The Seven Overloards in the Warring State Period

Maya S, Student Writer

The seven overlords of the warring state were Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei and Qin. Each of these kingdoms was the most powerful during the warring states so they became known as the seven overlords. The seven overlords expanded their forces and territories to strengthen themselves which caused struggle in the side by side kingdoms. The warring states were a period was from 476 BCE leading to the unification of China in 221 BCE.

To developed economy, each of the states had to issue reforms. The most famous reform was from Shang yang to Qin. From 359 BCE to 350 BCE, Shang yang from the Wei kingdom issued a series of reforms on Qin. Shang yang’s reforms on the Qin kingdom were to make the Qin kingdom stronger. During the middle of the Warring period, Qin and Qi were the most connected states. This caused the East-West confrontation which was a struggle between two diplomatic tactics. Near the end of the Warring period the Qi state lost almost all of its power so the alliance with Qin was broken. Chu was destroyed along with Qi leaving Zhao the only state to keep its strength. The power of Zhao caused it to become Qin's most threatening enemy. In the battle of Changping, Zhao was destroyed, ending the Zhou dynasty and launching China into the Qin dynasty.



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This map showes the territories or states of the Seven Overloards in the Warring State peiod.