The Warring States Period
The years between 476 B.C. and 221 B.C. are known as the Warring States Period. Many states had disappeared after the wars of the Chunqiu Period, or the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), bringing great social changes during the Warring States Period. Quite a number of schools of thought contended for dominance in the realm of intellect. The statesmen at that time were quick to pick up on these changes and pressed ahead with political reforms, which led to the historical trend of unification.
The Warring States Period can be divided into three stages. The first stage began in 476 B.C. and ended in 338 B.C. when King Zhou, the last king of the Shang Dynasty, was killed. During this period, many statesmen were eager to strengthen their states through reform, such as Li Kui in Wei, Wu Qi in Chu and Shang Yang in Qin. Qin's Prime Minister Shang Yang launched sweeping reforms, which included private ownership of and transactions in land, abolition of forced labor on farmers, and the division of the state into 31 counties which were supervised by officials directly appointed by the duke. Shang Yang's reform had a great deal to do with Qin's emergence as the most powerful state in the late Warring States Period. This stage was a comparatively stable period.
The second stage began in 338 B.C. and ended in 288 B.C. During this period fierce fighting persisted among the seven powers as each tried to annex its neighbor. In 288 B.C., Qi and Qin became the Western Empire and Eastern Empire. The wars escalated. In 284 B.C., Qin and the five other states united and launched a war against Qi, the strongest power at that time.
Agriculture, industry and economy developed quickly during the Warring States Period. The increasing popularity of iron tools marked a revolutionary innovation in tools and the development of increased productivity.
The third stage was from 284 B.C. to 221 B.C. In 221 B.C., the State of Qin unified the entire country after conquering its six rival states, ending the turbulent Warring States Period.
