Home Region: North China (East Asia)

Early Wei Dynasty

445 BCE 225 BCE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 cn_wei_dyn_warring_states / CnWeiWS

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1115 CE 1234 CE Jin Dynasty (cn_later_great_jin) [elite replacement]

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General Description

The span of time between the mid-5th and mid-3rd centuries BCE in China is known as the Warring States period because it was dominated by conflicts between the seven independent states of Qin, Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, and Wei. ^[1] The period was marked by the development of authoritarian leadership, the creation of standing armies, and the mass conscription of peasants into military service. ^[2] New weapons included the crossbow, an improved iron sword, and armour. ^[2] The first appearance of military specialists such as Sunzi, author of The Art of War, dates to the Warring States period. ^[2]
The Warring States period was also a time of economic growth. The development of trade, occupational complexity, and markets created a class of merchants and private landlords. ^[3] Iron tools were used for agriculture and the use of irrigation and fertilizer became more widespread. ^[2] Intellectualism flourished, with the rise of Confucian philosophers Mengzi and Xunzi. ^[1]
In the 5th century BCE, the state of Jin was divided into three states: Wei, Han and Zhao. Wei was one of the largest states of the period, ruling parts of modern Shanxi and later expanding to cover western Shandong and northern and western Henan. ^[4] During the Warring States period, Wei mounted a number of successful military campaigns against neighbouring states, but fell into decline after a loss to Qi in 341 BCE. ^[5]
The Warring States period ended with the rise of the Qin state and its defeat of the imperial Zhou court. ^[6] Qin conquered the state of Wei in 225 BCE. ^[5]
Population and political organization
Several of China’s major political institutions were created during the Warring States Period. ^[7] Zhou rulers were replaced by strong authoritarian rulers who governed independent territorial states. ^[7] These territorial rulers commanded dependent officials, who were responsible for registering and mobilizing peasant households for military service. ^[7]
It is difficult to find substantiated estimates for the population of the Wei state.

[1]: (Encyclopedia Britannica n.d.) “Warring States.” Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Warring-States. Accessed June 6, 2017. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/UFB8K653.

[2]: (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.

[3]: (Roberts 1999, 14-15) 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.

[4]: (Theobald 2010) Theobald, Ulrich. 2017. “The Feudal State of Wei 魏 (www.chinaknowledge.de).” Accessed June 6. http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/rulers-wei.html. Seshat URL: http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/rulers-wei.html.

[5]: (Encyclopedia Britannica n.d.) “Wei.” Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Wei-ancient-kingdom-China. Accessed June 6, 2017. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/DTXFRJWS.

[6]: (Roberts 1999, 22) 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.

[7]: (Lewis 1999, 587) Lewis, M.E. 1999b. “Warring States Political History,” 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, 587-650. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/MMECH3VW.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

1 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Polity Territory

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

1 Entertainment Building

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

1 Trading Emporia

1 Special Purpose Site

1 Enclosure

1 Ceremonial Site

1 Burial Site

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Store Of Wealth

1 Debt And Credit Structure

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

1 Geometrical Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

2 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events

1 Instability Event

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states) was in:
(488 BCE 223 BCE)	Middle Yellow River Valley

Home NGA: Middle Yellow River Valley

General Variables

Identity and Location Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	50 S	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Original Name	Early Wei Dynasty	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Capital	Daliang	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Alternative Name	Zhanguo	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	353 BCE
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Duration	[445 BCE ➜ 225 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	nominal allegiance to [---]	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Supracultural Entity	Chinese	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Succeeding Entity	Imperial Qin	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	[3,000,000 to 4,000,000] km²	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	elite migration	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Preceding Entity 1115 CE 1234 CE	Jin Dynasty (cn_later_great_jin) [elite replacement]
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Degree of Centralization	confederated state	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Language Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Sino-Tibetan	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Language	Chinese	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Religion Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Polity Territory	90,000 km²	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[4 to 5]	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Religious Level	- Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Military Level	[4 to 5]	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Administrative Level	5	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Professions Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Examination System	Absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Law Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Judge	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Court	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Irrigation System	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Food Storage Site	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Entertainment Building	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Port	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Canal	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Trading Emporia	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Special Purpose Site	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Enclosure	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Ceremonial Site	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Burial Site	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Information / Writing System Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Script	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Mnemonic Device	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Sacred Text	Absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Religious Literature	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Practical Literature	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Philosophy	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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History	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Fiction	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Calendar	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Information / Money Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Precious Metal	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Paper Currency	Absent Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Store Of Wealth	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Debt And Credit Structure	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Information / Postal System Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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General Postal Service	Absent Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Courier	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Geometrical Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moat	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Ditch	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Long Wall	absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Military use of Metals Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Iron	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Copper	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Bronze	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Projectiles Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Present Disputed	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent Disputed	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Sling	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Self Bow	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Javelin	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Crossbow	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Composite Bow	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Handheld weapons Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Sword	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Spear	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Polearm	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Dagger	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Battle Axe	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Donkey	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Dog	Absent	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Camel	Absent Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Armor Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Shield	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Plate Armor	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Limb Protection	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Present Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Helmet	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Chainmail	Unknown Suspected	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Breastplate	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Naval technology Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Unknown Suspected	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Unknown Suspected	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred Disputed	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred Disputed	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present Inferred Disputed	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present Inferred Disputed	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present Inferred Disputed	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Inferred Disputed	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Unknown Suspected	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present Inferred Disputed	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred Disputed	445 BCE 225 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Early Wei Dynasty (cn_wei_dyn_warring_states)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More