Wei (state)
The state of Wei ( Chinese 魏 , Pinyin Wèi ) existed in China at the time of the Warring States . Its territory bordered the states of Qin , Qi , Zhao , Chou and Han . It comprised the present day Hebei , Henan , Shanxi, and Shandong provinces . After King Hui moved the capital from Anyi (安邑, in what is now Xia County ) to Daliang (now Kaifeng ), the state was also called Liang .
Establishment of the Wei dynasty
The historical annals call for the 11th / 10th Century BC Ji Gao, related to the Zhou king Wu , as ancestor or founder of the House of Wei. Ji Gao received the Bi fief from King Wu, which allowed him to use the family name Bi. His descendants lost their noble status for undisclosed reasons.
It was not until the 7th century BC Chr. Another member of the house of Bi, named Bi Wan, is reported. He is said to have served the Duke Xian of Jin (r. 677–651 BC). Bi Wan received a fiefdom for his services and the honorary name of "Great Master". Now the Bi family is given the right to appoint members of their own family to manage the transferred territory.
Political development
Bi Wan's grandson, named Wei Jiang (no dates), is mentioned as the chief minister of Duke Dao of Jin (r. 573–558 BC). In Jin he had made peace with the neighboring steppe peoples.
Wei Ying, successor and grandson of Wei Jiang, is reported to have been one of the "Six Ministers Commanding" in Zhou State . He is also known as the "First Minister" of Duke Qing of Jin (r. 526-512 BC). He is said to have participated in the annihilation of two noble families (Qi and Yangshe).
In the 5th century BC In the 3rd century BC the state of Jin was divided into three states : Zhao in the north, Han in the south and Wei in the center of Jin.
During the reign of the Marquis Wen (r. 424–387 BC) that followed about 100 years later, there was a military conflict with Qin and Zheng , who surprisingly invaded Wei territory from two sides. As a result, Wen has walls built in critical sections of his border. During his reign between 403 and 397, Wen also had an irrigation canal built. It is completed under the reign of a grandson of Wen. The responsible client is Ximen Bao , who is also Wen's advisor.
Between 413 and 409, Wen conquered several cities in Qin State. It then forges alliances with Zhao and Han . Between 405 and 401, the allies manage to overcome the defensive walls of Qi . In the years 400 and 391 they defeat Chu state in fighting.
Marquis Wen is also interested in issues of education and philosophy . He takes advice from scholars of Confucianism and legalism . He therefore deals with very different ideas about life and state management. The historian and astronomer Liu Xin (d. 23 AD) characterizes the differences between these disciplines as follows: Legalists “appreciate the severity of reward and punishment to support a system of correct living.” Confucianism delights in studying the six Classics and pays attention to matters involving humanity and righteousness.
Wen's successor is Marquis Wu (r. 387–371 BC), like Wen he has a reputation for being militarily strong. Together with other liege lords, he attacks Zhao's capital, Handan , but is defeated. 376 BC He joins forces with Wen's former allies, the states of Zhao and Han. They divide the territory of the destroyed Jin Dynasty among themselves. Marquis Wu also dares to attack Chu and conquers the city of Luyang.
In connection with the domestic reforms, which had a positive impact , Wei acquired the reputation of being one of the strongest states during this period.
Conflict, Philosophy and Water
Qin is actively involved in realizing the idea of uniting the territories. From Qin there are repeated attacks on the other states and from them on Qin and each other. For the reign of King Hui (r. 371–335 BC), the successor to Marquis Wu, after 370 BC Military clashes between the former allies Wei, Zhao and Han reported. Zhao and Han want to destroy Wei. Wei manages to defeat both of them in one battle. It follows in 362 BC. Another battle this time against Qin, in which Wei is defeated. 354 BC Wei besieges the state of Zhao and is defeated with the support of Qin. 341 BC The game is played the other way around. Zhao besieges Wei - Wei is defeated by Zhao, supported by Qin. Wei's defeats encourage Qin, Zhao and Qi to attack Wei together, with the result that Wei loses. As a result of these defeats, the ruling King Hui moves the capital to Daliang, also called Liang, which is further away from the border with Qin.
King Hui also devotes himself to the economic development of the state and induces the landlords to use the Yellow River to irrigate the farmland. He is also known as a patron and promoter of scholars and philosophers. For some time it housed a representative of the Yin-Yang philosophy and the Confucian Mengzi . In a discussion between Mengzi and King Hui, Mengzi is said to have explained to the king that neither military victories nor financial gain of the state are important for the people. I would like a king to rule the state in a human and righteous manner.
Descent of the House of Wei
With the reign of King Xiang (r. 335–319 BC), during which the Marquis Wen's “irrigation canal” project may be continued, Wei's power begins to decline. In a further dispute with Qin, Wei loses and has to give up the Hexi territory, which opens up the way for Qin to the fertile plains on the Yellow River.
329 BC BC Wei attacks the territory of Chu again and is victorious. Six years later, Chu wins in return. A joint attack by Wei with Zhao, Han, Yan and Chu against Qin fails. Wei often changes sides and fights alongside Qin against Chu and Han or alongside Qi and Han against Qin.
End of white
At the beginning of the 3rd century BC, Qin occupied a wide land corridor east of the Yellow River. A force of the allies Qi, Han and Wei succeeds in driving back the strong Qin. However, in a counterattack by the Qin, Wei and Han are defeated. Three years later, Wei had to cede a large part of the Hedong region. A new coalition between the states of Zhao, Qi, Chu, Wei and Han against Qin remains without a win. Wei has to accept further territorial losses.
286 BC In BC Wei fights in a coalition against Qi for new territories - but without success. After that, Qin managed to penetrate twice (283 and 275 BC) into the vicinity of the capital Daliang. 273 BC Qin defeated the troops of Zhao and Han in the battle of Huayang. Qin is said to have captured and killed thousands of enemy soldiers. Wei is later attacked by Qi and Chu. Qin refuses to help Wei. This makes Wei easy prey. Qin gradually conquers cities in Wei.
The last prince of Wei is King Jia (r. 228–225 BC) In his third year of reign, Qin's troops occupied the seat of government in Daijang and captured Jia. The Wei territory is transferred to the command area of the Qin Empire.
Ruler of Wei
| Posthumous title | Birth Name | Reign | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| All information “v. BC (before Christ). " | |||
| Marquis Wén ( 文 侯 ) | Sī ( 斯 ) or Dū ( 都 ) | 445 - v 396th Chr. | |
| Marquis Wǔ ( 武侯 ) | Jí ( 擊 ) | 396-370 BC Chr. | Son of the previous one |
| King Huì ( 惠王 ) | Yīng ( 罃 ) | 370-319 BC Chr. | Son of the previous one |
| King Xiang ( 襄王 ) | Si ( 嗣 ) or He ( 赫 ) | 319-296 BC Chr. | Son of the previous one |
| King Zhao ( 昭王 ) | Chi ( 遫 ) | 296-277 BC Chr. | Son of the previous one |
| King Anxi ( 安 釐 王 ) | Yu ( 圉 ) | 277-243 BC Chr. | Son of the previous one |
| King Jingming ( 景 湣 王 ) | Zeng ( 增 ) or Wu ( 午 ) | 243-228 BC Chr. | Son of the previous one |
| King Jia ( 王 假 ) | Jia ( 假 ) | 228-225 BC Chr. | Son of the previous one |
In the historical work Shiji by Sima Qian a slightly different list is handed down: There King Hui's death is in the year 335 BC. And his son Xiang is said to have inherited him the following year. After his death in 319, a certain king Āi ( 哀王 ) is said to have been his successor, who was then inherited by his son Zhao in 296. Most scholars and commentators, however, doubt the existence of King Ai, whose maiden name has not been recorded. It is possible that Sima Qian attributed the second part of King Hui's reign to a King Ai to fill the large gap between Marquis Wu and King Xiang. The turning point in 334 indicates that the then Marquis Hui declared himself king that year. However, some scholars hold Sima Qian's notes to be true as well.
Individual evidence
- ↑ See Fung Yu-lan : A short history of Chinese philosophy . New York 1966, pp. 33f.
- ↑ a b Ulrich Theobald: Chinese History - The Feudal State of Wei In: An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History, Literature and Art - ChinaKnowledge.de .