The Rise and Fall of the Seven Powers
In ancient China, the era of the “Seven Powers” marked a significant period of political upheaval and transformation. This term referred to the seven states of Wei, Han, Zhao, Chu, Yan, Qi, and Qin, each vying for supremacy during the Eastern Zhou dynasty. This era was encapsulated by the historian Sima Qian in his work “Records of the Grand Historian.”
The narrative begins with the decline of the Zhou dynasty due to the invasion by the Quanrong tribes, prompting King You to relocate the capital to Luoyi. This event marked the start of Qin’s rise as a regional power under Duke Xiang, who assumed the title of a vassal lord. Despite Zhou’s traditional rituals where the Son of Heaven would offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, Qin adopted customs of the Rong and Di tribes, prioritizing aggression over benevolence and righteousness, a deviation that concerned the noble class.
Subsequently, the rulers of Jin expanded their influence beyond the boundaries of their state, conquering the lands between the Qin and Hangu Passes. Duke Mu of Qin initiated political reforms, and his successor, Duke Xiao, advanced these changes further eastward to the Yellow River, a period that saw Qin rivaling the states of Qi under Duke Huan and Jin under Duke Wen.
As the centuries passed, courtiers wielded political authority, and ministers enjoyed hereditary privileges. Six ministers held sway over the state, forging military alliances and ensuring peace through mutual agreements. The murder of Duke Jian of Qi by Tian Chang marked a turning point, as the other states refrained from challenging the aggressors, sparking rivalries over military exploits. This eventually culminated in the division of Jin into three states, with Tian He annexing Qi and becoming the predominant power among the Seven Powers.
Qin, initially a minor state on the fringes, acted as the Son of Heaven’s envoy to other Xia states, later triumphing over the Rong and Di tribes and other emerging powers. Comparatively, the virtues and righteousness of Qin rulers were inferior to those of Lu and Wei, while their military might was not as strong as that of the three Jins. Nonetheless, they eventually unified China, aided by their strategic location and the favor of the heavens.
The maxim “Eastern matters are where things begin, while Western matters are where things are accomplished” speaks to the significance of geographical location in Chinese political history. Thus, Yu originated from the Western Qiang tribes, Tang from the state of Bo, and King Wu from Zhou rose to prominence by defeating the Shang dynasty. The emperor of Qin established himself in Yangzhou, and the Han dynasty rose to power from Shu Han.
Qin, having gained the upper hand, destroyed all records of poems and books across the country. The records of the regional historians were even more devastating. Poems and books that have been preserved in the homes of the people will be extinct. It’s a pity, it’s a pity! Only records of the Qin dynasty were written and months were not detailed. Its text is incomplete. Nevertheless, the victories of the Warring States period have their own place. Although many laws have been enacted, they have been successful. “It’s a great law,” why? The addition of its own time and its own variable, and its variable, the public, is also very useful, and the act of the poor. I’m sorry!
I was on the record, followed by Spring and Autumn, later the King of Zhou, the first year of the year, the King of Zhou, and the King of Zhou. That’s all.