Editing Spring and Autumn period (section)

==Important figures==
[[File:Spring and Autumn Bronze Ding.jpg|thumb|A large [[bronze]] tripod vessel from the Spring and Autumn period, now located at the [[Henan Museum]]]]

'''The Five Hegemons''' (春秋五霸):
With the royal house of Zhou lacking the military strength to defend itself, and with the various states experiencing tension and conflict, certain very powerful lords took the position of hegemon, ostensibly to uphold the house of Zhou and maintain the peace to the degree possible. They paid tribute to the royal court, and were owed tribute by the other rulers. Traditional history lists five hegemons during the Spring and Autumn period:<ref>{{harvnb|Ye, Fei, and Wang|2007|pp=34–35}}</ref>
* [[Duke Huan of Qi]] (r. 685–643 BCE)
* [[Duke Xiang of Song]] (r. 650–637 BCE)
* [[Duke Wen of Jin]] (r. 636–628 BCE)
* [[Duke Mu of Qin]] (r. 659–621 BCE)
* [[King Zhuang of Chu]] (r. 613–591 BCE)

Alternatively:{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
* [[Duke Huan of Qi]] (r. 685–643 BCE)
* [[Duke Wen of Jin]] (r. 636–628 BCE)
* [[King Zhuang of Chu]] (r. 613–591 BCE)
* [[King Fuchai of Wu]] (r. 495–473 BCE)
* [[King Goujian of Yue]] (r. 496–465 BCE)

'''Bureaucrats or Officers'''
* [[Guan Zhong]], advisor of Duke Huan of Qi
* [[Baili Xi]], prime minister of Qin
* [[Wu Zixu]], Duke of Shen, important adviser of King [[Helü]], early culture hero,{{sfn|Petersen|1992}} sometimes considered "the single best recorded individual in the history of the Spring and Autumn period"{{sfn|Milburn|2016|p=77}}
* [[Bo Pi]], bureaucrat under King [[Helü]] who played an important diplomatic role in Wu–Yue relations
* [[Wen Zhong (Spring and Autumn)|Wen Zhong]], advisor of [[King Goujian of Yue]] in his war against Wu
* [[Fan Li]], another advisor to Goujian, also renowned for his incredible business acumen
* [[Zichan]], leader of self-strengthening movements in [[Zheng (state)|Zheng]]
* [[Yan Ying]] or ''Yanzi'', central figure of the ''[[Yanzi Chunqiu]]''

'''Influential scholars'''
* [[Confucius]] or ''Kongzi'', leading figure in [[Confucianism]]
* [[Lao-tse]] or ''Laozi'', teacher of [[Taoism]]
* [[Mo Di]], ''Mozi'', or ''Mo-tse'', founder of [[Mohism]]
* [[Sun Tzu]] or ''Sunzi'', author of ''[[The Art of War]]''

'''Other people'''
* [[Lu Ban]], master builder 
* [[Yao Li]], sent by King Helü to kill [[Qing Ji]]
* [[Zhuan Zhu]], sent by Helü to kill his cousin King Liao
* [[Bo Ya]], outstanding musician
* [[Ou Yezi]], swordsmaker