Warring States - (475 - 221 B.C.)

By the era of the Warring States (475-221 B.C.) there remained only nine major states, mainly on the populous North China plain - Zhao, Yan, Qi, Song, Lu, Wei, Han, Chu and Qin. These powerful principalities formed and broke alliances and attacked one another while consulting the royal household only on matters of inheritance and legitimacy. They devoured one another until in 256 B.C. the Qin state obliterated the great state of Zhou and later the Chu, Wei, Zhao and Yan. In 221 B.C. the Qin defeated the last rival Qi and consolidated its rule over all of China.

By the middle of the Warring States period half of the wares produced were glazed. Shapes became more elegant with imitations of bronze forms such as the three-legged ding becoming more common. Wide mouthed bowls with simple, yet elegant incised decorations have been found.

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