Spring and Autumn period

Quick Facts: Who was Spring and Autumn period?

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Spring and Autumn period

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A pivotal era in Chinese history marked by the decline of Zhou power and rise of local lords.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Spring and Autumn period (c. 770 – c. 481 BCE) was a period in Chinese history corresponding roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou (c. 771 – 256 BCE), characterized by the gradual erosion of royal power as local lords nominally subject to the Zhou exercised increasing political autonomy. The period's name derives from the Spring and Autumn Annals, a chronicle of the state of Lu between 722 and 481 BCE, which tradition associates with Confucius (551–479 BCE). During this period, local polities negotiated their own alliances, waged wars against one another, up to defying the king's court in Luoyi. The gradual Partition of Jin, one of the most powerful states, is generally considered to mark the end of the Spring and Autumn period and the beginning of the Warring States period. The periodization dates to the late Western Han (c. 48 BCE – 9 CE).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 771 BCE, a Quanrong invasion in coalition with the states of Zeng and Shen—the latter polity being the fief of the grandfather of the disinherited crown prince Yijiu—destroyed the Western Zhou capital at Haojing, killing King You and establishing Yijiu as king at the eastern capital Luoyi. The event ushered in the Eastern Zhou dynasty, which is divided into the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods. During the Spring and Autumn period, China's fengjian system became largely irrelevant. The Zhou court, having lost its homeland in the Guanzhong region, held nominal power, but had real control over only a small royal demesne centered on Luoyi. During the early part of the Zhou dynasty period, royal relatives and generals had been given control over fiefdoms in an effort to maintain Zhou authority over vast territory.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

As the power of the Zhou kings waned, these fiefdoms became increasingly independent states. The most important states (known later as the twelve vassals) came together in regular conferences where they decided important matters, such as military expeditions against foreign groups or against offending nobles. During these conferences one vassal ruler was sometimes declared hegemon. As the era continued, larger and more powerful states annexed or claimed suzerainty over smaller ones. By the 6th century BCE, most small states had disappeared and just a few large and powerful principalities dominated China.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Spring and Autumn period

True or False: “The Spring and Autumn period ended definitively with the establishment of Qin as the sole dominant state.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The end of the period is generally marked by the gradual Partition of Jin, which ushered in the Warring States period.

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