The Zhou Dynasty is not mentioned much now. On the contrary, as the components of the Zhou Dynasty, the four terms Western Zhou, Eastern Zhou, Spring and Autumn, and Warring States are more familiar to people, but these four terms What does it matter?

Many people think this problem is very simple. They think that the Zhou Dynasty was divided into the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, and the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was divided into the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. In fact, this is not the case. What is the reason?

This is because the Warring States Period did not entirely belong to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Many people have overlooked a small detail. What is this detail? Don’t worry, we will talk about it slowly.

The Zhou Dynasty was divided into the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.

The last king of the Shang Dynasty, King Zhou of Shang was cruel and unruly. He ruled the people with high pressure, which aroused public anger. Under the initiative of King Wu of Zhou Jifa, the princes of the world rose up to attack and finally overthrew the Shang Dynasty. The Zhou Dynasty was established in 1046 BC.

After the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty, it went through more than 200 years of stable development. During this period, there were prosperous times such as the "Chengkang Rule" and the "Xuanwang Zhongxing". However, when the Zhou Dynasty was strong, the surrounding dogs and soldiers also slowed down. When the throne of the Zhou Dynasty was passed to King Zhou You, it was already facing a dangerous situation of internal and external troubles.

King Zhou Ping moved eastward, and the Eastern Zhou Dynasty began

But King Zhou You didn't care at all. In the end, amid the internal and external difficulties, the Dog Rong attacked Haojing, and King Zhou You was also killed. , leading to the demise of the Zhou Dynasty, to be precise the demise of the Western Zhou Dynasty, this year was 771 BC.

The death of King Zhou You and the defeat of Haojing made the princes in the world, with the Zhou royal family as the boss, suddenly dumbfounded. Without the boss, it was normal for them to feel panic. So, with the recommendation of everyone, Next, Yijiu, the deposed prince of King Zhou You, became the new king of the Zhou Dynasty, named King Ping of Zhou. After King Ping of Zhou succeeded to the throne, he immediately moved the capital from Haojingdong to Luoyi. From then on, the Eastern Zhou Dynasty began. Of course it is also the starting point of the Spring and Autumn Period.

The Eastern Zhou Dynasty was divided into the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

King Ping of Zhou who moved the capital to Luoyi was actually a descendant of King You of Zhou. Therefore, as far as the actual situation is concerned, the demise of the Western Zhou Dynasty was only the demise of the first half of the Zhou Dynasty. As the second half of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, it was still An integral part of the Zhou Dynasty.

In the history we are familiar with, the Eastern Zhou Dynasty is divided into two periods: the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. However, as far as Chinese dynasty representatives are concerned, there is no such dynasty as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, but only the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. In other words, The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period were just nicknames given by later generations to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, just to better explain history.

Monarchs during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period

The specific dividing line between the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period has always been controversial, but the most recognized by the public is the historical event of the division of the three families into the Jin Dynasty. That is 453 BC, but a considerable number of people believe that 476 BC should be used as the dividing line.

However, no matter which time point is used, it is actually intended to illustrate that the first half and second half of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty actually changed in nature, and it was this change in the transition from slavery to feudalism. , the history of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was cut in two, divided into the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

The Warring States Period does not entirely belong to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.

Now that the Eastern Zhou Dynasty is divided into the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, many friends think that the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period are the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. In fact, this is a misunderstanding, because in terms of time, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period can include The Eastern Zhou Dynasty, but the Eastern Zhou Dynasty cannot include the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

In 256 BC, Lu Buwei, who was prosperous and prosperous in the Qin State, was very unhappy when he saw the Emperor of Zhou. In order to add to his life that he had led troops and fought in battles, he decided to He sent out troops to destroy the Zhou royal family. From then on, the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was destroyed.

Eastern Zhou and Western Zhou

With the demise of the Eastern Zhou, the Zhou Dynasty also came to an end at this time, and the Warring States Period at this time continued until 221 BC. , Qin Shihuang Yingzheng unified China, the Warring States Period officially ended, and China entered the Qin Dynasty.

It can be seen that from 256 BC to 221 BC, this period was exclusive to the Warring States Period, and this is also a small detail that many people tend to overlook.

The origin of the names of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

Since we are talking about the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it is necessary to focus on the origin of the names of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. First, let’s talk about the Spring and Autumn Period.

Spring and Autumn are synonymous with seasons in our minds. Since they are all seasons, why can’t they be called winter and summer? This is because during that period, all major events happened in spring and autumn. For example, according to historical records, the major events of the country were in sacrifice and war. Among them, sacrifices and wars were all carried out in these two seasons.

Coins of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period

In this way, the historians who recorded history basically recorded what happened in the Spring and Autumn Period. After all, winter is too cold. It's too hot in summer, so it's not suitable for activities.

In addition, Confucius once revised a book called "Spring and Autumn", and the starting time recorded in this book happened to roughly coincide with the time period included in the Spring and Autumn Period, so later generations referred to the Spring and Autumn Period as The word became the name for the first half of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.

The Warring States Period was actually just a name for the vassal states that attacked each other at first. In other words, it did not represent an era at first. However, when Liu Xiang of the Western Han Dynasty compiled this period of history, he named the book It was named "Warring States Policy", and later generations called this period of history the Warring States Period.