Zhongshan of a Thousand Chariots

Auspicious Dragon: Prelude to Spring, Chapter Four Zhongshan of a Thousand Chariots—The Exhibition of Fine Cultural Relics from the Ancient Zhongshan State 🐬When speaking of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the states that come to mind are Qin, Chu, Qi, Han, Wei, and Zhao. The presence of Zhongshan State is not as prominent, but as a small state, it had the capital to compete with the surrounding major states. It was destroyed and then revived, showing great resilience and enduring for over two hundred years, earning the title of 'a thousand chariots'. 🐬A 'chariot' was a unit under the Zhou dynasty system, symbolizing national strength. A minor feudal state had a thousand chariots, while a major one had ten thousand. Four horses pulling one chariot counted as one chariot, with three armored soldiers on the chariot and 72 infantrymen plus 25 logistical support staff on the ground, totaling a hundred people. Possessing a thousand chariots meant having an army of at least 100,000. 🐬The minority ethnic group, the Bai Di, established the Zhongshan State, which was located between Yan and Zhao. It fought against the Jin State for a long time and was later destroyed by the Wei State. Afterwards, Duke Huan of Zhongshan restored the state, at one point boasting 9,000 chariots and a powerful national strength. Ultimately, the Zhao State breached its capital, Lingshou, leading to the demise of Zhongshan State. 🐬Zhongshan State was located in what is now Hebei Province. Typical cultural relics unearthed include the mountain-shaped bronze ware, which is unique to it, arranged in front of tents on wooden pillars, symbolizing the king's authority 🐬Special thanks to: Nanyue King's Museum, Hebei Provincial Museum 🇨🇳Experience the five thousand years of Huaxia, inheriting the Chinese civilization