The Eastern Zhou Dynasty was an important stage in Chinese history, and the reason why this period was divided into two parts, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, was because of the major changes in the social system, political structure, and cultural thought during this period. The differences between the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States period also reflect the diversity of historical developments during this period.
Changes in social systems
The social system of the Spring and Autumn period had begun to change to feudalism, but this transformation was not complete. During this period, a powerful class of princes began to emerge in the various vassal states, and they gradually grasped state power, forming a system of feudal lords. However, this feudal system was not stable, and the princes often competed for power through usurpation or riots, leading to political instability.
In the Warring States period, this feudal system developed further, and through wars and annexations between countries, a more centralized feudal state was formed. During this period, various countries implemented changes in law, strengthened centralization, and improved the combat effectiveness of their armies in order to cope with frequent wars. At the same time, the system of feudal lords was gradually abolished and replaced by a more centralized bureaucracy.
Changes in the political landscape
During the Spring and Autumn period, although the Zhou royal family declined, it still maintained a certain authority. Although there were battles between the various vassal states, the Zhou royal family was still respected in general. During this period, the Zhou royal family also had a certain amount of political influence and was able to reconcile the contradictions and conflicts between the vassal states.
In the Warring States Period, the Zhou royal family completely declined, and the various vassal states began to work independently, forming the pattern of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States. During this period, wars and annexations between countries became more frequent, and the political situation became more volatile. Countries have implemented law changes, strengthened centralization, and improved the combat effectiveness of the armed forces to cope with frequent wars. At the same time, the political competition between countries has also become more intense, and diplomatic tactics such as joint vertical and horizontal, long-distance friendship and close attack have emerged.
Changes in cultural thinking
During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucianism began to emerge, emphasizing moral concepts such as etiquette and benevolence. During this period, Confucianism became the mainstream of society and had an important impact on social order and moral norms. At the same time, other schools of thought also began to rise, such as Mohist, Legalist, etc.
In the Warring States Period, a situation of a hundred schools of thought began to take shape, and various schools of thought clashed fiercely. During this period, although Confucianism still occupied an important position, the ideas of other schools of thought also began to be widely disseminated and applied. For example, Legalism emphasizes the importance of the rule of law and centralization, Taoism emphasizes the concept of nature and the rule of non-action, and Mohist thought emphasizes the concepts of both love and non-aggression. The ideas of these schools of thought had a profound impact on the society, politics and culture of the time.
Changes in the scale of the war
The wars of the Spring and Autumn period were relatively small in scale and often small-scale border conflicts. During this period, wars were often caused by rivalries between some nobles or princes. The form of warfare was also relatively simple, with mainly skirmishes dominated by infantry.
And in the Warring States period, the scale of the war began to expand, and large-scale group army operations and long-term wars appeared. During this period, wars between nations were often fought over territory, resources, and population. The form of warfare has also become more complex and brutal, and the tactics of combining various arms such as cavalry, infantry, and chariot troops have emerged. At the same time, diplomatic tactics such as cooperation and horizontal cooperation between countries have emerged to deal with frequent wars.
The reason why the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was divided into two parts, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, was because the social system, political pattern, and cultural thought of this period underwent major changes. The differences between the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States period also reflect the diversity of historical developments during this period. By in-depth understanding of the historical background and social conditions of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, we can better understand the significance of this period to ancient Chinese history, and at the same time, it also provides us with a typical case study of China's historical evolution, which is of great significance for us to understand the laws and mechanisms of historical evolution.