| State of Zhao 趙國 |
||||
| Kingdom | ||||
|
||||
| Capital | Initially Jinyang, later Handan |
|||
| Religion | Chinese folk religion, ancestor worship | |||
| Government | Monarchy | |||
| History | ||||
| - Established | 403 BC | |||
| - Disestablished | 222 BC | |||
| Currency | Chinese coin | |||
Zhao (pinyin: Zhào, traditional Chinese: 趙, simplified Chinese: 赵) was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others. At the beginning of the Warring States Period, Zhao was one of the weakest states but gained strength during the reign of King Wuling of Zhao: by the end of the Period, Zhao was the only state strong enough to oppose the mighty Qin.
Its territory included areas in modern Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. The state of Zhao bordered the Xiongnu (Huns), the states of Qin, Wei and Yan. Its capital was Handan (邯郸), suburb of modern-day Handan City in Hebei.
Contents |
At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, the state of Jin was divided up between three powerful ministers, the Zhao family patriarch being one of them. In BC 403, the king of Zhou formally recognized the existence of the State of Zhao along with two other States, Han and Wei, marking the start of the Warring States Period. In the beginning, Zhao was one of the weakest States. It lacked the geographical advantage of Qin, the military strength of Wei, the vast terrain of Chu, and the richness and prosperity of Qi. Surrounded by strong adversaries from all directions, Zhao fought hard for its survival.
Zhao remained relatively weak until the military reforms of King Wuling of Zhao (325-299 BC). The soldiers of Zhao were ordered to dress like their Xiongnu neighbours and replace war chariots with cavalry archers. This proved to be a brilliant reform, along with advanced technology of the Chinese states and nomadic tactics, the Cavalry of Zhao became a significant force to reckon with in the warring states.
Zhao demonstrated its enhanced military prowess by conquering the State of Zhongshan in 295 BC after a prolonged war, and annexing territory from its neighbors Wei, Yan and Qin. The cavalry of Zhao occasionally intruded into the state of Qi in campaigns against the state of Chu.
Several brilliant military commanders of the whole period appeared concurrently, including Lian Po, Zhao She (趙奢) and Li Mu. Lian Po was instrumental in defending against the Qin. Zhao She (趙奢) was most active in the east; he led the invasion of Yan state. Li Mu was responsible for defending against the Xiongnu and later Qin.
By the end of the Warring States Period, Zhao was the only state strong enough to oppose the powerful Qin state. An alliance with Wei begun in 287 BC against Qin ended in defeat at Huayang in 273 BC. The struggle then culminated in the bloodiest battle of the whole period, the Battle of Changping in 260 BC. The troops of Zhao were completely defeated by Qin. Although the forces of Wei saved Handan from a follow-up siege by the victorious Qin, Zhao would never recover from the huge loss of men in the battle.
In 229 BC, invasions led by the Qin general Wang Jian were opposed by Li Mu and his subordinate officer Sima Shang (司馬尚) until 228 BC. According to some accounts, King Qian of Zhao, ordered the execution of Li Mu and relieved Sima Shang from his duties, due to faulty advice from disloyal court officials and Qin infiltrators.
In 228 BC, Qin captured King Youmiu and conquered Zhao. Prince Jia, the stepbrother of King Qian, was proclaimed king at Dai and led the last Zhao forces against the Qin. The regime lasted until 222 BC when the Qin army captured him and defeated his forces at Dai.
In 154 BC, an unrelated Zhao (赵), headed by Liu Sui (劉遂), the Prince of Zhao kingdom, participated in the unsuccessful Revolt of the Seven Kingdoms (七国之乱) against the newly installed second Emperor of the China's centralist Han Dynasty.
There is two opinions about the representing star of Zhao in Chinese astronomy. The opinions are :
|
|||||||||||||