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Qin Wars Of Unification
Qin's wars of unification were a series of military campaigns launched in the late third century BC by the state of Qin against the other six states remaining in China Han, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Chu and Qi. Between 247 and 221 BC, Qin had developed into the most powerful of China's Seven Warring States that coalesced in the wake of the declining Zhou dynasty, which had been reduced to a weak and merely ceremonial position during the Warring States period. In 230 BC, Ying Zheng, the King of Qin, began the sequence of campaigns that would bring the Warring States period to a close, setting out to conquer each of the six states one by one. This was completed in 221 BC with the fall of Qi, which further led to a more centralised form of government replacing the ''fengjian'' system of the Zhou dynasty. Ying Zheng declared himself the First Emperor – or Shi Huangdi – of a unified China under the Qin dynasty. Background Rise of Qin and early conquests Over ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Warring States Period
The Warring States period in history of China, Chinese history (221 BC) comprises the final two and a half centuries of the Zhou dynasty (256 BC), which were characterized by frequent warfare, bureaucratic and military reforms, and struggles for greater hegemonic influence among the ancient Chinese states, various autonomous feudal states of the Eastern Zhou dynasty. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the eventual unification of China by the western state of Qin (state), Qin under Qin Shi Huang, who Qin's wars of unification, conquered all other contender states by 221 BC and found the Qin dynasty, the first history of China#Imperial China, imperial dynasty in East Asian history. While scholars have identified several different dates as marking the beginning of the Warring States period, Sima Qian's choice of 475 BC, the first year of King Yuan of Zhou's reign, is the most often cited due to the paucity of preceding annals after th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Huan Yi
Huan Yi was a general of the state of Qin in the late Warring States period (near of – 221 BCE). Background General Pang Nuan of Zhao occupied several towns of the state of Yan in 236 BCE, whereupon Yan asked the state of Qin for help. Huan Yi, Yang Duanhe, and Wang Jian commanded the relief campaign against Zhao and took its towns Ye (today's Linzhang, Hebei) and Anyang (Hebei), as well as Eyu ( Heshun, Shanxi), and Liaoyang (Zuoquan, Shanxi). In 236 BC, the Qin generals Huan Yi and Wang Jian seize nine cities in the Yecheng region. In 234 BC, Huan Yi attacked Pingyang (Linfen, Shanxi) and Wucheng (Cixian, Hebei), killed general Hu Zhe and massacred 100,000 troops of Zhao. He then left Shangdang, passed the Taihang Ridge and invaded Zhao by taking Chili and Yi'an (Gaocheng, Hebei). Zhao thereupon laid the supreme command in the hands of Li Mu, who defeated Huan Yi in the battle of Fei ( Jinxian, Hebei Hebei is a Provinces of China, province in North China. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Administration Of Territory In Dynastic China
The administration of territory in dynastic China is the history of practices involved in governing the land from the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) to the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). Administrative divisions in imperial China County The only level at which state officials actually governed the common people was the county level. Counties were coordinated by prefectures which had on average, about ten counties. Overseeing inspectors were sent out from the central government to oversee the work of the prefectures. During the Yuan dynasty, Yuan (1271–1368) and Ming dynasty, Ming (1368–1644) dynasties, these arrangements were solidified into permanent provinces. Funding for the local administration came from taxes collected while a portion was set aside for the central government. Counties (''xian'') originally meant "dependencies" ruled by vassals of royal blood. During the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), they were coordinated by commanderies (''jun'') and expanded throughout the en ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou dynasty ( ) was a royal dynasty of China that existed for 789 years from until 256 BC, the longest span of any dynasty in Chinese history. During the Western Zhou period (771 BC), the royal house, surnamed Ji, had military control over territories centered on the Wei River valley and North China Plain. Even as Zhou suzerainty became increasingly ceremonial over the following Eastern Zhou period (771–256 BC), the political system created by the Zhou royal house survived in some form for several additional centuries. A date of 1046 BC for the Zhou's establishment is supported by the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project and David Pankenier, but David Nivison and Edward L. Shaughnessy date the establishment to 1045 BC. The latter Eastern Zhou period is itself roughly subdivided into two parts. During the Spring and Autumn period (), power became increasingly decentralized as the authority of the royal house diminished. The Warring States ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seven Warring States
The Seven Warring States or Seven Kingdoms () were the seven leading hegemonic states during the Warring States period (c. 475 to 221 BC) of ancient China: * Han, defeated by Qin in 230 BCE * Zhao (), defeated by Qin in 228 BCE * Wei (), defeated by Qin in 225 BCE * Chu (), defeated by Qin in 223 BCE * Yan (), defeated by Qin in 222 BCE * Qi (), defeated by Qin in 221 BCE * Qin () During the Eastern Zhou dynasty, the weakened Zhou central sovereignty quickly lost control of its confederate vassal states, and the numerous autonomous states began overreaching and expanding their political ambitions via diplomacy and warfare, sparking a period of chaotic conflicts known as the Spring and Autumn period. After most of the smaller, weaker states were conquered and annexed by larger states, the geopolitical landscape eventually became dominated by seven most powerful states, and wars became increasingly pitched and violent. Over the Warring States period, many of the s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jian Of Qi
Tian Jian, commonly known as "Jian, King of Qi" (), was the last king of the Qi state. Life Tian Jian succeeded his father, King Xiang, who died in 265 BC. He reigned for 44 years. At the time he acceded to the throne, Qi was one of the wealthiest states, and it was on the seacoast far from the most aggressive state, Qin. For years, Tian Jian's mother acted as his advisor. On her deathbed she wanted to tell her son which ministers she thought were the best. But when the writing materials arrived she could no longer tell him. After she died, Hou Sheng (后勝) became his prime minister. It was alleged by some sources that Hou Sheng was in the pay of the state of Qin. In Strategies of the Warring States, The Book of Qi One famous anecdote is that after the Battle of Changping in 260 BC, in which, according to the historian Sima Qian, 450,000 soldiers of the state of Zhao were killed by the Qin army, King Jian was advised: "Zhao is a hedge that protects Qi... just as the lips ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lord Changping
Lord Changping (; died 223 BC) was a Chinese monarch and politician who remained as an important military commander and lord of Qin, who later departed from the state of Qin and went to the state of Chu where he became the last king of Chu (223 BC) in the last days of the Chinese Warring States period. He was a son of King Kaolie of Chu and a maternal grandson of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, making him a first cousin once removed of Qin Shi Huang. Accounts in the Records of the Grand Historian The deeds of Lord Changping was mainly recorded in Vol. 6: ''Annals of Qin Shi Huang'' of the ''Records of the Grand Historian''. In 238 BC, in the State of Qin, a pseudo-eunuch Lao Ai entered into a relationship with Queen Dowager Zhao and plotted against King Zheng of Qin (who would later ascend to Shi Huang, the First Emperor): The king found out this fact and ordered the chancellor ( Lü Buwei) to let Lord Changping and lead soldiers and attack Lao Ai. They battled at Xianyang (the capi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fuchu Of Chu
Xiong Fuchu, commonly known as "Fuchu, King of Chu" (), was from 227 BC to 223 BC the ruler of the Chu state. Xiong Fuchu usurped the throne in 227 BC after he murdered his younger half-brother, King Ai. In 223 BC he was captured and deposed by the army of the invading Qin state Qin (, , or ''Ch'in'') was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. It is traditionally dated to 897 BC. The state of Qin originated from a reconquest of western lands that had previously been lost to the Xirong. Its location at .... References Monarchs of Chu (state) Chinese kings 3rd-century BC Chinese monarchs Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown {{China-royal-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crown Prince Dan
Crown Prince Dan () was a crown prince of the State of Yan during the Warring States period of ancient China. He was also called Yan Dan (). He lived in the State of Qin as a hostage, but returned to Yan in 232 BC. He sent Jing Ke to assassinate King Zheng of Qin, who later assumed the title Qin Shi Huang and became the first Emperor of China, but Jing failed. King Xi of Yan, Dan's father and the last king of Yan, ordered the execution of Dan to please Qin after the Yan capital Jicheng (Beijing), Ji fell to Qin. Invasion of Qin did halt for few years, during which time the states of state of Wei, Wei and state of Chu, Chu were conquered. Meanwhile, the King Xi of Yan moved to the Liaodong Commandery. The state of Yan was conquered in 222 BC and King Xi was captured. All except King Xi were featured in the Chinese period epic ''The Emperor and the Assassin''. Prince Dan is also featured in the 2004 TV series ''Assassinator Jing Ke''. References Zhou dynasty nobility Chine ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Xi Of Yan
Xi, King of Yan (; fl. 255–222 BC; r. 255–222 BC) was the last monarch of the Yan state. He was the son of King Xiao whom he succeeded. In the 28th year of his reign (227 BC), the Qin state began its conquest of Yan, and its army approached Yishui (易水; modern-day Yi County, Hebei). Seeing the threatening situation in which Yan was in, Crown Prince Dan, King Xi's son, sent assassins Jing Ke, Qin Wuyang and others to kill Zheng, King of Qin, under the guise of presenting him with a map of Dukang (督亢) and the severed head of the Qin general Huan Yi. As Jing Ke unrolled the map in front of King Zheng, the dagger was revealed, and the assassination failed. This failure only helped to fuel the rage and determination of the King of Qin, who increased the number of troops sent to conquer Yan and ordered Wang Jian to destroy Yan. The bulk of the Yan army was at the frozen Yishui River. The Yan army was defeated in 226 BC and Xi fled to the Liaodong Commandery. To appease Ki ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jia Of Wei
Wei Jia, commonly known as "Jia, King of Wei" (; died 225 BC?), was the last ruler of the Wei state during the waning days of the Warring States period of Chinese history. He ruled the kingdom between 227 BC and 225 BC. Jia, the son of King Jingmin, ascended to the throne after his father's death. In 225 BC, a Qin army led by Wang Ben invaded Wei. Wen Ben directed the waters from the Yellow River and the Hong Canal (鴻溝) to inundate the capital of Wei, Daliang (present-day Kaifeng). Three months later, the city wall was destroyed, and Jia had to surrender. His fate was not mentioned in the ''Records of the Grand Historian.'' However, according to ''Biographies of Exemplary Women'' and ''Zizhi Tongjian The ''Zizhi Tongjian'' (1084) is a chronicle published during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) that provides a record of Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynasties and spanning almost 1400 years. The main text is ...'', he was executed b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jia Of Zhao
Zhao Jia (), also known as Jia, King of Dai (代王嘉) or Jia, King of Zhao (趙王嘉), reigned as the only king of the Dai state from 227 to 223 BC. His realm was a rump state of the Zhao state that covered only a northern fraction of the Zhao territories. In this regard, he is sometimes considered the last ruler of Zhao. Name The title was held by the paramount leaders of Shang and Zhou-era China and is usually translated into English as "king". Under the Han and later Chinese dynasties, however, it was also used for appanages of the imperial families who had no independent sovereignty of their own. In such contexts, it is more common to translate the title as "prince". Sima Qian lists Jia as a lesser lord in his treatment of the state of Zhao, but still describes him as an independent king rather than reducing his rank. Life Zhao Jia was the eldest son of King Daoxiang of Zhao, but was passed over in succession in favor of his younger brother (who became known as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
