During the Western Zhou Dynasty, in order to consolidate his ruling position, King Wu of Zhou extended favors and wantonly divided the meritorious ministers and canonized hundreds of vassal states. The titles of these vassal states varied from small villages to most of the states. However, the development of history is often unexpected, and the great powers that are high above are the first to decline, while those small countries with sparse populations have survived for centuries. Why is that?
Small countries are cautious, and large countries are arrogant and lascivious
During the Western Zhou Dynasty, the size of the vassal states varied, some were just a small village, and some occupied most of the state's land. Small countries have a limited area and a sparse population, so their national strength is naturally meager. Therefore, the kings and the common people of these small countries are well aware of their own weakness, always maintain a cautious attitude, and live a life of diligence and frugality.
In contrast, those large countries with vast territories and large populations, because of their infinite wealth, gradually indulged in extravagance, lasciviousness, and extravagance. For example, the largest vassal state at that time, Qi State, occupied one-half of the land area of the entire Western Quarter, and its wealth can be imagined. During the reign of Duke Huan, the monarch of Qi, he ordered the construction of a majestic and magnificent large-scale building complex in the capital Linzi, which was called "Fengqiu Hill". Covering an area of hundreds of hectares, the complex consists of thousands of houses with gardens, ponds, and gardens, which can be described as a miracle of the time. However, such extravagance and waste undoubtedly increased the tax burden of the people and accelerated the loss of national wealth.
In stark contrast to the arrogant and lascivious lifestyle of the big country, the people of the small country are industrious and simple. Taking the state of Yan as an example, this small country the size of a village, the monarch of the country knew that the national strength was weak, so he set an example by himself, taking the lead in working in the fields, plowing and harvesting with the people. Even during the busy farming season, Yanzi never enjoyed privileges and worked as hard as ordinary people. It's a pity that it was at such a critical moment that the neighboring country took advantage of the situation and captured the country without much effort, and plundered the property and beauties of the country.
In addition, due to the vast territory of large countries, they often invest a large amount of national power in luxury entertainment such as riding and shooting, hunting and other entertainment. For example, the Duke of Qi Guohuan once built a large garden covering an area of hundreds of hectares in Linzi, the capital, which was specially used for riding and hunting Yan. In contrast, small countries have no time to indulge in these extravagant recreations due to their limited national strength, and can only devote their limited national resources to agriculture and self-defense in order to maintain basic survival.
It is precisely because of the cautious, thrifty and simple lifestyle of small countries that they are able to make careful calculations with limited resources and maintain the operation of the country for a long time. The great powers, on the other hand, were soon on the road to decline due to their extravagance and extravagance.
The small country is in harmony with the outside world, and the big country is in turmoil and foreign troubles
During the Western Zhou Dynasty, small countries were often able to maintain internal unity due to their small territory and sparse population. There was not much class barrier between the monarch and the common people, and everyone was like a family and supported the monarch's rule. In contrast, due to the vast territory and large population of large countries, internal contradictions and power struggles have become more and more intense, leading to the division of the country and the decay of the royal family.
Take Yanguo as an example, a small country the size of a village, and the total population of the country is only a few thousand, everyone is a family, and the surname is even more unified Yan. The emperor of the state of Yanguo was deeply loved by the people, and he personally led the people to work and cultivate, which was no different from the ordinary people. Due to the small size of the country, Yanzi's rule over the country is also clear at a glance, and there will be no power vacuum. It can be said that the state of Yan is united and united, which is also an important reason why it was able to survive for hundreds of years in the Western Zhou Dynasty.
In contrast, the size of a large country makes it extremely difficult to rule. For example, the country of Qi occupies one-fourth of the entire western quarter of the country, and its population is also in the millions. In such a large country, the imperial family was simply unable to exercise effective rule over the whole country, and the dictatorship of the local officials became more and more intense, and the party struggles continued, which eventually led to the division of the country and the decay of the imperial family.
In addition to internal power struggles, large powers are often harassed by external threats. Because of the strength of the country, it often arouses the jealousy and covetousness of other countries. For example, the state of Qi was attacked many times by the coalition forces of other vassal states during the Spring and Autumn Period. However, small countries, because of their small national strength, have stayed away from these wars and have been able to maintain peace for a long time.
Take Teng as an example, a small country with a land area of only 400 square kilometers, and its total military strength is only a few thousand people. Because the strength is too thin, it is not able to expand externally, so it can only survive on its own. In contrast, large countries tend to have expansionist ambitions due to their national strength, which leads to conflicts and wars with other countries.
Of course, peace does not mean that it will be immortal. Although the Teng State maintained internal unity during the Western Zhou Dynasty, it was eventually destroyed by Goujian, the king of Yue, during the Warring States Period. However, the fall of Teng was not due to internal strife, but to being conquered by powerful foreign enemies. This also confirms from the side that internal unity is an important factor in the survival of a country.
In general, small countries, due to their small land and sparse population, are often able to maintain internal unity and stay away from war, thus continuing the national fortunes for hundreds of years. However, due to the double blow of internal contradictions and external conflicts, the great powers soon went to the road of decline.
Small countries stick to the old ways, and large countries reform and innovate
During the Western Zhou Dynasty, small countries often stopped at sticking to the old ways and sticking to the rules due to their limited national strength and narrow vision. In contrast, large countries are more likely to innovate and innovate because of their abundant resources and broad vision. This difference between conservatism and openness also directly led to the disparate fate of small countries and large countries.
Take the state of Yan, for example, a small country the size of a village, which has lived according to the ancestral system for generations. Their production methods, living customs, and sacrificial methods have been followed for hundreds of years and have never changed significantly. The monarch of the state of Yanguo blindly adhered to the old system and was cautious about any reform and innovation.
In contrast, large countries are more receptive to new things and innovate due to their abundant resources and broad vision. For example, the state of Qi has begun a series of reforms in the Spring and Autumn Period, including military, political, economic and other fields. Militarily, Qi pioneered a new model of hoplites, using the advanced armor and spears of the time; politically, Qi implemented a series of new policies to strengthen centralization; economically, Qi vigorously developed handicrafts and commercial trade. These reforms and innovations made Qi a powerful country at that time.
Of course, reform and innovation are not all smooth sailing, and there is also a risk of failure. For example, Chen Guo began a series of reforms in the mid-to-late Spring and Autumn Period, trying to get rid of the control of Qi and establish an independent state. However, due to the haste of action, it eventually led to the rapid weakening of national strength and was destroyed by the Chu State.
In contrast, small countries have been slow to develop because of their conformism, but they have also avoided the risk of failed reforms. Take the Teng Kingdom, a small country of only 400 square kilometers, which followed the ancestral system during the Western Zhou Dynasty, neither expanding nor reforming. Although the national strength has always been very weak, it has also escaped many wars and has continued until the Warring States period.
Of course, being too conservative can also lead to missed opportunities for development. Although the Teng State was once strong during the Warring States Period, it was eventually destroyed by the Song State, which is inseparable from their complacency and lack of progress.
In contrast, because of the courage to reform and innovate, large countries are often able to seize the opportunities of historical development and continuously increase their national strength. For example, the Qin State began a series of fruitful reforms in the late Warring States period, including strengthening the centralization of power, unifying the currency system, and building transportation arteries, and finally unified the world.
In general, small countries have been slow to develop because of their conformism and conformism, but they have also avoided the risk of failure of reform, thus continuing the national fortunes for hundreds of years. However, because of the courage to reform and innovate, although the risks of big countries are also greater, only in this way can they seize the opportunity of historical development and continuously increase their national strength. The difference between the two directly led to the very different fates of their later lives.
The times create heroes, and heroes also create the times
In the Western Zhou Dynasty, both large and small countries had a number of outstanding heroes. Their appearance often changes the fate of the country, leading the country to glory or decline.
In small countries, the appearance of heroes can often make a small country that was originally unknown suddenly rise to become a temporary hegemon. For example, Teng, a small country of only 400 square kilometers, was unknown during the Western Zhou Dynasty. It was not until the Warring States Period that a heroic figure named Teng Zijing rose, and with his extraordinary wisdom and courage, he successively defeated several surrounding powers, and once made Teng a hegemonic country at that time.
Another typical example is Chen Guo. The state of Chen was originally just a small vassal state with a meager national strength. But in the middle of the Spring and Autumn Period, a heroic figure named Chen Wudi appeared. He successively defeated the Qi State, the Song State and other powerful countries, and for a time made the Chen State one of the most powerful countries at that time. Chen Wudi was not only distinguished by military prowess but also political intelligence, and he implemented a series of reforms that strengthened the centralization of power in the state of Chen, making him one of the Seven Heroes.
By contrast, in some large countries, incompetent monarchs hasten the decline of states. For example, in the State of Qi, in the late Spring and Autumn Period, a mediocre monarch named King Xiang of Qi was in power. He was arrogant and lascivious, extravagant, and built a large number of buildings, almost squandering the national strength of the Qi State. In the end, the state of Qi rapidly declined in his hands and became the laughing stock of the nations.
Another example is the Song Kingdom, in the middle of the Spring and Autumn Period, a mediocre monarch named Song Xianggong was in power. He was a greedy pleasure and a promiscuity, blind to the rise and fall of the nation. In the end, the Song Kingdom was defeated and retreated at his hands, and for a time almost lost the country. Fortunately, a heroic figure named Wu Zixu appeared later, which saved the Song Kingdom from destruction.
As can be seen from these examples, the appearance of heroic figures, whether large or small, can have a significant impact on the fate of a country. Heroes can lead a country to glory with their wisdom and courage, while a mediocre and incompetent monarch will hasten the decline of the country.
Of course, the emergence of heroes is not accidental, and it is often closely related to the environment of the times. For example, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, due to the constant disputes among the countries, it was a good time for heroes to rise. A group of heroes such as Sun Wu, Wu Zixu, and Wu Qi came into being in this turbulent era.
end
In contrast, due to the long period of peace in the Western Zhou Dynasty, there were relatively few heroes. However, it is not for nothing, such as Zhou Gongdan, Zhao Gong Zeng, Yi Yin and others, all of whom were outstanding heroes at that time and made significant contributions to the prosperity of the Western Zhou Dynasty. In general, the appearance of heroic figures often changes the fate of a country, leading the country to glory or decline. And the changes in the environment of the times will also create new heroes. Heroes and the environment of the times influence and promote each other, and jointly promote the progress of history.