The State Of Shandong

From Beijing, we flied to Dalian then cross over to Shandong Province , the very east province of China. It was one of the early civilization spot of China in stone era and was an important stage for the history of ancient China during Spring Autumn Warring Period. At that time there were 100 over state empires and civil war regularly happened. Qi and Lu which located within Shandong were the two important states among the 7 empires finally left after long period of internal battling. Qi, the strongest state covered huge acres of land along coastal area and north of Tai Mountain ranges, was very rich in natural resources and products. Qi generously was a commercialized and opened society while Lu, a small state almost encircled by Qi, was comparatively conservative. Though different in practices and cultural habits, people were given full freedom to cross states and had own thoughts of philosophies.

It was not a steady and peaceful era but a prosperous literary period. Different stream of pedants started to flourish and branch into 100 over types of lineage in different teachings and thoughts. Confucianism was the major and the main one. Confucius from Lu State was the first to start private school in regardless of ranking and grading and he was also the first philosophy to travel around all empire states to promote his teachings and ideas. Though his thoughts was not successfully accepted and implemented by any empire, it's great influences towards all Chinese from generations to generations was infinitive. On top of it, many well known noble talents, politicians, scholars, artists, military heroes, professional and superior leaders in all areas and sectors were accomplished within this territory at this part of history. The world famous book Soon-Zi Art of War, a bible for politicians and businessmen of today was also written at that time, by Qi general Soon Wu and compiled by his grandson, General Soon Pin.

Qi was the last state to be defeated by Chin 秦 , who unified the 7 state empires into one China in 221 B.C.

Though many historical treasures and valuable remains of Qi and Lu were seriously destroyed and damaged during Chinese 10 yrs cultural revolution, there were still large scale of ancient tombs with relics and remains scattering within the land of Shandong. To understand more about Chinese literal history, Linzi, the town at east of Zibo City of Shandong was a compulsory spot to visit. It was the ancient capital of Qi State Empire for about 800 years and now an "Underground Museum" of today. From its museums and records, we came to know soccer game was originated from here and application of wheels for vehicles had been used 3-4000 yrs ago by ancient Chinese.