Spring and Autumn Period - Rise of Wu and Yue

Rise of Wu and Yue

Amid conflict between Jin and Chu, Wu in modern-day Jiangsu and Yue in modern-day Zhejiang – two coastal states with dubious Zhou ties – grew in power as they gained relevance in interstate affairs. Starting around 583 BC, Jin used aid to solidify an alliance with Wu, which then acted as a counterweight to Chu so that, while Jin and Chu agreed to a truce in 546 BC to address wars over smaller states, Wu maintained constant military pressure on Chu and even launched a devastating full-scale invasion in 506 BC.

After King Helü of Wu died during an invasion of Yue in 496 BC, his son, King Fuchai of Wu nearly destroyed the Yue state, defeated Qi, threatened Jin. In 482 BC, King Fuchai held an interstate conference to solidify his power base, but Yue captured the Wu capital. Fuchai rushed back but was besieged and died when the city fell in 473 BC. Yue then concentrated on weaker neighboring states, rather than the great powers to the north.