a dozen (12) states in Gansu-Shaanxi areas and controlled the western China of the times. Zhou King dispatched Duke Zhaogong to congratulate Qin with a gold drum. In 622 BC, Jinn's ministers, Zhao Shuai (Zhao Shuai-cheng-zi), Luan Zhi (Luan Zhen-zi), Jiuji Zifan and Huobo, all passed away. Zhao Dun assumed Zhao Shuai's post. Lord Qin Mugong passed away in 621 BC, and 177 persons were buried live, including three Ziche brothers who, being distinguished ministers, had at one time promised to live and die with Qin lord together during a banquet. Historians commented that Qin could not campaign to the east because their best ministers were buried as funerial objects. Qin Mugong's son, Kanggong, succeeded the throne. Jinn Lord Xianggong died in 621 BC, too. This would be during the 31st year reign of Zhou King Xiangwang. Jinn Minister Zhao Dun sought for Jinn Lord Xianggong's brother (Yong) for Jinn Lord. Yong was born by the mother of Qin royal heritage and lived in Qin land. Qin sent Yong to Jinn and arrived at a place called Linghu, east of the river. At this time, Jinn had decided to select Jinn Xianggong's son as their lord. Zhao Dun attacked Qin at Linghu for sake of stopping Yong from coming back to Jinn, and Qin retreated with Zhao Dun's emissaries (Sui Hui and Xian Mie). The second year, Qin counter-attacked Jinn and took over Wucheng city. In 619 BC, King Xiangwang passed away. Zhou King Qingwang (Ji Renchen, reign 618-613 B.C.) In 617 BC, Jinn attacked Qin and took over Shaoliang; Qin counter-attacked Jinn. Two years later, i.e., 615 BC approx, Qin Kanggong attacked Jinn and took over Jima. Jinn Linggong ordered Zhao Chuan, Zhao Dun and Qie Que on a counter-attack and defeated Jinn at He-qu (winding area of Yellow River). The next year, i.e., 614 BC approx, six prominent ministers of Jinn managed to have their general Wei Shouyu pretend to surrender to Qin; when Sui Hui came to see Wei Souyu, Jinn would have Sui Hui captured and brought back to Jinn. King Qingwang passed away in 613 BC after a reign of only 6 years. In this year, Chu King Zhuangwang (r. BC 613-591) was enthroned. Zhou King Kuangwang (Ji Ban, reign 612-607 B.C.) Zhou ministers, Duke Zhougong (Yue) and Wangsun Su had disputes. Jinn dispatched Zhao Dun and 800 chriots to Zhou court, and Zhou King Kuangwang was selected. In 611 BC (i.e., 16th year of Lu Lord Wengong), Yong-guo of today's northwestern Hubei Prov, a vassal who had participated in Zhou King Wuwang's campaign against Shang Dyansty in 12th cent BC, would rally numerous barbarian statelets against Chu Principality. Chu was defeated seven times and had at one time planned to relocate their capital. Chu King sought alliance with Qin, Ba-guo of Sichuan Prov and other barbarian statelets and exterminated Yong-guo statelet. In 609 BC approx, Qi Lord Yigong (r. BC 612-609) was assasinated. Qin Kanggong was succeeded by his son, Qin Gonggong (r. BC 608-604) who was enthroned next for 5 years. In 607 BC, Jinn Lord Ligong had previously tried to assasinate Zhao Dun several times and caused Zhao Dun into fleeing the country. Ligong used bows to shoot people and killed his cook and other servants at random. An assasin, Chu Mi, committed suicide by bumping his head against a tree near Zhao Dun's house. When Ligong released a dog to bite Zhao Dun, a cook (who was previously saved from hunger by Zhao Dun) would fight off the dog. Zhao Dun's brother, Zhao Chuan, killed Ligong at Daoyuan Garden (i.e., Peach Garden) and sent a messenger to recall Zhao Dun. Zhao Dun dispatched Zhao Chuan to the Zhou court and then retrieved Jinn Xianggong's brother as Jinn Lord Chenggong (r. BC 606-600). Zhou King Kuangwang passed away after a reign of only 6 years. His brother, Ji Yu, was selected as the king. Zhou King Dingwang (Ji Yu, reign 606-586 B.C.) During the first year, i.e., 606 BC, Lord Chu Zhuangwang campaigned northward against the Luhun-rong barbarians. Luhun-rong barbarians, according to Hou Han Shu, had relocated to northern China from ancient Gua-zhou prefecture of Gansu Prov. Alternatively speaking, per ancient scholar Du Yu, Luhun-rong barbarians, with clan name of Yun-shi, originally dwelled to the northwest of Qin and Jinn principalities, but Qin/Jinn seducingly relocated them to Yichuan area (i.e, Xincheng, Henan Prov) during the 22nd year reign of Lu Lord Xigong (r. BC 659-627), i.e., in 638 BC. Luhun-rong remnants were later known as Ma-shi where the surname of 'Ma' was said to have mutated from the word 'man(2)' for barbarians. When passing through Luoyi (Luoyang), Lord Chu Zhuangwang inquired about the nine bronze ding or cauldrons of the Zhou court, which was a sign of usurpation in the eyes of the Zhou court. Zhou King Dingwang dispatched a minister, Wangsun Man, to the Chu camp to disuade Chu Zhuangwang from an attempt at seeing the bronze cauldrons. (This episode would be termed 'inquiring about cauldrons'.) In 606 BC, Jinn attacked Zheng for betraying Jinn. Two years later, in 604 BC approx, Chu attacked Zheng for betraying Chu for Jinn. Jinn came to the relief of Zheng. Qin Gonggong died in 604 BC. Lao-zi, i.e., Li Dan, was born in 604 B.C. at Lixiang, near Wo-he River, with his names deriving from Li for peachtree and Dan for big ears. Lao-zi was said to have carried white beard since birth, and at old age, he was called the Yellow Elderly for his white hair possibly turning yellowish. Three years later, in 601 BC approx, Jinn defeated, captured and killed one Qin general by the name of 'Chi'. In 600 BC, Jinn Chenggong competed against Chu for hegemony by calling an assembly of vassals at Hu(4), and Chen refused to attend for fearing Chu. Jinn Chenggong dispatched Zhongxing Huanzi against Chen statelet as well as rescued Zheng from Chu attack. Jinn defeated Chu. Jinn Chenggong (r. BC 606-600) died in 600 BC. Two years later, in 598 BC, Chu attacked Chen because a Chen minister killed their lord one year ago. Chu launched the attack by taking advantage of the Xia Zhengshu's killing Chen Lord Linggong for the adultery with his widow-mother Xia-ji [i.e., daughter of Zheng Lord Mugong]. The next year, in 597 BC, Chu King Zhuangwang (r. BC 613-591) lay siege on Zheng, and Count Zheng surrendered to Chu army. Jinn dispatched three armies led by Xunlinfu, Sui Hui and Zhao Suo to the relief of Zheng. Before crossing the Yellow River in June, Zheng had surrendered to Chu. Chu defeated Jinn. In 595 BC, Jinn attacked Zheng for surrendering to Chu. Chu Zhuangwang defeated Zheng, and went north to defeat Jinn on the bank of Yellow River. The next year, Chu attacked Song, and Song requested help with Jinn. Chu Zhuangwang held a hegemony assembly of Zhou vassals. In 593 BC, Jinn dispatched Sui Hui against the Chi-di statelet and exterminated it. Chu Zhuangwang passed away in 591 BC. Jinn attacked Qi, and Qi sent in a prince as a hostage. Another two years, Qi attacked Lu; Lu requested help with Wey. Jinn sent 800 chariots, with Qie Ke, Luan Shu and HaanJue in charge, against Qi, defeated Qi Qinggong (r. BC 598-582) during the summer and pursued Qi back to their statelet. In this year, Chu minister Shen'gong Wuchen fled to Jinn with a Chu king's concubine. The next year, in 588 BC, Qi lord went to Jinn and proposed that Jinn Jinggong be the king. Jinn Jinggong declined it, but he re-organized his armies into six columns in the same fashion as Zhou court. One year later, Lu lord Chenggong (r. BC 590-573) went to Jinn, but he betrayed Jinn later because Qi did not respect him. Jinn attacked Zheng in this year. In 586 BC, earthquake ocurred. Zhou King Jianwang (Ji Yi, reign 585-572 B.C.) In 584 BC, Jinn and Wu began to ally against Chu. In 583 BC, the Zhao Tong and Zhao Gua families were exterminated in Jinn principality. In 580 BC, Jinn Lord Ligong had an alliance meeting with Qin Lord Huan'gong across the Yellow River. However, Qin Lord Huan'gong tore apart the alliance agreement after returning home, and then cooperated with Di barbarians in attacking Jinn. Two years later, Jinn led vassals against Qin, pursued Qin to Jing River and captured a Qin general by the name of Chengchai. In spring of 575 BC, Zheng betrayed Jinn for Chu. Jinn minister Luan Shu proposed a war with Chu. Jinn Ligong personally led troops across the river in May. Against the advice of Fan Wen-zi, Jinn Ligong fought with Chu, shot at the eye of Chu king, and defeated Chu King Gongwang (r. BC 590-560) at the Battle of Yanling (a place in southeastern Zheng). Chu General Zi-fan, who previously caused Chu king in killing Shen'gong Wuchen family, would be killed by Chu king. During the 13th year reign of King Jianwang, Jinn Lord Ligong was killed by Luan Shu and Zhongxing Yan, and Jinn dispatched emissaries (led by a Zhi family member) to the Zhou court to retrieve Zi-zhou as Lord Daogong. Jinn Lord Daogong would attack Zheng in the autumn of 572 BC and reached Chen statelet. Zhou King Lingwang (Ji Xiexin, reign 571-545 B.C.) In 562 BC, Jinn Ligong commented that Wei-zi (Wei Jiang) had big contributions in assembling vassals 9 times and pacifying Rong/Di. In this year, Qin rescued Zheng from Jinn Lord Daogong's attack at Yangdi County, Henan Prov. In 559 BC, Jinn Lord Daogong ordered that his six ministers assemble vassals and campaigned against Qin. Jinn pursued Qin across the Jing-shui River. In 558 BC, Jinn Lord Daogong inquired about governance with his blind-musician, Shi Kuang. In 557 BC, Jinn attacked Qi. Qi Linggong (r. BC 581-554) retreated with the advice of Yan Ying. Jinn sieged Linzi and burnt city walls, and went as east as Jiao and as south as Yi on Shandong Peninsula. In 552 BC, Lu Lord Xianggong (r. BC 572-542) came to Jinn court. Jinn minister Luan Cheng (Luan Shu's grandson) fled to Qi. Confucius [Kong-zi] was born in 551 BC, i.e., 21st year of Zhou King Lingwang or 22nd (?) year of Lu Lord Xianggong. In 550 BC, Qi Zhuanggong (r. BC 553-548) escorted Luan Cheng back to Jinn and almost sacked the Jinn city of Jiang. Fan Xian-zi advised against Jinn Pinggong's suicide attempt, fought off Luan Cheng, and killed him near Quwo. Luan family was exterminated. Qi took over Chaoge and then retreated. In 548 BC, Cui Zhu assasinated Qi Zhuanggong, and Jinn defeated Qi at the Battle of Gaotang. In 544 BC, a Wu prince came to Jinn and commented to Zhao Wen-zi, HaanXuan-zi and Wei Xian-zi that 'Jinn governance will lie in the hands of you three families." Zhou King Jing(3)-wang (Ji Gui, reign 544- 520 B.C.) After the death of King Jing(3)-wang, three princes fought each other for the throne. Jinn people attacked Prince Zi-chao who killed elder prince Meng earlier. Prince Meng was made King Daowang posthumously. Jinn people erected Prince Gai as King Jing(4)-wang. at the time Prince Zi-chao fled the Zhou capital, he would trick Lao-zi the librarian via an invitation elsewhere and truck away the Zhou Dynasty classics to the southern statelet of Chu. In 541 BC, Chu prince assassinated his father to become Chu King Lingwang (r. BC 540-529). In 538 BC, Chu King Lingwang assembled "hegemony meeting" at Shen (Nanyang, Henan Prov). Qin Jinggong passed way during the 40th year reign, i.e., 537 BC. In 536 BC, Jinn campaigned against Yan. Jinn Pinggong died in 532 BC. 529 BC, Chu prince assassinated Chu King Lingwang and became Chu King Pingwang (r. BC 528-516). In 526 BC, Chu King Pingwang sought Qin royal family girl for his son's wife, but Chu King Pingwang later took in Qin girl as his own concubine. Jinn Qinggong (r. BC 525-512) was enthroned in 525 BC. Six prominent families of Jinn, Haan, Zhao, Wei, Fan, Zhongxing & Zhi, began to overpower Jinn court. (I deliberately spelled Han2 as Haan here.) In 522 BC, Chu Elder Prince Jian fled to Zheng where he was killed. Wu Zixu fled to Wu after his father and brother were arrested and later put to death by the Chu king. In 520 BC, Zhou King Jingwang died. Six ministers of Jinn went to Zhou court and quelled internal prince turmoils. Zhou King Jing4-wang was selected. Six Jinn prominent families began to attack each other for control of Jinn. Jinn and Qin had peace for this time period. Zhou King Jing(4)-wang (Ji Gai, reign 519-477 B.C.) In 517 BC, the Ji(4) family of Lu drove Lu Lord Zhaogong (r. BC 541-510) away from the capital. When Prince Zi-chao still opposed King Jing(4)-wang, Jinn Principality led various vassals on a march to the Zhou court during the 4th year reign of King Jing(4)-wang. Prince Zi-chao hence acknowledged himself as a minister, but he would rebel again during the 16th year reign of King Jing(4)-wang. King Jing(4)-wang fled to Jinn court and would not return till Jinn Lord Dinggong escorted him back to the throne the next year. Prince Zi-chao fled to Chu Principality. King Jing(4)-wang moved his capital to Chengzhou city. In 515 BC, Wey and Song petiitoned with Jinn to have Lu Lord Zhaogong restored. Ji Ping-zi bribed Fan Xian-zi, and Fan said to Jinn Qinggong that the Ji(4) family of Lu had no fault. He-lu became the Lord of Wu Principality in 514 BC. Sun Wu, i.e., Sun Tzu or Sun Zi (536-484 per Chu Bosi), began to assist He-lu. In 514 BC, 6 families of Jinn exterminated Jinn royal relatives, i.e., the families of Qi-xi-sun and Shu-xiang-zi. Two years later, Jinn Qinggong died. In 506 BC, Wu King He-lu and Wu Zixu attacked Chu. Wu defeated Chu at the Battle of Yuzhang. Chu King Zhaowang (r. BC 515-489) fled to Sui Fief; Wu army occupied Chu capital; Wu Zixu dug up the dead body of Chu Pingwang (r. BC 526-516) and lynched it; and Chu Minister Shen Baoxu went to seek help with Qin and cried for seven days and nights. Qin Lord Aigong hence dispatched Zi Pu & Zi Hu, with 500 chariots, to Chu in 504 BC. Qin army defeated Wu army at Junxiang. Chu King Zhaowang returned to the capital. King of Wu Fu-Chai (?-473 BC ?) defeated King of Yue Gou-jian in 494 BC (?). In 482 BC, Jinn Dinggong competed with King Wu Fu-chai for hegemony at Huangchi. Yue King Gou-jian attacked Wu by taking advantage of Fu-chai's absence from his country, and Wu secretly made peace with Gou-jian to prevent vassals from hearing about Wu defeat back at home. Zi Lu (Zhong You), i.e., Confucius's student, was killed in 480 BC (?). Zhen-zi (505 - 436 BC ?) was born in 505 BC (?). Mo-zi (Mo Zhai, 480-390 BC ?) was born in 480 BC (?). [Scholar Liang Qichao claimed that Mo-zi was born in early years of Zhou King Dingwang (Ji Jie, reign 468-441 B.C.) and died in the middle of Zhou King Anwang (Ji Jiao, reign 401-376 B.C.) Mo-zi was from the country of Xiao-zhu-guo [i.e., small spider totem country] which, also known as "gentlemen country", was later exterminated by Lu Principality in 325 BC (?). Mencius had high regards for the school of thoughts propogated by Yang Zhu & Mo-zi. In 481 BC, Qi minister Tian Chang assassinated his lord Qi Jian'gong. Kong-zi (Confucius) stopped the recording of Chun Qiu (i.e., Springs and Autums) in 481 B.C., two years before his death. Confucius passed away in 479 BC. In 478 BC, King Jing(4)-wang passed away. Zhou King Yuanwang (Ji Ren, reign 476-469 B.C.) In 475 BC, Jinn Dinggong died, and his son would be Jinn Lord Chugong (r. BC 474-457). Zhan Guo or Warring States time period began to count. King of Yue, Gou-jian, who had undertaken secretive preparations and defeated Wu in 482 BC, would launch another attack at Wu Principality in 475 BC. Fu-chai had caused his best minister, Wu Zixu, to commit suicide. (Wu Zixu, the junior son of an ex-Chu official, had earlier sought asylum with Wu and then asked Wu King in successfully attacking Chu Principality. Wu Zixu was famous for his exile stories as well as digging up Chu King's dead body for lynching.) Gou-jian sieged the Wu capital for 3 years, and by 473 BC (?), and King of Wu Fu-Chai committed suicide. Zhou King Yuanwang upgraded Gou-jian's title to Count from viscount. Fan Li left Yue for Qi, saying to another Yue minister, Zhong, that he should retire to avoid the purge fate by citation that hunters ate their running dogs after dogs caught the rabbits. King Yuanwang passed away after a reign of eight years. Zhou King Zhendingwang (Ji Jie, reign 468-441 B.C.) Qin Principality attacked Dali-rong barbarians in 461 BC and took over Dali-rong capital. In 458 BC, Zhi-bo colluded with Zhao-Haan-Wei families in dividing the land of Fan and Zhongxing. Jinn Chugong planned to petition for help with Qi/Lu in restricting the 4 families. The four families hence attacked Jinn Chugong, and Chugong died on the road to Qi. Zhi-bo selected the great grandson of Jinn Zhaogong as Jinn Aigong (r. BC 456-439 ?). Zhi-bo became the main minister governing Jinn and controlled the land that belonged previously to the families of Fan and Zhongxing. In 456 BC, Jinn took over the city of Wucheng. In 453 BC, three Jinn prominent families (three separate states of Han(2), Zhao, and Wei)), under Zhao Xiang-zi, Haan Kang-zi and Wei Huan-zi, destroyed an opponent called Zhi-bo and split Zhi-bo's ex-Jinn land into three parts. Zhi-bo's son, Zhi Kai, fled to Qin in 452 BC. In 444 BC, Qin Lord Ligong attacked Yiqu-rong barbarians in the areas of later Qingzhou and Ningzhou and captured the Yiqu-rong king. In 443 BC, Sun eclipse ocurredand Qin Lord Ligong died and was succeded by Qin Lord Zaogong. Zhou King Aiwang (Ji Quji, reign 441-441 B.C.) King Aiwang was killed by his brother after a reign of three months. Zhou King Siwang (Ji Shu-xi, reign 441-440 B.C.) King Siwang was killed by his junior brother after a reign of five months. Zhou King Kaowang (Ji Wei, reign 440-426 B.C.) In 439 BC, Jinn Aigong died, and Jinn Yougong (r. 438-421 BC ?) was erected as a puppet. Jinn held only the cities of Quwo and Jiang. King Kaowang had a reign of 15 years. King Kaowang conferred the land south of the Yellow River onto his brother (Ji Jie) for sake of continuing Archduke Zhougong's officialdom. Ji Jie would be Lord Xizhou Huangong where Xizhou meant for 'Western Zhou'. Since King Jing(4)-wang moved his capital to Chengzhou city, the official Zhou court would be called Dongzhou or 'Eastern Zhou'. Lord Xizhou Huangong would be succeeded by his son, Lord Xizhou Weigong. Lord Xizhou Weigong's son would be Lord Xizhou Huigong. During the 2nd year reign of later Zhou King Xianwang, i.e., 367 B.C., Lord Xizhou Huigong made his son, Ji Ban, the so-called Lord Dongzhou Huigong for sake of supporting the official Zhou court at the old capital of Luoyang. Lord Dongzhou Huigong's son, i.e., Lord Dongzhou Wugong would be destroyed by Qin Principality. Note that Zhou Kingdom now possessed a king in Chengzhou, an eastern duke (Lord Dongzhou) in Luoyang, and a western duke (Lord Xizhou) in the land south of the Yellow River. Chu Principality eliminated Lu Principality in 431 B.C.(?) Yiqu-rong barbarians counter-attacked Qin in 431 BC (?). Qin Lord Zaogong's brother, Huangong, succeeded in 430 BC (?). Zhou King Weiliewang (Ji Wu, reign 425-402 B.C.) During the 23rd year of Zhou King Weiliwang’s reign, i.e., 403 B.C., the nine bronze utensils had vibrations. King Weiliewang conferred Marquisdom onto three Jinn statelets, Han-Zhao-Wei, i.e., Wei Si, Zhao Ji, and HaanQian. 'Zhan Guo' or Warring States time period started. History book 'Zi Zhi Tong Jian' record of history started in this year. The next year, King Weiliewang passed away and Chu King Shengwang was killed by a robber. Zhou King Anwang (Ji Jiao, reign 401-376 B.C.) King Anwang passed away after a reign of 26 years. King of Chu made Wu Qi the prime minister (384 BC ?). Zhou King Liewang (Ji Xi, reign 375-369 B.C.) King Liewang dispatched his civil and military officials to Qin Principality to show harmony. A Zhou chronicle official (Dan) went to see Qin Lord Xiangong and mentioned a necromency note that Qin and Zhou had a fate of re-union and that Qin would produce a hegemony lord (i.e., Qin Lord Xiaogong) within 17 years. King Liewang passed away after a reign of ten years, and his brother succeeded him. Meng-zi (Mencius, 372-289 BC ?) was born in 372 BC (?). Zhuang-zi (Chuang Tzu, 369-286 BC ?) was born in 369 BC (?). Zhou King Xianwang (Ji Bian, reign 368-321 B.C.) King Xianwang, during his 5th year reign, had congratulated Qin Lord Xiangong. During his 9th year reign, i.e., 360 BC, King Xianwang dispatched his civil and military officials as well as 'royal bestowal meat' to Qin Lord Xiaogong. Shang Yang (?-338 B.C.) served Qin beginning from 361 BC. Qin made Xian'yang the capital and instated agriculture-related tax system in 350 BC and farming soldier rules. During King Xianwang's 25th year reign, Qin assembled all vassals on the Zhou domain. During King Xianwang's 33rd year reign, i.e, 336 BC, Zhou court congratulated Qin King Huiwang. Su Qin persuaded six principalities into an alliance to fight the Qin in 334 BC (?). Qin defeated Wei Principality in 333 BC (?). In 333 B.C, Zhou court dispatched the civil and military officials to Qin court to show respect. Zhang Yi (?-309 B.C.) served Qin Kingdom in 329 B.C.(?) During King Xianwang's 44th year reign, i.e., 325 B.C., Qin King Huiwang officially proclaimed himself a king. All vassals, Han-Wei-Qi-Zhao, followed suit by claiming to be kings as well. Zhou King Shenjingwang (Ji Ding, reign 320-315 B.C.) King Shenjingwang passed away after a reign of 6 years. Qin eliminated the Shu Kingdom in 316 B.C.(?) Chu, Zhao, Han, Wei and Yan failed in their attack on Qin. Qi executed Su Qin, and made Zhang Yi the prime minister (317 BC ?). Zhou King Nanwang (Ji Yan, reign 314-256 B.C.) King Nanwang relocated his capital westward to Xizhou, i.e., the land south of the Yellow River, from Chengzhou in the east. Xizhou land would be where Duke Wugong (i.e., Xizhou-jun) dwelled. Xizhou-jun had more power and prestige than Zhou King Nanwang. This time period showed the pace of conquest picking up and the ultimate emergence of Qin as the hegemony. Qi Lord Xuan'gong eliminated the Yan in 314 B.C.(?) and Yan Lord Zhaowang was selected as lord of Yan in 312 B.C.(?) Xun-zi (Hsun Tzu, 300-230 B.C.?) was born in 300 BC (?). When Xizhou-jun's elder son died, Chu Principality would give up some land to Prince Jiu of Xizhou-jun for sake of making Jiu the crown prince of Xizhou-jun. In 307 BC, Qin attacked Haan(2) land of Yiyang city. Chu came to the aid of Haan(2). Zhou court sent relief to Haan as well. Chu mis-took Zhou court as having sided with Qin and hence attacked Zhou court. A minister by the name of Su Dai went to Chu camp and explained the intricacies of the relationship between Zhou court and Qin-Chu statelets. When Qin tried to borrow a path from Xizhou-jun for sake of attacking Haan(2), a minister suggested that Xizhou-jun dispatched some hostages to Chu so that Qin would worry about Chu-Zhou alliance. When Qin King invited Xizhou-jun for a state visit, Xizhou-jun sent someone to Haan for sake of having Haan send troops to Nanyang; then, Xizhou-jun made a pretext to Qin saying that he could not make the trip because Haan troops had invaded the Nanyang area. When the two Zhou fiefs, Xizhou and Dongzhou, fought each other, Haan sent troops to aid Xizhou but was disuaded from doing so by Dongzhou. When Chu army lay a siege of Yangdi for three months, Haan sought for weaponry and grains from Dongzhou. Dongzhou-jun dispatched Su Dai to Haan and successfully pursuaded Haan's prime minister from burdening Dongzhou; Su Dai claimed that Chu army must be ill for not taking Yangdi after three months and that Haan would show its illness should Haan have to appropriate weaponry and grains from Dongzhou. Prince Mengchang-jun served the Qin in 299 B.C.(?) Prince Xinling-jun rescued the Zhao from the Qin attack. A Chu minister, by the name of Qu Yuan (343-289 B.C.), committed suicide by jumping into the Mi-Lou River. (Qu Yuan was a descendant of the son Xia of Chu King Wuwang and obtained the family name from the fief of 'Qu'.) After Qin General Bai Qi successfully defeated Haan-Wei armies, a Zhou minister, Su Li, fearing that Bai Qi would pose a threat to Zhou court, would go to see Bai Qi in 281 BC and successfully pursuaded Bai Qi into claiming sickness to Qin King: Su Li told Bai Qi that he could not afford to lose a battle and forfeit his past glorious military records should Bai Qi lose his campaigns against Wei Principality. In 273 BC, Qin army took over Hua'yang from Wei (Liang). Tian Dan re-established the Qi in 279 B.C.(?). Fearing the Qin encroahment, a Zhou minister (Ma Fan) went to see Wei (Liang) King and pursuaded Wei from sending soldiers to Zhou for sake of guarding the Zhou court. Ma Fan, to balance off Wei's threat to Zhou court, then went to see Qin King and asked Qin send troops to the border areas to check the Wei (Liang) armies. In 270 BC, when Qin intended to attack Zhou court, a minister somehow disuaded Qin from launching an attack on the pretext that should Qin attack Zhou, there would be nothing to gain since Zhou domain was small and vassals would all defect to Qi in the east as a result of fear for Qin. Qin General Bai Qi defeated the Zhao in the Battle of Changping in 260 B.C.(?) and buried alive all Zhao prisoners of war. In 257 BC, three Jinn statelets, Haan-Zhao-Wei, made an alliance against the Qin attack and Zhou court mediated over this war. In 256 BC, Qin took over Yangcheng (today's Yangcheng, Shanxi Prov) city of Haan Principality. Xizhou-jun, breaking peace treaty with Qin, allied with various vassals against Qin and marched out of Longmen Gorge area to cut off Qin armies in Yangcheng. Qin King Zhaowang got enraged and attacked Xizhou. Xizhou-jun (Duke Wugong) went to Qin camp to make an apology and surrendered his 36 cities and 30,000 population. Qin set free Xizhou-jun thereafter. When both Xizhou-jun (Duke Wugong) and Zhou King Nanwang passed away, the Zhou people fled to the east. Qin retrieved the nine bronze utensils from the Zhou court and shipped them to Xian'yang. Qin relocated Xizhou-jun's son, Duke Xizhou Wengong, to a place near Luoyang of Henan Prov. An ancient scholar claimed that Zhou court had a domain of seven counties at the time of its demise: Henan, Luoyang, Gucheng, Pingyin, Yanshi, Gong, and Koushi (Yanshi, Henan Prov). After the death of Zhou King Nanwang, there was no king for 35 years, till Qin reunited China. 7 years later, Qin King Zhuangxiangwang exterminated Dongzhou fief. (Zhan Guo Ce mentioned the name of Zhou-wen-jun as the lord of Dongzhou fief at the time of its demise.) The Zhou family heritage would not ensue till Han Emperor Wudi located a Zhou heir (Ji Jia) during the 4th year of the Yuanding Era (i.e., 113 BC) and conferred a title of Zhou-zi-nan-jun, over 90 years after the Zhou demise. Han Emperor Yuandi, during the 5th year of the Chuyuan Era (i.e., 48 BC), had conferred the Marquisdom onto the grandson of Ji Jia. Han Emperor Pingdi upgraded the title to 'Duke Zheng', and Latter Han Emperor Guangwudi conferred the title of 'Duke Wey' onto the Zhou heir. Spring & Autumn
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
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 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. 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 assasin 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 assasin 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. Written by Ah Xiang |
|
Copyright 1998-2011:
This website expresses the personal opinions of the webmaster. In addition to the webmaster's comments, extensive citations and quotes of ancient Chinese classics (available at http://www.sinica.edu.tw/ftms-bin/ftmsw3) were presented via transcribing and paraphrasing the Classical Chinese language into the English language. Whenever possible, links and URLs are provided to give credit and reference to ideas borrowed elsewhere. This website may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means, with or without prior the written permission, on the pre-condition that an acknowledgement or a reciprocal link is expressively provided. All rights reserved. WARNING: Some of the pictures, charts and graphs posted on this website came from copyrighted materials. Citation or usage in the print format or for the financial gain could be subject to fine, penalties or sanctions without the original owner's consent.
ECON 101:  US Interest Rate Down =  China Exchange Rate Up !
|
||||||
Huanghuagang Magazine 
Republican China in Blog Format 
![At the time [when China fell under the alien rule],](http://imperialchina.org/0442201b51e71777df540167-resized.jpg)
|
||||||
![Though, Anna Wang [Anneliese Martens], in her memoirs, expressed jealousy over Gong Peng by stating that the Anglo-American reporters had flattered the Chinese communists and the communist movement as a result of being entranced with the goldfish-eye'ed personal assistant of Zhou Enlai](GongPeng.jpg)
