This article is about the Warring States in China. Please refer to Sengoku Period for the Warring States in Japan.
The Warring States Period (traditional chinese: 戰國時代, simplified Chinese: 战国时代 pinyin Zhànguó Shídài) was part of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. It lasted from 403 BC to 221 BC. It was named after Record of the Warring States compiled in early Han Dynasty.
The Warring States Period followed the Spring and Autumn Period. In the Spring and Autumn Period, the warlords still considered themselves nobles of Zhou; but now the warlords called themselves kings, meaning they were equal to the Zhou king. The land was divided into many small kingdoms; though eventually seven states, known as the "Seven Great Powers" (戰國七雄 Zhan'guo Qixiong), rose to prominence: Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei and Qin. The Qin conquered all and ushered in the Qin Dynasty. It was during this period that different philosophies developed into the Hundred Schools of Thought.
The action of the 2003 movie Hero takes place during this period.