Study On The Political Activities Of The Princes In The Warring States

Princes play an important role in the hereditary society which placing the genetic connection with the royalty at the priority. The study focuses on the princes group and tries to explore the function and influence of this genetic connection on the politics during the formation process of autocratic centralization.The paper consists of four chapters and is organized as follows.The first chapter introduces the background of political participation of princes in the Warring States. From the Spring and Autumn period to the Warring States, noblemen’s privilege is deprived because of the reform in each state. Therefore, princes had to be actively participating in politics so as to maintain their political and economic status. Additionally, the princes have an advantage over scholar in political affairs. Thus, it is necessary for the princes to engage in political affairs and the conditions for them were satisfactory.The second chapter discusses the domestic political activities of princes. Historical facts are demonstrated to illustrate that princes could provide political advice, obtain titles and enter the bureaucracy system because of their genetic connection to the royalty. The evaluation and promotion criteria for both princes and general officers are gradually become same in the bureaucracy system. The relationship between the king and princes were more like a liege relationship.The third, fourth chapters are the third of the paper. Both Third and Fourth chapters illustrate the princes’political activities in diplomacy. They earn their position in diplomatic missions, as prime ministers or hostages in other country. Because of the genetic connection between the king and the princes, they play an important role in diplomatic. Because of the genetic connection, princes and scholars have different roles in diplomatic politics.In summary, the princes take the important position in both domestic and foreign political fields because of good political consciousness of princes and the necessarily of political centralization. The analysis of motivations and content of the political activities shows utilization and reform for the genetic connection in Warring States which concentrate the power for the king and limit the princes by political relations.