Zhao: Map & History
Zhao was one of the seven major states during the Warring States period of ancient China.
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Zhao 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.
Modern Countries Once Part of Zhao
At its mapped extent, Zhao covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Zhao's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Zhao in Depth
Origins and ascendancy
The Zhao clan within Jin had been accumulating power for centuries, including annexing the Baidi state of Dai in the mid-5th century BC.
At the end of the Spring and Autumn period, Jin was divided between three powerful ministers, one of whom was Zhao Xiangzi, patriarch of the Zhao family. In 403 BC, the Zhou king formally recognised the existence of the Zhao state along with two other states, Han and Wei. Some historians, beginning with Sima Guang, take this recognition to mark the beginning of the Warring States period.
At the beginning of the Warring States period, Zhao was one of the weaker states. Despite its extensive territory, its northern border was frequently harassed by the Eastern Hu, Forest Hu, Loufan, Xiongnu, and other northern nomadic peoples.
Culture and society
Before Qin Shi Huang unified China in 221 BC, each region had its own customs and culture, although elite culture was identical throughout. In the Yu Gong (Tribute of Yu) chapter of the Book of Documents – probably written in the 4th century BC – China is described as divided into nine regions, each with its own distinctive peoples and products. The central theme of this section is that these nine regions are unified into one state through the travels of the eponymous sage, Yu the Great, and the sending of each region's unique goods to the capital as tribute. Other texts also discussed these regional differences in culture and physical environment.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Zhao (state) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Zhao: Key Facts
| Capital | Linfen |
|---|---|
| Founded | 304 CE |
| Dissolved | 329 CE |
Preceded by
- Western Jin dynasty
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q1574107 (CC0).
Zhao Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Zhao appears, with the other states of the time.
Zhao Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 66,731 km² in 344 BCE.
Zhao: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Zhao exist?
Zhao is dated to 404 BCE – 226 BCE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of Zhao?
The capital of Zhao was Jinyang, Handan.
How large was Zhao at its peak?
At its peak in 344 BC Zhao covered about 66,731 km².