DBA Resource Page

Ancient Army Lists

Chou and Spring & Autumn Chinese
(1100-480 BC) - (DBA 16b)

By Jonathan Lim

I have begun work on my 5th (and last) DBA army; my Chou and Spring and Autumn Chinese. It is a fascinating and colourful period, perhaps the most colourful in Chinese history. For those with aspirations to run your own state, here is a rundown of the period.

History

Many, many years ago, about 4100 BC to be exact, there was a tiny state in what is now North China called the Hs'ia or Xia Dynasty (pronounced Siah). In 1763 BC, it was overrun by the Shang (rhymes with Tongue) Dynasty, at the semi-legendary Battle of Ming Tiao. This was the first true state in China. Long thought to be legendary, the Shang were placed into real history books for the first time when, in the 1920s, some archaeologists discovered oracle bones. These had writing on them, and were cracked with heat to tell the future. On these were inscribed the names of ancient kings long tought to be legendary. Nearby, a huge burial with human sacrifice was discovered.

Anyway, the Shang were finally overthrown by the Chou or Zhou (pronounced Cho) at the Battle of Mu, 1027 BC. Here the Shang chariots were forced back on their infantry and thrown into confusion.

The Chou emphasized loyalty, philosophy, chivalry, etc., and were renowned for their nobleness for centuries afterward. They were, however, rather decentralised, with nobles getting great areas of land from the King of Chou. This decentralisation would have a nasty effect.

In 707 BC the Chou King became little more than a figurehead when the Earl of Cheng defeated the State of Chou. The whole of China divided up into a myriad of tiny dukedoms and some large ones. The subsequent era from 707 BC to 480 BC was called, very poetically, the Springs and Autumns Period, or Ch'un Ch'iu., the name given to the era by K'ung Fu-Tzu (Confucius) in his Annals of the State of Lu.

The dukedoms struggled for hegemony over each other as each rose and fell. In the Springs and Autumns period, there were 5 Hegemons (or Pa), the first (and most famous) of whom was the Marquis of the state of Ch'i or Qi (pronounced Chee). He became known as Duke Huan, and he was considered a great man. He fought variously against rebel states and "barbarians" until his death. After him, four more states would claim the title of Hegemon in turn.

Then came the Warring States Period - but that's another, more violent, story.

Composition

Enemies

The Chou and Spring & Autumn Chinese fought the Early Northern Barbarians (#7), the Later Shang (#16a), themselves (#16b), and the Warring States Chinese (#16c), although there is no overlap in years between Chou and Warring States lists.

Painting Guide

The Chou and Spring and Autumn Periods are possibly the most colourful. This was very much the age of the "gentleman", with Chou noble riding into battle dressed in silks with silk banners. Anyway, on with the guide:

Chariots: These were low, with bronze plaques and bells hanging off them. The chariot was a wooden frame with rhinoceros hide stretched over it. The bodywork of the chariot tended to be painted in reds and blacks as they were lacquered. However, I painted mine with all sorts of pastel shades too, with ornate patterns on every available surface. The horses had armour of rhinoceros hide scales lacquered red or black. The troops had bronze or hide helmets, and hide armour, as well as the flowing silk robes in any colour. Hide would have been lacquered red or black. Their chariots always had silk banners, perhaps with the name of the noble on it.

Check any chinese restaurant for chinese-looking patterns. Many are swirling celtic-type curlicue, or bamboo-type designs. By the way, the national insignia of the Chou and Spring and Autumn period was the dragon, which esteemed culture, not ruthlessness. Hmm.

Swordsmen: These, called Tiger Troops in one source, were the noble shock troops. They wore fine silks in any colour and had banners too (perhaps with tigers on them?) All weapons were only bronze at this time. They were swordsmen, whose scabbards were red. They had bronze breastplates that covered the chest, and which were an ornate shape. Their hair was rolled into a terracotta army style topknot tied with silk.

Archers: These had composite bows, sometimes wrapped in silk. They were lacquered black or red. They wouldn't have worn silk unless they were upper-class.

Spearmen: These were armed with the "halberd" of the time in bronze. They didn't wear silk.

Tactics

The line was usually drawn up with the general in his chariot on the left. The spearmen would be in the centre. The rest of the chariots would've been on the right.

Outflanking movements were very common. Good light troops were used to confound chariots in rough ground. Ambushes and flank marches (not possible in DBA) were extremely common.

Camp Ideas

The Chou liked to line up their unused chariots in rows facing each other, their yokes meeting above and thus forming a "hallway" of chariots. They flew flags over this. Nice idea for a camp.

Miniatures

Might I suggest Essex, who have only very recently released their Shang and Chou Chinese range. These are top figures, really very nice indeed.

Battles

Battle of Pi: In 595 BC, a Ch'u and a Ts'in army were facing off. Their skirmishers had been at it for days, when a group of Ts'in chariots somehow got involved in trying to save some skirmishers. Instantly the battle began. The Ch'u charged forward with their chariots on both flanks, keeping back a reserve of 40 chariots. The battle was in the balance when the reserves were committed onto both wings. The Ts'in were defeated on both flanks and turned to retreat - the Ch'u had won!

Battle of Mu: The Chou army, under Wu, was fighting the last epic battle against the Shang Dynasty in 1027 BC. He had an army of only 3000 nobles and 800 Shang defectors. Opposing him was the great Shang army, outnumbering him by many times. However, Wu ordered his troops to advance in close formation, keeping strictly to the ranks and not going impetuous. His troops did so.

Meanwhile the Shang advanced in two lines, with infantry in the lead. When battle began, their front line began to recoil on those behind. After a vicious battle the Shang were thrown into utter confusion. The Chou were merciless, and "shed enough blood to float a log." The Shang Dynasty had fallen.

Battle of Ch'eng P'u: Duke Wen of Tsin (Jin) faced the Marquis of Ch'u, a semi barbarian southern province. Wen was on his left wing and the Marquis of Ch'u rode on his right wing. Wen's left wing drove at the Ch'u right, pinning it down. Meanwhile the Ts'in right retreated dragging branches as a smokescreen. The Ch'u left chased after them, and were first struck in the flank by the infantry in the centre, then attacked by the "retreating" chariots. The Ch'u commander was then killed. The battle had been won by the Ts'in.

Other Sources

Try reading these:

Ancient Chinese Armies, 1500 Bc-200 Bc (Men-At-Arms Series 218), by Chris J. Peers. (Osprey, April 1990).

Warlords of China (700 BC to AD1662), by Chris J. Peers. (Sterling, August 1998).

Also check Chinese Civilisation books for ideas.

| Top of Page | Ancient Armies | DBA Resource Page |

Last Updated: August 21, 1999

My thanks to Jonathan Lim for this contribution. Comments, questions or suggested additions to this page can be sent to Chris Brantley, brant@erols.com.