Home Region:  North China (East Asia)

Jin

780 BCE 404 BCE
D G SC WF R CC
EQ 2020  cn_jin_spring_and_autumn / CnJinSA
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
1122 BCE 771 BCE Western Zhou (cn_western_zhou_dyn)    [elite replacement]

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.

Displayed:



Learn more about polity border choices.
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.


  General Description  
The Spring and Autumn period was a period of the Eastern Zhou dynasty in which strong vassal states competed for dominance. [1] When King You of Zhou was killed by an allied force of Quan Rong barbarians and the state of Shen, King Ping moved the capital to Luoyang in 770 BCE and founded the Eastern Zhou dynasty. [2] The weak Eastern Zhou state was responsible for diplomacy and rituals, while governmental authority lay in the hands of large vassal states. [1] There were 15 major vassal states in the Spring and Autumn period, but by the mid-7th century BCE the region was dominated by the Qi, Jin, Qin, and Chu states. [3] The period is marked by constant warfare between different states. [4]
The Spring and Autumn period takes its name from the Confucian book Chunqiu, which chronicles events from 722 to 429 BCE. [1] During this time, the moral values of Confucius helped bring China into the ’Axial Age’. [2] The use of bronze agricultural tools became more widespread in China and there is evidence of the use of steel and iron in the middle and late Spring and Autumn period. [4] Coinage appeared in this period, and there are some indications that individuals could own land. [5]
The Jin state dominated the Spring and Autumn period from 636 to 628 BCE. Duke Xian of Jin (676-651 BCE) conquered 16 small states in modern Shanxi. [3] His son, Duke Wen, was given the title of ba (’senior’ or ’hegemon’) [6] by the Zhou king after defeating the encroaching state of Chu in 632 BCE. [3]
The Jin state covered an estimated 160,000 square kilometres. The state was located in modern Shanxi, [7] and extended east and north from the Yellow River. [8]
Population and political organization
The multi-state Spring and Autumn system changed the feudal structure of China. In the Western Zhou period, the political elite was made up of kings, feudal lords, and hereditary ministers. [4] In the Spring and Autumn period, a class of knights and warriors became the political ruling class. [4] Intellectuals served as both government officials and ’cultural carriers’. [9] States became more centralized as the central government continued to weaken. [4]
In the ba system, first institutionalized in 651 BCE, the Zhou king bestowed the title of ba on the ruler of the vassal state that represented the Zhou court in war. [4] [10] However, this system of political organization began to weaken in the 6th century BCE. [4] [10]
Substantiated estimates for the population of the Jin state are lacking.

[1]: (Encyclopedia Britannica n.d.) “Spring and Autumn Period.” Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Spring-and-Autumn-Period. Accessed June 5, 2017. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/Z2EVWH4P.

[2]: (Hsu 1999, 545) Hsu, C-y. 1999. “The Spring and Autumn Period,” in M. Loewe and E. L. Shaughnessy, eds. The Cambridge History of Ancient China From the Origins of Civilization to 221 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 545-86. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/MMECH3VW.

[3]: (Hsu 1999, 559) Hsu, C-y. 1999. “The Spring and Autumn Period,” in M. Loewe and E. L. Shaughnessy, eds. The Cambridge History of Ancient China From the Origins of Civilization to 221 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 545-86. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/MMECH3VW.

[4]: (Roberts 1999, 13) Roberts, John A.G. 1999. A History of China. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/H9D8H5E9.

[5]: (Roberts 1999, 14) Roberts, John A.G. 1999. A History of China. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/H9D8H5E9.

[6]: (Lewis 2000, 365) Lewis, Mark Edward. 2000. “The City-State in Spring-and-Autumn China.” In A Comparative Study of Thirty City-State Cultures: An Investigation Conducted by the Copenhagen Polis Centre, edited by Mogens Herman Hansen. Copenhagen: The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/DXXZV8CS.

[7]: (Theobald 2010) Theobald, Ulrich. 2010. “The Feudal State of China.” Chinaknowledge.de http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/rulers-jin.html Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/8735F2AW.

[8]: (Eno 2010) Eno, Robert. 2010. Spring and Autumn China. Indiana University, History G380, Class Text Readings. http://www.iub.edu/~g380/1.7-Spring_Autumn_Narrative-2010.pdf Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/32FGZ2UI.

[9]: (Hsu 1999, 549) Hsu, C-y. 1999. “The Spring and Autumn Period,” in M. Loewe and E. L. Shaughnessy, eds. The Cambridge History of Ancient China From the Origins of Civilization to 221 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 545-86. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/MMECH3VW.

[10]: (Hsu 1999, 562) Hsu, C-y. 1999. “The Spring and Autumn Period,” in M. Loewe and E. L. Shaughnessy, eds. The Cambridge History of Ancient China From the Origins of Civilization to 221 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 545-86. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/MMECH3VW.

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.
Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn) was in:
 (794 BCE 489 BCE) Middle Yellow River Valley
Home NGA: Middle Yellow River Valley
General Variables
Identity and Location Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 50 S 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Original Name Jin 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Capital Jiang 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Temporal Bounds Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Political and Cultural Relations Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Suprapolity Relations 1122 BCE  771 BCE
Loading...
Suprapolity Relations 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Supracultural Entity 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Succeeding Entity 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Succeeding Entity 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Succeeding Entity 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Scale of Supracultural Interaction 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Relationship to Preceding Entity 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Preceding Entity
1122 BCE 771 BCE
Loading...
Degree of Centralization 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Language Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Sino-Tibetan 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Language Chinese 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Religion Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Ancient East Asian Religion 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Religion Family Chinese Folk Religion 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Polity Territory 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Hierarchical Complexity Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Military Level 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Administrative Level 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Professions Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Professional Priesthood 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Professional Military Officer 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Bureaucracy Characteristics Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Merit Promotion 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Full Time Bureaucrat 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Examination System 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Law Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Judge 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
780 BCE  404 BCE
Court 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Irrigation System 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Food Storage Site 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Drinking Water Supply System 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Entertainment Building 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Transport Infrastructure Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Port 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Canal 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Bridge 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Special-purpose Sites Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Unknown Suspected 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Information / Writing System Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Script 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Nonwritten Record 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Non Phonetic Writing 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Mnemonic Device 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Information / Kinds of Written Documents Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Sacred Text 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Religious Literature 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Practical Literature 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Philosophy 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Lists Tables and Classification 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
History 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Fiction 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Calendar 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Information / Money Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Precious Metal 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Paper Currency 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Indigenous Coin 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Foreign Coin 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Article 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Information / Postal System Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
General Postal Service 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Courier 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Information / Measurement System Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Stone Walls Non Mortared 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Settlements in a Defensive Position 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Modern Fortification 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moat 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Earth Rampart 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Ditch 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Complex Fortification 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Long Wall absent 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Military use of Metals Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Steel 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Iron 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Copper 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Bronze 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Projectiles Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Sling Siege Engine 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Sling 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Self Bow 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Javelin 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Handheld Firearm 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Gunpowder Siege Artillery 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Crossbow 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Composite Bow 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Atlatl 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Handheld weapons Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Sword 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Spear 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Polearm 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Dagger 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Battle Axe 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Animals used in warfare Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Donkey 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Dog 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Armor Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Shield 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Scaled Armor 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Plate Armor 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Limb Protection 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Leather Cloth 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Laminar Armor 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Helmet 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Chainmail 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Breastplate 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Naval technology Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Unknown Suspected 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Small Vessels Canoes Etc 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown Suspected 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 780 BCE  404 BCE
Loading...
Human Sacrifice Jin (cn_jin_spring_and_autumn)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
View all Crisis Cases
Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions