The Warring States (475 BC – 221 BC) is a historical period in ancient Chinese history following the Spring and Autumn Period. After the protracted struggle for hegemony during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC), the number of princely states in the Territory of the Zhou Dynasty was greatly reduced. The Zhou royal family is still nominally the Son of Heaven, but it has basically died in name only. In 453 BC, the three families of Han, Zhao, and Wei destroyed the Zhi clan and divided the Jin state, which is the three families dividing the Jin. After the three families were divided into Jin, there was the Tian Clan Daiqi, that is, the Tian Clan Qi State replaced the Jiang Clan Qi State. For the three families divided into Jin and Tian Clan Daiqi, it is obvious that the pattern of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States has been laid. In 221 BC, the State of Qin destroyed the State of Qi and unified the Six Kingdoms, marking the end of the Warring States Era.
For the State of Qi, because of the Tian Dynasty Qi, it can actually be divided into two parts, that is, the Spring and Autumn Period, which is the State of Qi of the Jiang Clan. In the Warring States period, it was the State of Qi of the Tian clan that competed with the six kingdoms of Qin, Wei, Korea, Zhao, Yan, and Chu. On this basis, two "Qi Taigongs" appeared in the history of the State of Qi. For these two Qi taigongs, each established a state of Qi. However, these two founding princes of the State of Qi are very different in fame.
Qi Taigong (Jiang Ziya)
On the one hand, the first Qi Taigong, that is, Jiang Ziya, is undoubtedly a well-known historical figure. Especially under the influence of literary works such as the "List of Fengshen Gods", Jiang Ziya, like the King of Shang, The King of Zhou Wen, the King of Zhou Wu and others in the same period, has a high degree of popularity. Jiang Ziya (c. 1156 BC – c. 1017 BC), surnamed Jiang, Lü shi, mingshang, ziya, flying bear, a native of Ji County, Hanoi County. The founding father of the Zhou Dynasty, the founder of the military science of the late Shang Dynasty and the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty. In the last year of the Shang Dynasty, Jiang Ziya fished on the shores of the Weishui River, met Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo, worshiped him as "Taishi" (military attaché's name), honored Taigong Wang, became the chief strategist, and assisted Ji Chang in establishing a hegemony.
After King Wu of Zhou ascended the throne, he was honored as "Shi Shang's father" and became the commander of the Soldiers and Horses of the State of Zhou, known as Jiang Shang. On this basis, Jiang Ziya assisted Ji Fa, the king of Zhou Wu, to eliminate the King of Shang and establish the Zhou Dynasty. Therefore, in the author's opinion, Jiang Ziya's position in the early Western Zhou Dynasty can be completely compared with Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of the Shu Han Dynasty. That is, the establishment of the Western Zhou Dynasty, Jiang Ziya played an important role. Therefore, the State of Qi had already appeared as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty, when King Wu of Zhou, in order to reward the meritorious servants and clans of the Zhou Dynasty, implemented a system of sub-feudalism, and the first meritorious servant Lü Shangyu Yingqiu (later renamed Linzi) who was the master was named Qi. Because the monarch is surnamed Jiang, it is also called the Surname of Jiang Qi.
After receiving the canonization of Ji Fa, the King of Zhou Wu, Jiang Ziya, the Prince of Qi, came to the State of Qi. At that time, the neighboring Lai state was eyeing the State of Qi and even wanted to seize the territory of the State of Qi. In this regard, after Jiang Ziya, the Prince of Qi, went to Yingqiu, he repaired the government because of the customs of the place and the simplification of etiquette. Moreover, Jiang Ziya, the Prince of Qi, also developed industry and commerce, taking advantage of the local fish and salt, and greatly increased the population, making the State of Qi a big country. However, as the founding prince of the State of Qi of the Jiang clan, Jiang Ziya did not stay in the State of Qi for a long time, but remained in the Western Zhou capital city of Ho Jing to assist his grandson Zhou Chengwang Jishu and his grandson Zhou Kang Wang Jizhao.
During the reign of King Cheng of Zhou, Guan Shu, Uncle Cai, and Uncle Huo "rebelled against the Three Prisons", Huaiyi, Xu Yi, and the "Five Marquises of Yindong" rebelled against Zhou, and Jiang Taigong's father and son assisted Zhou Gongdan, or sat in Kyoto and strategized; or led troops on the Eastern Crusade and charged into the battlefield; or echoed left and right, attacked from east to west, quickly quelled the rebellion, and made great achievements for the second An Zhou. King Cheng of Zhou died, and Jiang Ziya's father and son accepted the will of King Tuogu of Zhou Cheng, took on the heavy responsibility of assisting the crown prince, and later together with his courtiers, helped crown prince Ji Zhao ascend the throne, known as King Kang of Zhou. In the sixth year of King Kang of Zhou, Jiang Ziya, the Duke of Qi, died in the Western Zhou capital of Haojing.
Qi Taigong (Tian He)
On the other hand, for the State of Qi of the Jiang clan established by Jiang Ziya, it was not only a great power in the Western Zhou Dynasty, but in the Spring and Autumn Period, the Duke of Qi Huan became the head of the Spring and Autumn Five Hegemons, which was undoubtedly the best embodiment of the strength of the State of Qi. However, it was during the reign of Duke Huan of Qi that the ancestors of the Tian clan came to the State of Qi and were granted official positions by the Duke of Qi Huan. Of course, the rise and growth of the Tian clan in the State of Qi actually went through a long process. It was not until the end of the Spring and Autumn period that the Tian clan usurped the power of the State of Qi of the Jiang clan. As far as Tian He, the Prince of Qi, was concerned, he became the founding prince of the State of Qi of the Tian clan.
Qi Taigong Tian He (?) –384 BC), courtesy name Tian (田氏), courtesy name Tian (田氏), courtesy name Hezi (子禾子), son of Tianzi Zhuangzi (田庄子子), and younger brother of Tian MourningZi (田 Mourning). Chen's eighth grandson. In 405 BC, Tian and Si were in phase. At this time, Tian He's position in the State of Qi could be completely compared with Sima Zhao and Sima Yan of Cao Wei, that is, it replaced the State of Qi of Jiang, which was actually only the last step. In 404 BC, the three families of Wei Zhao and Han jointly attacked the State of Qi and invaded the territory of the State of Qi. In the 23rd year of the reign of King Weilie of Zhou (403 BC), the Three Jin Dynasties went to the Great Wall, captured the Duke of Qi Kang to see Zhou Tianzi, and requested to be canonized as a prince. Soon after, the Three Jin Dynasties received the title of Zhou royal family, that is, the State of Wei, Korea, and the State of Zhao officially divided the State of Jin and became a vassal state during the Warring States period.
In this regard, as far as Qi Taigong Tian He is concerned, he is naturally full of ambition and is ready to formally establish the State of Qi of the Tian Clan. In 391 BC, Tian He moved Qi Kang to the sea and ate a city to worship his ancestors. Tian He established himself as Qi Jun. In 390 BC, Qi Shi cut down Wei and took Xiangyang. Soon Tian He and Wei Wenhou, Chu Ren, and Wei Ren would meet at Hunze (潣泽, in present-day Changshe County, Henan) to become princes, and Wei Wenhou invited King An of Zhou and his princes. That is, in the establishment of the State of Tian, Tian He successfully won over the State of Wei and other princely states. In 386 BC, under the canonization of the Zhou royal family, Tian He became the Marquis of Qi, which meant that the State of Qi of the Tian clan was recognized by the Zhou royal family. In 379 BC, the Duke of Qi Kang (Lü Qi monarch) died, and the Lü clan of the State of Qi was replaced by the Tian clan, known in history as "Tian Shi Dai Qi".
In general, for the second Qi Taigong, that is, Qi Taigong Tian He, although it is far less famous than Qi Taigong Jiang Ziya. However, Tian He fought steadily and successfully completed the goal of Tian Shi Dai Qi and established the Tian Clan Qi State. For the State of Qi of the Tian clan, together with the State of Wei, Korea, zhao, Qin, Chu, and Yan, it is known as the Seven Heroes of the Warring States. In 334 BC, Qihou Tianyinqi was proclaimed king. During the reign of King Min of Qi, the State of Qi repeatedly expanded abroad, but in the west it strengthened Qin and the South annexed the State of Song, becoming a great power that could compete with the State of Qin. Of course, Mu Xiuyu Lin Feng must destroy it, and for the State of Qi, which was at its peak, it also aroused the suspicion of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States, and was thus cut down by the Five Kingdoms. After Le Yi fell into Qi, the power of the State of Qi was greatly reduced, and thus it failed to make a comeback in the middle and late Warring States period. In 221 BC, in the Battle of the Six Kingdoms of Qin, Wang Jian of Qi surrendered to the Qin King, the State of Qi was overthrown, and the State of Qin was able to unify the world. That is, in the history of the Warring States, the State of Qi of the Tian clan played an important role. What do you think about that?