Marquess Wen of Wei
Encyclopedia
Marquess Wen of Wei (?-396 BCE) was the first Marquess
to rule the State of Wei
during the Warring States Period of Chinese history (475-220 BCE). Born Jī Sī , he was the son of Wèi Huán-zǐ
. He became ruler of Wei in 445 BCE and in 424 BCE adopted the title of “Marquess” . In 403 BCE King Weilie of Zhou
acknowledged Wèi Sī as Marquess Wen of Wei whilst conferring similar titles on the leaders of the former vassal states of Han
and Zhao
, thereby effectively splitting the State of Jin into three.
Sima Qian
praised Marquess Wen of Wei for his eagerness to learn. The Marquess is said to have often consulted the Confucian scholar
Zǐ-xià as well as Tiánzǐ Fāng and Duàn Gànmù amongst others. Marquess Wen of Wei also appointed Legalist philosopher
Lǐ Kuǐ
, whose principles for the implementation of political reforms were “to eat one must labor, to receive a salary one must provide meritorious service; those who do not will be punished”. As the State of Wei underwent these reforms it became rich and powerful.
In turn, Marquess Wen conquered the State of Zhongshan
whilst General Wú Qĭ
attacked and took five cities in what would become Xī Hé Prefecture within the borders of the State of Qin
(between the Yellow River
and Luo River
spanning parts of modern day Shaanxi and Shanxi Provinces). With Xīmén Bào
installed as magistrate of Ye County
(in modern day Hebei Province), Běimén Kě in control of Suān Zǎo and Zhái Huáng as Senior Minister, Wei underwent political reforms and constructed irrigation systems. As a result Wei became a powerful country during the early Warring States Period.
scholar Zǐ-xià enjoyed a wide reputation as a worthy individual and went in person to pay his respects to the master. Moved by Marquess Wen’s sincerity, Zĭ-xià came to Xī Hé in Wei. Thereafter the people of Wei benefited greatly from Zĭ-xià’s training of students in Confucian statecraft
such that people longed to come to Xīhé. One after another, many new students arrived to study under Zĭ Xià. As a result Wei became a concentrated center of academic study possessing a multitude of talented people. There were many times when Marquess Wen respectfully consulted Zĭ-xià regarding the Confucian Classics
and the Confucian arts of rites and music
. The scholar was always patient and passed on to his ruler policies of benevolent government that cherished the people whilst providing an analysis of the differences between ancient and (at that time) modern music. He also used musical metaphors and advised Marquess Wen to personally follow the principles of the ancient sage emperors Yáo and Shùn by staying close to his virtuous officials, avoiding flatterers, and being prudent with regard to the requirements of the monarchy over his own self-interest.
.
and Zhao
, the Han State sent a special ambassador to Wei to ask for military assistance. The envoy said: “We hope that your noble country can lend us troops to attack Zhao”, whereupon Marquess Wen replied “As sovereign I will tell you that the Marquess of Zhao and I are like brothers, therefore I dare not lend you troops to attack his country”. Subsequently, the Zhao state sent an envoy with an identical request for an attack against Han. Again Marquess Wen replied “As sovereign I will tell you that the Marquess of Han and I are like brothers, therefore I dare not lend you troops to attack his country”. As a result neither Han not Zhao received military assistance from Wei and both envoys returned angrily to their capitals. Not long afterwards they discovered that Marquess Wen had already mediated in the dispute and thereafter both Zhao and Han were made to pay separate tribute to Wei.
Later, during the Song Dynasty
, Sima Guang
remarked: “As a result, Wei became the strongest of the Jin vassal states with both Han and Zhao unable to match it militarily”.
threw his support behind the State of Wei when he heard that Marquess Wen was a wise and able leader. Marquess Wen asked Lǐ Kuǐ
for his opinion of Wú Qĭ and was told: “He avidly seeks fame and glory and is a womanizer, having said that, if you put him at the head of an attack force, even Sima Rangju
would not be his equal”. On hearing this Marquess Wen made Wú Qĭ a general in his army and asked him to lead his troops into the State of Qin
and seize five cities.
General Wú Qĭ subsequently occupied Qin territory to the east of the Luo River
for the four years between 409 and 406 BCE thereby expanding the State of Wei along its western borders. Marquess Wen then established the Xī Hé Prefecture consisting of the five captured cities.
as magistrate of Ye County
but he did not want the post. The Marquess persuaded him to take the job by saying: “Worthy minister, you should not miss this opportunity; you can definitely achieve great things in politics and become famous throughout China!” Xīmén Bào took up his post then immediately summoned a group of local elders to learn about the frequent disasters suffered as a result of the nearby Zhang River
flooding. He was told that as a result of collusion between witches and local officials, every year a maiden had to be sacrificed to appease the river god Hé Bó on the occasion of his taking a wife to obviate floods. Xīmén Bào dismissed the story as superstitious nonsense and said it was a ruse to cheat people out of their money and property. After outlawing the sinister practice of sacrifice to the river god, Xīmén Bào mobilized manpower to cut twelve drainage canals to channel the waters of the Zhang River. Thereafter there were no more floods and instead of suffering damage from the river, the fields were irrigated by it.
but in order to attack, he needed access through the State of Zhao
. The rulers of Zhao at first refused the Marquess’ request but when the Zhao Chancellor heard he said: “If Wei attack Zhongshan and they are defeated, they are bound to have lost a significant portion of their resources and will become a weak country. If on the other hand they annihilate Zhongshan, the new territory will be bisected by our country and it will be difficult for Wei to remain in control of it for any significant period.” On hearing this the Zhao ruler Zhào Xiàn-zǐ agreed to allow the Wei army to pass through the Zhao State.
At this time, amongst Minister of War Zhai Huang’s entourage there was an individual called Yue Yang who advocated an immediate attack on Zhongshan. Even though his son had been killed in Zhongshan because of Yue Yang’s son Yue Shu , Zhai Huang knew that Yue Yang was a talented field commander and gave the matter considerable thought. He then told Marquess Wen: “If my lord wishes to obtain the territory of Zhongshan then your minister recommends that Yue Yang leads the army”. When the other civil and military ministers heard of this proposal they opposed it strongly, believing that Yue Yang would surrender but Zhai Huang guaranteed on his own and his family’s lives that Yue Yang would not betray Wei. Marquess Wen visited Yue Yang then the two of them along with Wu Qi
led an army to attack Zhongshan.
Yue Yang laid siege to the capital of Zhongshan for three years, during which time Duke Wu of Zongshan captured Yue Yang’s son Yue Shu, killed him then cooked the body and sent the minced remains to Yue Yang. Sitting under his tent, the general ate an entire bowl full. On seeing this Marquess Wen said: “Because of me General Yang has had to eat the flesh of his own son. If he can do that, whose body would he not eat?”
The state of Zhongshan was eliminated in 406 BCE, the twenty-fifth year of Marquis Wen’s reign.
When Yue Yang returned to Wei he couldn’t help but develop a somewhat arrogant manner due to his achievements. When Marquis Wen found out he summoned the general to his palace and showed him some disparaging letters he had received. A tense Yue Yang kowtowed to his lord and said: “This is not to your minister’s credit, it is to your credit”. The Marquess rewarded Yue Yang by giving him Lingshou County
(in modern day Hebei Province
) but never again used the general in an important position.
Nineteen years later in 405 BCE, during the reign of Duke Lie of Jin , an internal revolt broke out in the State of Qi
around the town of Tianhui in Linqiu County (modern day Juancheng County
in Shangdong Province). The rebels asked the three Jin vassals Wei, Zhou and Han for assistance so Marquess Wen appointed Zhai Jue to lead an allied army and attack the Qi controlled section of the Great Wall of China
. After capturing the Qi ruler, Duke Kang , the rulers of the three Jin vassals had an audience with the Zhou
Emperor whereupon Duke Kang requested the emperor to dub the Wei, Han and Zhao leaders Marquesses.
In 403 BCE, the thirteenth year of the reign of Duke Lei of Jin, the Nine Tripod Cauldrons
were struck in the presence of the Zhou Emperor who then formally acknowledged that the leaders of Han, Zhao and Wei were no longer vassals of Jin but rulers in their own right with the title of ‘Marquess” and the equals of the Marquess of Jin. This effectively was the formal beginning of the Warring States Period.
, Xīmén Bào
and Běimén Kě amongst others and entrusted his son Prince of Wei to their care. After Marquess Wen died, his son Marquess Wu of Wei
became ruler of Wei.
Marquess
A marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam...
to rule the State of Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
during the Warring States Period of Chinese history (475-220 BCE). Born Jī Sī , he was the son of Wèi Huán-zǐ
Wei Huan-zi
Wèi Huán-zĭ , also known as Wèi Xuān-zi , was a leader of the State of Wei during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. One of the Jù family, he was the son of Wèi Xiāng-zǐ ....
. He became ruler of Wei in 445 BCE and in 424 BCE adopted the title of “Marquess” . In 403 BCE King Weilie of Zhou
King Weilie of Zhou
King Weilie of Zhou, ch.: 周威烈王, pinyin: zhōu wēi lìe wáng, wg: King Weilieh of Chou, was the thirty-first sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty and the nineteenth of Eastern Zhou Dynasty.-Personal information: Family name...
acknowledged Wèi Sī as Marquess Wen of Wei whilst conferring similar titles on the leaders of the former vassal states of Han
Han (state)
Han was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China, located in modern-day Shanxi and Henan. Not to be confused with South Korea which shares the same character....
and Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
, thereby effectively splitting the State of Jin into three.
Sima Qian
Sima Qian
Sima Qian was a Prefect of the Grand Scribes of the Han Dynasty. He is regarded as the father of Chinese historiography for his highly praised work, Records of the Grand Historian , a "Jizhuanti"-style general history of China, covering more than two thousand years from the Yellow Emperor to...
praised Marquess Wen of Wei for his eagerness to learn. The Marquess is said to have often consulted the Confucian scholar
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
Zǐ-xià as well as Tiánzǐ Fāng and Duàn Gànmù amongst others. Marquess Wen of Wei also appointed Legalist philosopher
Legalism (Chinese philosophy)
In Chinese history, Legalism was one of the main philosophic currents during the Warring States Period, although the term itself was invented in the Han Dynasty and thus does not refer to an organized 'school' of thought....
Lǐ Kuǐ
Li Kui
Li Kui is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 22nd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Black Whirlwind".-Background:...
, whose principles for the implementation of political reforms were “to eat one must labor, to receive a salary one must provide meritorious service; those who do not will be punished”. As the State of Wei underwent these reforms it became rich and powerful.
In turn, Marquess Wen conquered the State of Zhongshan
Zhongshan (state)
Zhongshan was a Di state created by the nomadic Xianyu tribe in China during the later Zhou Dynasty, in the Chinese written sources it is referred to as a state of the Bai Di .)...
whilst General Wú Qĭ
Wu Qi
Wu Qi was a Chinese military leader and politician in the Warring States period.-Biography:Born in the State of Wei , he was skilled in leading armies and military strategy. He had served in the states of Lu and Wei. In the state of Wei he commanded many great battles and was appointed Xihe Shou...
attacked and took five cities in what would become Xī Hé Prefecture within the borders of the State of Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
(between the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
and Luo River
Luo River
Luo River may refer to:*Luo River , river in Henan, China*Luo River , river in Shaanxi, China*Lô River, river in Vietnam...
spanning parts of modern day Shaanxi and Shanxi Provinces). With Xīmén Bào
Ximen Bao
Ximen Bao was an ancient Chinese government minister and court advisor to Marquis Wen of Wei during the Warring States period of China. He was known as an early rationalist, who had the State of Wei abolish by law the inhumane practice of sacrificing people to river deities...
installed as magistrate of Ye County
Ye, China
Ye or Yecheng was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County, Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County, Henan....
(in modern day Hebei Province), Běimén Kě in control of Suān Zǎo and Zhái Huáng as Senior Minister, Wei underwent political reforms and constructed irrigation systems. As a result Wei became a powerful country during the early Warring States Period.
Life and career
In 446 BCE, the sixth year of the reign of Duke Ai of Jin , Wèi Huán-zǐ died and was succeeded by his son Wèi Sī who became Marquess Wen of Wei.Honoring virtue and propriety
Marquess Wen knew full well that to bring peace and stability to the country he needed to appoint worthy and virtuous officials. He had heard that ConfucianConfucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
scholar Zǐ-xià enjoyed a wide reputation as a worthy individual and went in person to pay his respects to the master. Moved by Marquess Wen’s sincerity, Zĭ-xià came to Xī Hé in Wei. Thereafter the people of Wei benefited greatly from Zĭ-xià’s training of students in Confucian statecraft
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
such that people longed to come to Xīhé. One after another, many new students arrived to study under Zĭ Xià. As a result Wei became a concentrated center of academic study possessing a multitude of talented people. There were many times when Marquess Wen respectfully consulted Zĭ-xià regarding the Confucian Classics
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
and the Confucian arts of rites and music
Six Arts
The Six Arts formed the basis of education in ancient Chinese culture. During the Zhou Dynasty , students were required to master the "liù yì" :# Rites# Music# Archery# Charioteering# Calligraphy# Mathematics...
. The scholar was always patient and passed on to his ruler policies of benevolent government that cherished the people whilst providing an analysis of the differences between ancient and (at that time) modern music. He also used musical metaphors and advised Marquess Wen to personally follow the principles of the ancient sage emperors Yáo and Shùn by staying close to his virtuous officials, avoiding flatterers, and being prudent with regard to the requirements of the monarchy over his own self-interest.
Appointment of Li Kui
Marquess Wen appointed Lǐ Kuǐ as his ministerial assistant responsible for political reform. Lǐ Kuǐ advanced policies of “utmost fertility in education”， implemented a fair grain buying law and established the tenets of “food requires labor, salary requires meritorious service”, “usefulness will be rewarded” and “the monarchy has no patience with rebels”. These became standard government methods in the State of Wei and made it a powerful country in the early Warring States Period (475-220 BCE). The State of Wei’s laws were later codified into the Book of LawBook of Law
The Canon of Laws or Classic of Law is a lost legal code that has been attributed to Lǐ Kuǐ , a Legalist scholar and minister who lived in the State of Wei during the Warring States Period of Chinese history...
.
Wei becomes a hegemon
When war broke out between the states of HanHan (state)
Han was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China, located in modern-day Shanxi and Henan. Not to be confused with South Korea which shares the same character....
and Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
, the Han State sent a special ambassador to Wei to ask for military assistance. The envoy said: “We hope that your noble country can lend us troops to attack Zhao”, whereupon Marquess Wen replied “As sovereign I will tell you that the Marquess of Zhao and I are like brothers, therefore I dare not lend you troops to attack his country”. Subsequently, the Zhao state sent an envoy with an identical request for an attack against Han. Again Marquess Wen replied “As sovereign I will tell you that the Marquess of Han and I are like brothers, therefore I dare not lend you troops to attack his country”. As a result neither Han not Zhao received military assistance from Wei and both envoys returned angrily to their capitals. Not long afterwards they discovered that Marquess Wen had already mediated in the dispute and thereafter both Zhao and Han were made to pay separate tribute to Wei.
Later, during the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
, Sima Guang
Sima Guang
Sīmǎ Guāng was a Chinese historian, scholar, and high chancellor of the Song Dynasty, jinshi 1038.-Life, profession, and works:...
remarked: “As a result, Wei became the strongest of the Jin vassal states with both Han and Zhao unable to match it militarily”.
Seizure of Xihe
The military commander Wú QĭWu Qi
Wu Qi was a Chinese military leader and politician in the Warring States period.-Biography:Born in the State of Wei , he was skilled in leading armies and military strategy. He had served in the states of Lu and Wei. In the state of Wei he commanded many great battles and was appointed Xihe Shou...
threw his support behind the State of Wei when he heard that Marquess Wen was a wise and able leader. Marquess Wen asked Lǐ Kuǐ
Li Kui
Li Kui is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 22nd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Black Whirlwind".-Background:...
for his opinion of Wú Qĭ and was told: “He avidly seeks fame and glory and is a womanizer, having said that, if you put him at the head of an attack force, even Sima Rangju
Sima Rangju
Sima Rangju or Tian Rangju was a famous Chinese military general during the Spring and Autumn period, often seen as the spiritual successor of Jiang Ziya. He served in the State of Qi, defending it from the States of Jin and Yan , and went as high in the army as Da Sima, the Minister of War...
would not be his equal”. On hearing this Marquess Wen made Wú Qĭ a general in his army and asked him to lead his troops into the State of Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
and seize five cities.
General Wú Qĭ subsequently occupied Qin territory to the east of the Luo River
Luo River
Luo River may refer to:*Luo River , river in Henan, China*Luo River , river in Shaanxi, China*Lô River, river in Vietnam...
for the four years between 409 and 406 BCE thereby expanding the State of Wei along its western borders. Marquess Wen then established the Xī Hé Prefecture consisting of the five captured cities.
Governing the city of Ye
Marquess Wen appointed Xīmén BàoXimen Bao
Ximen Bao was an ancient Chinese government minister and court advisor to Marquis Wen of Wei during the Warring States period of China. He was known as an early rationalist, who had the State of Wei abolish by law the inhumane practice of sacrificing people to river deities...
as magistrate of Ye County
Ye, China
Ye or Yecheng was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County, Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County, Henan....
but he did not want the post. The Marquess persuaded him to take the job by saying: “Worthy minister, you should not miss this opportunity; you can definitely achieve great things in politics and become famous throughout China!” Xīmén Bào took up his post then immediately summoned a group of local elders to learn about the frequent disasters suffered as a result of the nearby Zhang River
Zhang River
The Zhang River is a river in China. The Zhang River commences in Shanxi province and flows eastward. It then becomes the border of Hebei and Henan province west of Handan and Anyang.A dam on the Zhang River diverts water into the Red Flag Canal....
flooding. He was told that as a result of collusion between witches and local officials, every year a maiden had to be sacrificed to appease the river god Hé Bó on the occasion of his taking a wife to obviate floods. Xīmén Bào dismissed the story as superstitious nonsense and said it was a ruse to cheat people out of their money and property. After outlawing the sinister practice of sacrifice to the river god, Xīmén Bào mobilized manpower to cut twelve drainage canals to channel the waters of the Zhang River. Thereafter there were no more floods and instead of suffering damage from the river, the fields were irrigated by it.
Overthrow of Zhongshan
Marquess Wen wanted to take control of the State of ZhongshanZhongshan (state)
Zhongshan was a Di state created by the nomadic Xianyu tribe in China during the later Zhou Dynasty, in the Chinese written sources it is referred to as a state of the Bai Di .)...
but in order to attack, he needed access through the State of Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
. The rulers of Zhao at first refused the Marquess’ request but when the Zhao Chancellor heard he said: “If Wei attack Zhongshan and they are defeated, they are bound to have lost a significant portion of their resources and will become a weak country. If on the other hand they annihilate Zhongshan, the new territory will be bisected by our country and it will be difficult for Wei to remain in control of it for any significant period.” On hearing this the Zhao ruler Zhào Xiàn-zǐ agreed to allow the Wei army to pass through the Zhao State.
At this time, amongst Minister of War Zhai Huang’s entourage there was an individual called Yue Yang who advocated an immediate attack on Zhongshan. Even though his son had been killed in Zhongshan because of Yue Yang’s son Yue Shu , Zhai Huang knew that Yue Yang was a talented field commander and gave the matter considerable thought. He then told Marquess Wen: “If my lord wishes to obtain the territory of Zhongshan then your minister recommends that Yue Yang leads the army”. When the other civil and military ministers heard of this proposal they opposed it strongly, believing that Yue Yang would surrender but Zhai Huang guaranteed on his own and his family’s lives that Yue Yang would not betray Wei. Marquess Wen visited Yue Yang then the two of them along with Wu Qi
Wu Qi
Wu Qi was a Chinese military leader and politician in the Warring States period.-Biography:Born in the State of Wei , he was skilled in leading armies and military strategy. He had served in the states of Lu and Wei. In the state of Wei he commanded many great battles and was appointed Xihe Shou...
led an army to attack Zhongshan.
Yue Yang laid siege to the capital of Zhongshan for three years, during which time Duke Wu of Zongshan captured Yue Yang’s son Yue Shu, killed him then cooked the body and sent the minced remains to Yue Yang. Sitting under his tent, the general ate an entire bowl full. On seeing this Marquess Wen said: “Because of me General Yang has had to eat the flesh of his own son. If he can do that, whose body would he not eat?”
The state of Zhongshan was eliminated in 406 BCE, the twenty-fifth year of Marquis Wen’s reign.
When Yue Yang returned to Wei he couldn’t help but develop a somewhat arrogant manner due to his achievements. When Marquis Wen found out he summoned the general to his palace and showed him some disparaging letters he had received. A tense Yue Yang kowtowed to his lord and said: “This is not to your minister’s credit, it is to your credit”. The Marquess rewarded Yue Yang by giving him Lingshou County
Lingshou County
Lingshou County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of the Shijiazhuang city.-Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Lingshou Town , Qingtong , Tashang , Ciyu , Chatou , Chenzhuang Townships:...
(in modern day Hebei Province
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
) but never again used the general in an important position.
Creation of the three Marquessates
In 424 BCE, the tenth year of the reign of Duke You of Jin , Marquess Wen adopted his title on his own initiative and declared 424 BCE as the first year of his own reign.Nineteen years later in 405 BCE, during the reign of Duke Lie of Jin , an internal revolt broke out in the State of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
around the town of Tianhui in Linqiu County (modern day Juancheng County
Juancheng County
Juancheng County falls under the jurisdiction of Heze, Shandong Province....
in Shangdong Province). The rebels asked the three Jin vassals Wei, Zhou and Han for assistance so Marquess Wen appointed Zhai Jue to lead an allied army and attack the Qi controlled section of the Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups...
. After capturing the Qi ruler, Duke Kang , the rulers of the three Jin vassals had an audience with the Zhou
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
Emperor whereupon Duke Kang requested the emperor to dub the Wei, Han and Zhao leaders Marquesses.
In 403 BCE, the thirteenth year of the reign of Duke Lei of Jin, the Nine Tripod Cauldrons
Nine Tripod Cauldrons
According to legend the Nine Tripod Cauldrons were created following the foundation of the Xia Dynasty by Yu the Great, using tribute metal presented by the governors of the Nine Provinces of ancient China....
were struck in the presence of the Zhou Emperor who then formally acknowledged that the leaders of Han, Zhao and Wei were no longer vassals of Jin but rulers in their own right with the title of ‘Marquess” and the equals of the Marquess of Jin. This effectively was the formal beginning of the Warring States Period.
Death
Marquess Wen died in 396 BCE. On his deathbed he summoned Wu QiWu Qi
Wu Qi was a Chinese military leader and politician in the Warring States period.-Biography:Born in the State of Wei , he was skilled in leading armies and military strategy. He had served in the states of Lu and Wei. In the state of Wei he commanded many great battles and was appointed Xihe Shou...
, Xīmén Bào
Ximen Bao
Ximen Bao was an ancient Chinese government minister and court advisor to Marquis Wen of Wei during the Warring States period of China. He was known as an early rationalist, who had the State of Wei abolish by law the inhumane practice of sacrificing people to river deities...
and Běimén Kě amongst others and entrusted his son Prince of Wei to their care. After Marquess Wen died, his son Marquess Wu of Wei
Marquess Wu of Wei
Marquess Wu of WeiChinese NamePinyinWèi JīTraditional Chinese魏擊Simplified Chinese魏击Family nameWèiPosthumous name 魏武侯 CountryState of Wei Lived?–370 BCE Reigned395–370 BCE...
became ruler of Wei.