Spring and Autumn Period
YingZheng
by Confucius' book The Spring and Autumn Annals, which recorded history
from 722 to 48BC.
The Spring and Autumn Period was a time of turbulence and transition in
Chinese history, with the decline of the patriarchal clan system,
enfeoffment system and traditional cultural pattern of the Western Zhou
Dynasty (11th century-771BC).
During this period vassal states did not obey orders from the king and
fought with each other for their own interests. Some powerful states
united with other vassal lords by invoking the slogan loyalty to the
King of the Zhou and fought anti-Zhou states and other resisting
states. During the annexation of the vassal states, Duke Huan of the
Qi, Duke Wen of the Jin, Duke Mu of the Qin, Duke Xiang of the Song and
Duke Chu of the Zhuang, known as the Five Overlords of the Spring and
Autumn Period, had, in turn, emerged as the supreme powers of the
states.
>From the social structure to the political system, great changes had
taken place during the late Spring and Autumn Period. Cultural and
educational systems were no exceptions. At that time persistent social
upheavals gradually broke the monopoly of culture and literature by
members of the nobility. To educate and foster more scholars and
officials, private schools became a trendy development. Confucius
started private tutoring under such circumstances. Praising King Wen of
the Western Zhou Dynasty and influenced by Guan Zhong and Zi Chan of
the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius created a school of thought
called Confucianism by refining various literary materials in history.
Following a long war period, only seven states -- the Seven Powers of
the Warring States Period -- remained before they were finally absorbed
by the Qin when the country was united.