Partition of Jin in the context of "Han (Warring States)"

The Spring and Autumn period (c. 770 – c. 481 BCE) was a period in Chinese history corresponding roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou (c. 771 – 256 BCE), characterized by the gradual erosion of royal power as local lords nominally subject to the Zhou exercised increasing political autonomy. The period's name derives from the Spring and Autumn Annals, a chronicle of the state of Lu between 722 and 481 BCE, which tradition associates with Confucius (551–479 BCE).

During this period, local polities negotiated their own alliances, waged wars against one another, up to defying the king's court in Luoyi. The gradual Partition of Jin, one of the most powerful states, is generally considered to mark the end of the Spring and Autumn period and the beginning of the Warring States period. The periodization dates to the late Western Han (c. 48 BCE – 9 CE).

Zhao (traditional Chinese: 趙; simplified Chinese: 赵) was one of the seven major states during the Warring States period of ancient China. It emerged from the tripartite division of Jin, along with Han and Wei, in the 5th century BC. Zhao gained considerable strength from the military reforms initiated during the reign of King Wuling, but suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Qin at the Battle of Changping. Its territory included areas in the modern provinces of Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi and Shaanxi. It bordered the states of Qin, Wei, and Yan, as well as various nomadic peoples including the Hu and Xiongnu. Its capital was Handan, in modern Hebei province.

Zhao was home to the administrative philosopher Shen Dao, Confucian Xun Kuang, and Gongsun Long, who is affiliated to the school of names.

Wei (/weɪ/; Chinese: 魏; pinyin: Wèi) was one of the seven major states during the Warring States period of ancient China. It was created from the three-way Partition of Jin, together with Han and Zhao. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern-day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shandong. After its capital was moved from Anyi to Daliang (present-day Kaifeng) during the reign of King Hui, Wei was also called Liang (Chinese: 梁; pinyin: Liáng).

It should not to be confused with the smaller central Wey state 衞, which is still sometimes only differentiated by its Chinese character.

Jin (traditional Chinese: 晉; simplified Chinese: 晋, Old Chinese: *tsi[n]-s), originally known as Tang (唐), was a major state during the middle part of the Zhou dynasty, based near the centre of what was then China, on the lands attributed to the legendary Xia dynasty: the southern part of modern Shanxi. Although it grew in power during the Spring and Autumn period, its aristocratic structure saw it break apart when the duke lost power to his nobles. In 403 BC, the Zhou court recognized Jin's three successor states: Han, Zhao, and Wei. The Partition of Jin marks the end of the Spring and Autumn period and the beginning of the Warring States period.

Marquess Wen of Wei (died 396 BCE), personal name Wei Si, was the founding marquess of the Wei state. He belonged to the Wei clan, one of the noble houses that dominated Jin politics in the 5th and 6th centuries BC.

He became the leader of the Wei clan in 445 BCE, succeeding his father Viscount Huan, and in 424 BCE adopted the title of "Marquess" (侯). In 403 BCE, King Weilie of Zhou acknowledged Wei Si as Marquess of Wei while conferring similar titles on the leaders of the Han and Zhao clans, thereby effectively splitting the Jin state into three and confirming the Partition of Jin.

The usurpation of Qi by Tian (Chinese: 田氏代齊) was the deposition of the Jiang (姜) clan as rulers of the state of Qi, and their replacement by members of the Tian (田) clan. That occurred as a series of events between 481 and 379 BCE through which the Tian clan cemented its position as the leading family in Qi.

The final acts of the usurpation (391–379 BCE), in conjunction with the Partition of Jin (453 BCE or 403 BCE), mark the transition from the Spring and Autumn period to the Warring States period.

Marquess Jing of Han (Chinese: 韓景侯; pinyin: Hán Jǐng Hóu; died 400 BC), personal name Han Qian, was leader of the Han clan in the Jin state from 408 BC to 403 BC, and the founding marquess of the Han state from 403 BC until his death in 400 BC. Marquess Jing was the son of Viscount Wu of Han (韓武子), whom he succeeded as leader of the Han clan. It was during Marquess Jing's rule that the Han state became a recognized vassal state of the Zhou dynasty.

In the first year of his reign, Marquess Jing attacked the Zheng state and took over Yongqiu (modern-day Qi County, Henan). The next year, his army lost to Zheng at Fushu (today's Dengfeng, Henan). In 403 BC, Marquess Jing, along with Marquess Wen of Wei and Marquess Lie of Zhao partitioned the powerful Jin state into the Han, Wei, and Zhao states, marking the beginning of the Warring States period of Chinese history and Han as an independent polity. King Weilie of Zhou was forced to elevate Marquess Jing's title from viscount (子) to marquess (侯). Marquess Jing then moved the capital of Han from Pingyang to Yangzhai. In 400 BC, Yangzhai was subject to a siege by the Zheng army. Marquess Jing died later that year and was succeeded by his son, Marquess Lie.