Duke Huan of Qi

Today we'll talk about the Taibao Ding, a remarkable bronze vessel from the early Zhou dynasty, whose story reveals the origins of the ancient state of Yan, the struggles of a frontier kingdom that survived for more than eight centuries, and the early historical roots of the city that would eventually become modern Beijing.

Among the famous seven warring states of ancient China: Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin, most people easily recall the powerful states.

Qin eventually unified China.

Chu was vast and culturally vibrant.

Qi was wealthy and influential.

Yet in one respect, Yan stands out among all of them.

If we measure endurance rather than power, Yan was one of the most resilient states of the Zhou world.

From its founding in the early Western Zhou dynasty to its destruction by Qin in two twenty-two BCE, Yan survived for more than eight centuries.

I told you about most of these early waterways.

In the 7th century BC, dikes were built by Duke Huan of Qi along the lower reaches of the Yellow River.

The Hong Gou, mentioned in a few ancient texts, joined the five warring states of Zhao, Wei, Song, Zheng, and Chen.

The Han Gou was built by the king of Wu state, Fu Chai.

Liang Wudi was a poet, an essayist, and a fine calligrapher as well.

And echoing Duke Huan of Qi from the 7th century BC, he too was a patron to scholars and promoted learning and preserving important works from the past.

So the Liang Dynasty, an oasis of calm and prosperity amidst an otherwise sustained period of short-lived and unstable regimes.

The Liang Dynasty reached a point where taxes were too high, no major infrastructural projects were burdening anyone, and whatever skirmishes along the northern border were all manageable.