Before Unifying the Six Countries

The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period were a period of great change and division in Chinese history, as well as an era of flourishing ideology and culture. From the founding of the country by King Wu to the fall of the Western Zhou Dynasty. The history of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty began with the eastward migration of King Ping. The Spring and Autumn Period was named after the "Spring and Autumn Annals" compiled by Confucius, and the Warring States Period was named after the "Warring States Policy" compiled by Liu Xiang. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the Zhou royal family declined. Since "ritual and music conquests came from the princes", princes such as Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin successively came to dominate. Order was reshaped through alliances and wars, and classic battles such as the Battle of Chengpu highlighted the nature of princes competing for hegemony. During the Warring States Period, annexation wars became more intense, forming the "seven heroes" of Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin. Large-scale battles such as the Battle of Guiling and the Battle of Changping occurred frequently. Countries implemented reforms in order to become stronger. Shang Yang's reforms made Qin rise as a powerful country. During this period, the promotion of iron tools and cattle farming led to a leap in productivity, and the private land system disintegrated the well-field system. Ideologically, the phenomenon of "a hundred schools of thought contending" appeared. Confucius and Mencius advocated Confucian ethics, Laozi and Zhuangzi elaborated on Taoist thought and philosophy, Mozi advocated "universal love" and "non-aggression", and Legalism emphasized the rule of law, laying the foundation of Chinese culture. At the same time, the "Book of Songs" and "Chu Song" showed the charm of literature, the craftsmanship of bronze and lacquerware reached their peak, and drastic changes in various fields of society created conditions for the establishment of the unified empire of Qin and Han Dynasties.