From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period, how did the economic structure change? Agribusiness and commerce are advancing in handicraft, and changes are unpredictable
The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period are two consecutive historical periods, collectively referred to by later generations"Spring and Autumn Warring States"。However, the two historical periods eventually diverged, with economic changes being particularly dramatic. One cannot help but ask: How did China's economic structure change from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period? The answer, of course, has to do with the development of the three pillars of the economy during this period: agriculture, handicrafts and **.
During the Spring and Autumn Period, the three major economic sectors were still in their infancy, while during the Warring States Period, due to the increase in productivity brought about by the use of iron tools, the three major economic sectors had significant development. We can turn back the wheel of history and witness a history of economic prosperity that is inseparable from the birth of the Warring States.
First of all, the Spring and Autumn economy has appeared with iron farm tools.
In 770 BC, King Ping of Zhou moved eastward, marking the beginning of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. At this time, the princes of the Central Plains were divided, and the Spring and Autumn Period was turbulent. In 722 BC, in the eleventh year of Duke Lu Yin, the Spring and Autumn Period began to be written. From then on, the Spring and Autumn Period officially began. During this period, which lasted for more than two hundred years, China's economic structure began to develop.
Ceramics left over from stone grinding"Abrasion marks"Indicates that abrasive tools were used at that time. The widespread use of bronze also contributed to the development of fusion techniques. However, it was only the advent of iron that brought about a truly revolutionary change.
By the middle of the Spring and Autumn period, people were already familiar with iron tools. According to the "Spring and Autumn Period of the Lü Family", in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Lu Xuan (651 BC),"The rich use iron"。In the late Spring and Autumn period, with the advancement of iron-smelting technology, iron tools began to be widely used.
Sharp and durable iron farming implements can often be found in the fields. Iron hoes and iron excavators replaced stone tools, greatly increasing labor productivity. The iron plough is a new tool that farmers love for deep ploughing and intensive cultivation"。Zhuangzi-Zeyang says:"Deep ploughing and ripe cultivation, grass seedlings thrive"。Therefore, there are neither weeds nor locusts. Therefore, there were neither weeds nor locusts, food was plentiful, and the people had enough food and clothing.
The use of iron tools in spring and autumn agriculture was undoubtedly a major breakthrough. Although wooden and stone tools were still in use at the time, new, improved farming methods opened the door to improving the quality and yield of agricultural production. We can't help but wonder if the advent of small iron tools was a contributing factor.
ii.The formation of the ** economic structure during the Warring States period.
In 476 BC, King Jing of Zhou died, and the Spring and Autumn period ended. The countries of the Central Plains entered the Warring States Turbulent Era, and military conflicts broke out one after another. In 403 BC, King Hui of Wei moved his capital to Daliang (present-day Kaifeng, Henan), and the pattern of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States was basically formed. During the two hundred years of the Warring States Period, China's ancient economy underwent unprecedented changes.
The economy of the Spring and Autumn Period was still in its infancy, but during the Warring States Period, three major economic sectors were finally formed. The widespread use of iron tools and the establishment of private property led to a rapid increase in productivity and social wealth, as well as exciting legal changes.
In agriculture, in addition to iron, the construction of artificial water sources and the use of chemical fertilizers are also surprising. In the field of handicrafts, the state-owned and private iron-smelting industry has created cutting-edge handicrafts. In the field, frequent exchanges, market capacity increases, and currency circulation increases. It can be said that a new economic era has begun.
The rise of the Warring States economy laid the economic foundation for China, and also gave birth to the political demand for centralization. Changing the law is also a top priority for the belligerents. The winds of change in this period directly foreshadowed changes in the political system in the future.
iii.Fertilization ditches in farmland promote a good harvest.
Agriculture was the foundation of the ancient economy and an important part of military power. Therefore, the development of agriculture is directly related to the rise and fall of the country. So, what changes did agriculture take place during the Warring States period?
The use of iron is increasing.
In the spring and autumn, the appearance of iron farming tools was like a spark. By the time of the Warring States Period, the spark had already burned the prairies. In both the north and the south, sharp and sturdy iron ploughs, hoes, sickles, rakes, and shovels appeared in the fields.
Whatever you do, you will be invincible; Where the fertilizer is watered, nothing can be done"。Han Feizi - Xie Lao" said that if you want crops to grow well, you must use fertilizer to irrigate the fields. At that time, the importance of fertilization was well known. However, most of the fertilizers are the ashes after burning weeds and straw, called"Manure"。Nowadays, this practice has been abolished to avoid pollution.
2.Water conservation and irrigation of farmland.
During the Warring States period, artificial water conservation was also highly valued. In the past, agricultural production often depended on the weather for food, and people would starve to death if there was no wind or rain. As a result, countries are racing to build dikes and ditches to store rainwater, prevent floods and droughts, and ensure stable crop yields.
Dujiangyan is a typical example. During the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Li Bing chiseled the mountain and diverted the route, turning the saline-alkali land into a fertile field. In addition, the former capital of Zheng Guo, which was excavated and built at the end of the Warring States period, is also quite famous, and Zheng Guo's agriculture has also taken a big step forward. From then on, manual adjustment was no longer a dream.
With fertiliser irrigation and intensive farming, agricultural yields have of course increased dramatically. According to Mencius:"The income of the farmer is 100 hectares of people, 100 hectares of fat, 9 farmers, 8 people for one food, 7 people for food, 6 people for food, and 5 people for food"。It can be seen that the increase in agricultural output can be foreseen in advance.
iv.Private handicrafts replace state-owned handicrafts.
During the Warring States period, the handicraft industry was vigorously developed as an important part of the economy. The silk weaving industry and the iron-smelting industry have developed in terms of output and diversity. It is particularly noteworthy that the folk handicraft industry has gradually replaced the national handicraft industry as the primary productive force.
1.Further development of the steel industry.
During the Warring States period, iron smelting became an important specialized handicraft industry. In the spring and autumn period, iron buds have become the climate. Farm tools and weapons are all made of iron. Pipe-Ground Number" said"Ochre on the mountain, iron on the mountain"。This shows that people have mastered the methods of prospecting, and the iron smelting industry has developed.
2.The silk weaving industry is increasingly using more advanced looms.
A large number of silk fabrics with a wide variety and exquisite craftsmanship have been unearthed from the Mashan Chu Tomb in Jiangling, Hubei. One of the most distinctive is the brocade, which is woven using a complex jacquard loom. This shows that the structure of the loom is becoming more and more complex, and the silk weaving technology has also been greatly improved.
3.Development of specialized processes.
The development of professional handicrafts can be traced back to the late Spring and Autumn period and became a fixed feature of the Warring States period. A number of handicraft workshops have emerged that specialize in social sales. This meant that handicrafts were separated from agriculture and the commodity economy developed rapidly.
v.Expansion of the commercial money market.
Driven by agricultural and handicraft activities, ** also began to flourish. The exchange of goods is frequent, the market is constantly expanding, and even professional ** towns like commercial streets have appeared. It can be said that a mature ** system has emerged.
1.Specialties from all over the world come together.
According to the record of "Xunzi - Imperial System", during the Warring States Period, you can buy special products from all over the country in the ** market in the Central Plains. Horses and dogs in the north, feathers and leathers in the south, fish and salt in the east, exotic animals in the west...It can be said that there is everything. The frequency of the exchange is exciting.
2.Market supervision has been strengthened.
In order to maintain the order of the market, various countries have set up management agencies, such as puisne, municipalities, etc., and the market has also been divided into regions according to the category of goods, forming a professional one"market"。It is conceivable that the commercial street at that time was already mixed and lively.
3.Significant relaxation of currency circulation.
The circulation of large quantities of copper, gold and silver also stimulated the prosperity of **. Countries competing to cast are called"국 "currency. The currency of the state of Chu is one of the best. The prosperity of the monetary economy naturally diluted the world.
Six. Comprehensive reform of the political and economic aspects of the transition process.
It can be said that the economic transformation of the Warring States period was unprecedented. But what exactly does all this lead to?
The rapid development of the economy has brought about the accumulation of social wealth, and at the same time, it has also brought about changes in the political system. Countries are trying to respond to this situation through various changes in order to consolidate their dominance through economic means.
At the same time, change allows for the creation of private property. Private ownership of land was legalized, and the enthusiasm of the workers was greatly increased. It can be said that the political and economic changes of this period are inextricably linked. Together, they contributed to China's transition to a feudal society.
China entered the Warring States period with a new image. Economic reform brought not only iron hoeing of cultivated land, construction of water conservancy, and opening up markets, but also inadvertently changed the face of an era and opened the historical process of China's march towards empire.
The changes of history are like the rotation of a wheel, and no one can stop its progress.
During the Spring and Autumn Period, the economy was just crippling. During the Warring States period, with a series of legislative changes, China's economy began to take off. The development of iron farm implements, hydraulic engineering, handicrafts and the expansion of markets created a completely new economic structure.
At the same time, changes in the economic sphere have reshaped China's political landscape. The changes in the political systems of various countries directly indicate the birth of the most centralized culture. It can be said that the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period were a critical period in China's transition from the feudal system to the county system and the imperial system.
Change is unstoppable. We do not know where the wheel of change will take the Chinese nation, but only by forging ahead bravely can we open up a new world for our generation.