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The military history of China extends from around (c. 1500- 221 BC ), Imperial China ( 221 BC - 1912 ), and Modern China (1912-present). Throughout most of the first two periods, the Chinese Military was shaped by the military threat from the Nomad ic societies of Mongolia , Manchuria and Central Asia , as well as Legalism and later, the persistence of Confucian values. The third period relates to the efforts of the Chinese military to respond Technologically and structurally to the West . WARFARE IN ANCIENT CHINA The first important recorded warfare in the history of China is where Yellow Emperor defeated Chiyou ,and settled Huaxia in the Yellow River Valley. Ancient China during the Shang Dynasty was a Bronze Age society based on Chariot armies. Archaeological study of Shang sites at Anyang have revealed extensive examples of chariots and bronze weapons. The overthrow of the Shang by the Zhou Dynasty saw the creation of a feudal social order, resting militarily on a class of aristocratic chariot warriors (士). Most armies of the time was organized in to three divisions, but can vary sometimes. Most infantry was armed with Dagger-axe and spear. Around the 4th century B.C. the crossbow was introduced, which led to the decline of the chariots. In the Spring And Autumn Period , warfare increased exponentially. The '' Zuo Zhuan '' describes the wars and battles among the feudal lords during the period. Warfare continued to be stylised and ceremonial even as it grew more violent and decisive. The concept of military hegemon (霸) and his "way of force" (霸道) came to dominate Chinese society. Warfare became more intense, ruthless and much more decisive during the Warring States Period , in which great social and political change was accompanied by the end of the system of chariot warfare and the adoption of mass infantry armies. Cavalry was also introduced from the northern frontier, despite the cultural challenge it posed for robe-wearing Chinese men. Siege warfare became increasingly sophisticated, and Crossbow s also came into heavy usage during the later stages of the period. Military Strategy shifted toward an emphasis on deception, intelligence, and strategies as codified in Sun Tzu 's military treatise, '' The Art Of War ''. LEGALISM AND CONFUCIANISM Legalist thinkers from Shang Yang to Li Si , both Prime Ministers of Qin , held that the society should be socially regimented and Bureaucratically administered. It left the structure of an autocratic, centralised empire that remained the master institution of Chinese military history. Officials of successive dynasties thus had the means to raise tax revenues and to mobilize the population for war to a degree that was unusual for a pre-industrial society. |
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