The Warring States Period in Chinese history…

The Warring States Period in Chinese history covers the period from some time in the early fifth century BCE to the unification of China by the Qin Dynasty in 221 BCE.

It is nominally considered to be the second part of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, following the Spring and Autumn Period, although the Zhou dynasty itself would end in 256 BCE, 35 years earlier than the end of the Warring States period.

As with the Spring and Autumn Period, the king of Zhou acts merely as a figurehead.

The name Warring States Period is derived from the Record of the Warring States, a work historically compiled early in the Han Dynasty.

While the date for the beginning of the Warring States Period is somewhat in dispute, it is frequently cited as 475 BCE.

The Warring States Period, in contrast to the Spring and Autumn Period, will be a period when regional warlords annex smaller states around them and consolidate their rule.

Another sign of this shift in power is a change in title: warlords who had still considered themselves dukes of the Zhou dynasty king now begin to call themselves kings, meaning they are equal to the Zhou king.

The state of Wu straddles the mouth of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) east of the State of Chu.

Considered a semi-barbarian state by ancient Chinese historians, its capital is Suzhou.

The State of Jin had aided Wu's rise to power as a useful ally against the State of Chu.

In 584 BCE, Wu had rebelled against the State of Chu; the action had occurred after being persuaded by Wuchen, a minister of the State of Jin who had defected from Chu.

Wu, which has since been a constant threat to the state of Chu on its southeastern flank, has curried relationships with Chu's vassals in the Yangtze river region to weaken support for Chu.

In 506 BCE, Wu had launched a surprise attack and occupied the capital of Chu.

Afterwards, Wu was briefly the most powerful nation, and turned to other campaigns, defeating the State of Qi in 484 BCE.

Ironically, Wu is now threatened by an upstart state to its south, the State of Yue; the State of Chu had aided Yue's rise to power as a counter to Wu.

Although Wu had won a major victory against Yue in 494 BCE, it had failed to completely subjugate Yue, helped in part by Yue's bribing of an important Wu minister.

While Wu was engaged in a military campaign in the north, Yue had launched a surprise attack on Wu in 482 BCE and conquered the capital, Huangchi.

Eventually, the State of Yue conquers and annexes Wu in 473 BCE; King Fuchai, the last king of Wu, commits suicide in his palace.