China during the Iron Age... As seen in... Middle Kingdom

THE IRON AGE

The beginning of the Iron Age in China is placed between the Autumn period between 722 – 476 BC and the Warring States period between 476 – 221 BC.

Between these eras the old and formal Dynasties were undermined by bandit movements. Much of the Dynasties efforts were committed to fending off raids and developing as quickly as possible. In order to prevent chaos and bring about a single power both of the old and new dynasties went to war. Much of the traditional Chinese folklore is set in this unstable but highly mystical era. Large parts of the nation were still untouched by civilisation. It is also where the modern term Shanzhai comes from, translating as ‘mountain strongholds’ where bandits held power, it now refers to pirated organisations and goods.

The Autumn Period, officially named the Spring and Autumn Period by historical records saw massive aggravation and conflict. The most prominent Dynasty of this time was the Zhou, who used their culture and soft power to expand. Local military leaders acted as soldier statesmen with oversight on all trade, rather than militia or campaign driven efforts to expand territory. This led to new factions, cartels and nefarious offshoots from official business. Corruption would increase and in fact become an accepted aspect to the society.

This Iron Age society continued to grow naturally up until the invasion of the North West, by the Qin People and Dynasty. What followed was a subsequent relocation of the Zhou Capital to modern day Louyang. This began the new era of the Eastern Zhou and fall of the main Dynasty. The military leaders became further distant from their Kings and fealty, becoming more like War Lords than military and political chiefs. The Dynasty had been broken into hundreds of different communities, all loyal their local warlord, which in more cases than not assumed a royal title.

By 600 BC the majority of these clans, communes or small states had been absorbed, amalgamated or simply died out. This era ran parallel and is often grouped in with the Warring States period, from 476 to 221 BC. The Southern States remained largely independent. Their cultures were distinct and even amidst Wars with the North new cities developed. Slowly modern Chinese culture began to take shape and ‘The Hundred Schools of Thought’ and Chinese philosophy blossomed.

Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism and Mohism were founded, partly in response to the changing political world. Whilst this cultural and intellectual revolution went on so did the battles of the Warring States. This era broke down into three pivotal moments; x) After years of bloodshed, attempted coups and total war the three remaining and most powerful families of the Jin state set boundaries and partitioned the state. The families were the Zhao, Wei and Han. x) Upon further political consolidation, seven prominent states remained by 500BC.

The Zhou King would remain until 256 BC, but he was largely a figurehead and held no real power. x) Areas of modern Sichuan and Liaoning were annexed, they were Governed under the new local administrative system of commandery and prefecture. x) Ying Zheng, the King of Qin unified six powers and annexed the modern regions of Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi. This also made him the First Emperor of China (Qin Shi Huang). The philosophers Laozi, Confucius and Sun Tzu all lived during this chaotic period. They would map the events and history through documentation.

Video - ‘Spring and Autumn Period’, ‘Warring States Period’ and Qin

Middle Kingdom, my new series very much incorporates the topics discussed in this article. If you found it interesting Middle Kingdom is certainly worth checking out.

With China opening at the end of this year, what better book to read for your flight, the fictitious MK series or the ultimate non-fiction guide - Across China in 250 Pages.

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