[General_Zhaoyun]

War seemed to characterize warring states period. It seemed that conquest was the ultimate aim of all states during the period.

Do you think conflict during this period of time can be resolved peacefully? Was peace possible?

[Sephodwyrm]

Unless the other states willfully subjugate themselves before Qin and give up their claims to kingship, their holdings and retreat to the status of a commoner, I don't think Qin would relent on this. It is a crossing point:
1. To stay disunited as feuding states and end up as East Asia (and Europe would be known as the second Asia with many states)
2. Or to unify under one government, one united script and one united standard of systems.

[Kulong]

Just look at our world today and you'll see the Warring States era in a much greater scale.

[thirdgumi]

I think peace would be possible if there would be a balance of power for a long period of time.
By the time the states realised that war couldn't solve anything because there strength were the same, there would be peace.
In the case of Warring States period, all the states tried to break the balance in incline to their own favour, I think it had to do with tenacity of Chinese people. On the other hand, the Qin state ultimately broke the balance to their favor by successfully instaling ligalism and bureaucracy, and other states failed to do so.

[Kulong]

thirdgumi, on Sep 10 2004, 03:46 PM, said:

I think peace would be possible if there would be a balance of power for a long period of time.
By the time the states realised that war couldn't solve anything because there strength were the same, there would be peace.

I agree, however, I doubt any peace would last too long. Look at Europe, they didn't exactly experience peace although the major European nations were about the same in strength. Although some European nation was stronger than others, none was strong enough to conquer and unite the whole Europe like the Qin did with China.

thirdgumi, on Sep 10 2004, 03:46 PM, said:

In the case of Warring States period, all the states tried to break the balance in incline to their own favour, I think it had to do with tenacity of Chinese people.

What do you mean by that? Doesn't EVERYONE do everything they could to make the situation favor themselves? That's why we have so many conflicts around the world, not just China.

[thirdgumi]

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I agree, however, I doubt any peace would last too long.

Well, there can be no eternal peace.

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What do you mean by that? Doesn't EVERYONE do everything they could to make the situation favor themselves? That's why we have so many conflicts around the world, not just China.

By my preception, the tenacity of Chinese people are much superior too other people I've encontered.

[Kulong]

thirdgumi, on Sep 11 2004, 04:01 PM, said:

Well, there can be no eternal peace.

Then what exactly did you mean by "peace"? The Warring States weren't fighting every single day, ya know.

thirdgumi, on Sep 11 2004, 04:01 PM, said:

By my preception, the tenacity of Chinese people are much superior too other people I've encontered.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Opinion (stereotype/generalization) noted.

[thirdgumi]

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Then what exactly did you mean by "peace"? The Warring States weren't fighting every single day, ya know.

The peace I meant was no 400,000 death in a single conflict, only some diplomatic conflics maybe some border tensions with minor casualties between the major players for a couple dozens of years.

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Opinion (stereotype/generalization) noted.

The same here.

[Wei Chong]

What if the other 6 states had formed an alliance and destroyed Qin: which of the 6 states could have united China?

[thirdgumi]

Wei Chong, on Oct 7 2008, 10:54 AM, said:

What if the other 6 states had formed an alliance and destroyed Qin: which of the 6 states could have united China?

They tried, but they failed.