Four Lords of the Warring States
Encyclopedia
The Four Lords of the Warring States is a common term that refers to the four famous regional aristocrat of the late Chinese
Warring States period
.
During this time, the king of the Zhou house
was merely a figurehead in the six states outside of the State of Qin. The actual power was in the hand of the aristocrats with high prestige. Between these aristocrats, there were four that stood out: Lord Mengchang of Qi, Lord Xinling of Wei, Lord Pingyuan of Zhao and Lord Chunshen of Chu.
All four of these prominent nobles were renowned for their activity in the politics of their era as well as being the persona of their state respectively at the time; they also wielded influence via the cultivation and housing of many talented house-guests, which often included learned men and tacticians. As such, they came to be the most prominent patrons of the shi scholar-knights, stimulating the intellectual life of the time. (Their prestige became the inspiration for Lü Buwei
in creating his academic analogue
in Qin
).
.
At the height of his career, he was the supreme commander of the armed forces of the State of Wei. After stepping down, Lord Xinling became dispirited and died in 243 BCE.
Zhao Sheng's fief was the City of Dongwu. Lord Pingyuan of Zhao was his title.
After the death of King Qingxiang, Prince Wan and Huang Xie returned to the State of Chu. Prince Wan was enthroned as the king, historically known as the King Kaolie of Chu, while Xie was appointed as the Prime Minister and the title of Lord Chunshen of Chu. For the next 25 years, Lord Chunshen remained to be the head of state of Chu until his murder by the ambitious Li Yuan in 238 BCE.
Huang Xie had many children who were officials stationed in different parts of the State of Chu. When he was murdered, many of them fled to neighbouring states. Huang Xie was the biological father of King You of Chu
楚幽王 (reigned 237-228 BCE) because when the former gave his concubine (sister of Li Yuan) to the barren King Kaolie of Chu, she was pregnant with the former's child.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
Warring States period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
.
During this time, the king of the Zhou house
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
was merely a figurehead in the six states outside of the State of Qin. The actual power was in the hand of the aristocrats with high prestige. Between these aristocrats, there were four that stood out: Lord Mengchang of Qi, Lord Xinling of Wei, Lord Pingyuan of Zhao and Lord Chunshen of Chu.
All four of these prominent nobles were renowned for their activity in the politics of their era as well as being the persona of their state respectively at the time; they also wielded influence via the cultivation and housing of many talented house-guests, which often included learned men and tacticians. As such, they came to be the most prominent patrons of the shi scholar-knights, stimulating the intellectual life of the time. (Their prestige became the inspiration for Lü Buwei
Lü Buwei
Lü Buwei , Lord Wenxin 文信侯 was a Warring States Period merchant who schemed his way into governing the State of Qin. He served as Chancellor of China for King Zhuangxiang of Qin, and as regent and Chancellor for the king's young son Zheng, who became Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China...
in creating his academic analogue
Lüshi Chunqiu
The Lüshi Chunqiu is an encyclopedic Chinese classic text compiled around 239 BCE under the patronage of the Qin Dynasty Chancellor Lü Buwei...
in Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
).
Lord Mengchang of Qi
Lord Mengchang was an aristocrat of the State of Qi. He was born Tian Wen, son of Tian Ying and the grandson of King Wei of Qi. He succeeded his father's fief in XueXue
Xue is the pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname 薛 , Hsueh in the Wade-Giles system, and Sit in the Cantonese system. In Korean, the hanja corresponds to Seol and in Japanese the kanji corresponds to Setsu. According to a study published in 2006, it is the 76th most common Chinese surname...
.
Lord Xinling of Wei
Born as Wei Wuji, he was the son of King Zhao of Wei and younger half-brother to King Anli of Wei. In 277 BCE, King Anli assigned Wei Wuji the fief of Xinling, which is where he became the famous Lord Xinling.At the height of his career, he was the supreme commander of the armed forces of the State of Wei. After stepping down, Lord Xinling became dispirited and died in 243 BCE.
Lord Pingyuan of Zhao
Born as Zhao Sheng, he was the son of King Wuling of Zhao, brother of King Huiwen and uncle to King Xiaocheng. During his life, he was re-appointed the Prime Minister of the State of Zhao for three times.Zhao Sheng's fief was the City of Dongwu. Lord Pingyuan of Zhao was his title.
Lord Chunshen of Chu
Born as Huang Xie, he was the only one among the Four that was not related to the royal family of their state. Huang Xie was originally a staff to King Qingxiang of Chu, and later followed the Crown Prince Wan of Chu to stay in the State of Qin as hostage for ten years.After the death of King Qingxiang, Prince Wan and Huang Xie returned to the State of Chu. Prince Wan was enthroned as the king, historically known as the King Kaolie of Chu, while Xie was appointed as the Prime Minister and the title of Lord Chunshen of Chu. For the next 25 years, Lord Chunshen remained to be the head of state of Chu until his murder by the ambitious Li Yuan in 238 BCE.
Huang Xie had many children who were officials stationed in different parts of the State of Chu. When he was murdered, many of them fled to neighbouring states. Huang Xie was the biological father of King You of Chu
King You of Chu
King You of Chu , was a ruler of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty vassal State of Chu between 237 and 228 BCE. He succeeded his father King Kaolie of Chu and during his reign You's maternal uncle Li Yuan served as prime minister....
楚幽王 (reigned 237-228 BCE) because when the former gave his concubine (sister of Li Yuan) to the barren King Kaolie of Chu, she was pregnant with the former's child.