Dynasties of ChinaWarring States periodEastern Zhou royal family
Reign 468–441 BCE
In the twenty-eighth year of his reign, the three families of Jin, Han, Zhao, and Wei worked together to destroy the Zhi family and divide the territory into three parts. The pattern of the Warring States period was thus established.
Ji Jie is the son of King Yuan. During his reign, the annexation of the Qing clan of the Jin State came to an end: the ruling Zhi Bo claimed land from the three families of Han, Zhao and Wei, but Zhao Xiangzi refused. Zhi Bo united with Han and Wei to besiege Jinyang and divert water to the city. In 453 BC, Han and Wei turned against each other before the battle, and joined forces with the Zhao family to destroy the Zhi family and divide their territory into three parts. The power of the Jin Dynasty was vested in the three families. The Chu State in the south defeated Cai and Qi successively and expanded to the Huaisi area. Mo Zi was born around this time. After the death of King Zhending, the three sons became kings one after another within a year, and the royal family fell into fratricide.
CultureThe end of the narrative in "Zuo Zhuan"
The chronology of "Zuo Zhuan" ends in this year, the 27th year of Duke Ai of Lu. At the end of the book, there is a note to the death of Bo in 453 BC. Since then, the historical events in the early period of the Warring States period can only be pieced together based on scattered records such as "Historical Records" and "Bamboo Book Annals".
PeopleMo Zi was born
Mo Zhai, the founder of Mohism, was born around this time. Some say he was a native of the Song Dynasty, and another said he was a native of the Lu Dynasty. He later proposed "universal love" and "non-aggression", and Mohism and Confucianism were both called "xianxue".
MilitaryBattle of Jinyang
Zhi Bo asked for land from Han, Zhao and Wei, but Zhao Xiangzi refused. Zhi Bo united with Han and Wei to besiege Zhao's Jinyang and diverted water to flood the city. According to "Historical Records" in the city, "hanging cauldrons to cook, changing sons to eat", the Zhao family was in danger.
PoliticsThree families destroy their wisdom
Zhao Xiangzi sent Zhang Mengtan to secretly persuade Han Kangzi and Wei Huanzi. Han and Wei turned against each other before the battle. The three families fought against Bo and poured water back into Bo's camp, killing Bo and dividing their territory. From then on, the power of Jin State belonged to the three families of Han, Zhao and Wei.
Lasting legacyThe "Zhi Bo Canal" in the Jinci Temple area of Taiyuan was said to have been opened by Zhi Bo when he diverted water from Jin to the city, and it still exists today.
PeopleYu Rang assassinated Zhao
After Zhi Bo's death, Yu Rang, a disciple of Zhi Bo, wanted to repay his kindness by painting his body and swallowing charcoal to change his appearance and voice. He attempted to assassinate Zhao Xiangzi twice but failed. Finally, he asked to stab Zhao Xiangzi's clothes to express his feelings, and then committed suicide.
Lasting legacy"A scholar dies for a confidant" comes from Yu Rang, see "Historical Records: Biography of Assassins".
MilitaryChu destroyed Cai Qi
King Hui of Chu conquered Cai and Qi successively, and Chu's power advanced to the Huaihe and Sishui basins, becoming the largest vassal state in the south.
PoliticsKing Zhending passes away
King Zhending passed away, and his eldest son Quji came to the throne as King Ai. He was killed by his younger brother Shu in just three months. Shu Li was killed by his younger brother Wei in only five months. The throne changed three times within a year.
His name is Yao and his posthumous title is Xiangzi. Outstanding in talent but greedy and arrogant, he claimed land from Han, Zhao and Wei and besieged Jinyang. However, he was defeated by the three families and the Zhi clan was destroyed.
Named Wuxie, son of Zhao Yang. Stick to Jinyang, unite with Han and Wei to destroy the Zhi family, and lay the foundation for the founding of Zhao. It is reported that he used Zhi Bo's skull as a drinking vessel to vent his hatred.
After Zhi Bo died, he swallowed charcoal and lay down under a bridge. He repeatedly assassinated Zhao Xiangzi to repay his kindness. However, he committed suicide after being defeated and was listed in "The Biography of the Assassin" by Sima Qian.
When Jinyang was besieged, he sneaked out of the city and persuaded the Han and Wei families to defect. The three families worked together to destroy the Zhi family.