Qin Jin Hegemony Clash Over Plains | Generated by AI
Question: In the Battle of Xiao described in “The Battle of Xiao between Qin and Jin”, what is the fundamental reason for the outbreak of the Battle of Xiao?
A. The Qin army passed through Eastern Zhou without proper courtesy
B. Qin’s attack on Zheng angered the state of Jin
C. Qin and Jin were contending for hegemony over the Central Plains
D. Qin did not mourn the death of the ruler of Jin
The correct answer is C.
Answer:
The fundamental cause of the Battle of Xiao (殽之战, 627 BCE) was the struggle between Qin and Jin for hegemony in the Central Plains.
Detailed Explanation:
During the mid-Spring and Autumn period, the Eastern Zhou royal house had become extremely weak and could no longer effectively control the various feudal states. Real power had shifted to the stronger regional states, which competed fiercely to become the dominant hegemon (霸主) of the Central Plains — the political, cultural, and military heartland of the Chinese world at that time.
Key background:
- After Duke Mu of Qin (秦穆公) helped Duke Wen of Jin (晋文公) return to power and later assisted him in becoming hegemon, the two states maintained a relatively good relationship for a period.
- However, after Duke Wen of Jin died in 628 BCE (the 32nd year of Duke Mu of Qin), Jin temporarily became weaker during the succession of Duke Xiang of Jin (a young ruler).
- At almost the same time, Qin saw a golden opportunity: the state of Zheng (郑国), a key strategic point in the Central Plains and long under Jin’s sphere of influence, appeared vulnerable.
- Qin decided to take advantage of Jin’s mourning period and internal instability to launch a surprise long-distance expedition to attack and destroy Zheng (the famous “Qin army passes through three states to attack a distant country” 灭滑、假道灭虢之后又袭郑 strategy).
This action directly challenged Jin’s dominant position in the Central Plains and threatened the entire system of alliances and order that Jin had established under Duke Wen.
From Jin’s perspective:
- Qin’s attack on Zheng was not just an attack on a small state — it was a direct encroachment on Jin’s sphere of influence and an open challenge to Jin’s hegemonic status.
- Jin could not tolerate a rising western power (Qin) breaking through the strategic buffer zone and establishing a foothold in the Central Plains.
Thus, even though superficial triggers included:
- Qin’s discourtesy when passing through the royal domain (周天子 territory),
- Qin’s failure to observe proper mourning etiquette toward the recently deceased Duke Wen of Jin,
- The defection of the Qin commanders who had been stationed in Zheng (杞子、逢孙、扬孙),
These were only immediate triggers or pretexts.
The root cause was the irreconcilable strategic contradiction between the two strongest western and eastern great powers at that time — both wanted to control the Central Plains and achieve overall hegemony.
Therefore, the most fundamental reason for the outbreak of the Battle of Xiao is:
C. Qin and Jin contending for hegemony over the Central Plains
References:
- None (analysis based on standard historical interpretation of the Spring and Autumn period as recorded in Zuozhuan and commonly accepted in Chinese historical textbooks)