Battle of Chengpu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Chengpu
Part of the Spring and Autumn period
Battle of Chengpu
Date 632 BC Location vicinity of Chenliu, Henan or the southwest of Juancheng County, Shandong Result Jin victory
Belligerents
Jin Qi Qin Song	Chu Chen Cai Shen Xi Wey
Commanders and leaders
Hu Mao Hu Yan Xian Zhen Xi Zhen Xu Chen Luan Zhi	Ziyu Zishang Zixi
Strength
700 chariots (Jin), other parts unknown.	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown, 100 chariots and 1000 warriors captured

The Battle of Chengpu was a major battle that happened in 632 BC. It was fought between the State of Jin and the State of Chu, along with their allies. This battle took place during a time in Chinese history called the Spring and Autumn period.

This was the first big battle in a long-lasting conflict. This conflict was between states in the Yellow River valley and states in the Yangtze River valley. Jin's victory helped Duke Wen become a very strong leader. It also stopped Chu from expanding its power north for a while.

Why the Battle Happened

Chu's Growing Power

After Duke Huan of Qi, a powerful leader, died in 643 BC, the state of Chu started to grow stronger. Chu slowly expanded its power northward. It took control of several smaller states, making them its allies.

In 636 BC, a prince from Jin named Chong'er returned home. He had been away for 19 years, traveling to many different states. With help from Duke Mu of Qin, Chong'er became the new ruler, known as Duke Wen of Jin. Duke Wen quickly became a strong leader among the states. He also made many important improvements within his own state.

Shifting Alliances

In the years leading up to 632 BC, Jin and Chu often clashed. The smaller states located between them frequently changed sides. They would ally first with Jin, then with Chu, and sometimes back again. This made the region very unstable.

In the winter of 633 BCE, King Cheng of Chu attacked the State of Song. Song was an ally of Jin and was easy for Chu to reach from the south. To get back at Chu, Duke Wen led his army south the next spring. They took over the States of Wey and Cao. Both Wey and Cao were allied with Chu.

Over the next few months, both sides looked for more allies. The states of Shen, Xi, Chen, and Cai were all close to Chu. They sided with King Cheng. The more distant State of Lu also joined Chu.

Getting Ready for Battle

Jin's Strategic Retreat

Duke Wen had promised King Cheng during his exile that he would retreat. So, the Jin army moved back "three days' march," which was about 45 kilometers. They set up camp on the plain of Chengpu. This area was on the border of Wey and Cao. Here, they waited for the main battle to begin. This retreat also allowed the Jin forces to meet up with their allies. Reinforcements from Qi and Qin joined them.

The Armies' Setup

The Chu army was led by Prime Minister Ziyu. Only the central part of his army was made up entirely of Chu soldiers. The left side of the Chu army was led by Zixi. It included soldiers from Chu's close allies, Shen and Xi. The right side, led by Zishang, was made up of soldiers from Chen and Cai. This group might have been about one-third of Chu's total army.

The Jin army had grown from two groups to three before this expedition. These were the upper, central, and lower armies. For the battle, they were reorganized into wings. The upper army was on the right wing. It was led by commander Hu Mao and vice-commander Hu Yan. The lower army was on the left wing. It was led by Luan Zhi and vice-commander Xu Chen. The central army stayed in the middle. It was led by Xian Zhen and vice-commander Xi Zhen. Duke Wen himself did not directly lead or fight in the battle.

The Battle Begins

On the fourth day of the fourth month in 632 BC, the two armies clashed.

Jin's Opening Moves

The battle started with both sides of the Jin army moving forward. The Chu army's right wing was thought to be the weakest. So, Xu Chen, who led the Jin left wing, attacked it. Xu Chen had a clever plan. He dressed his chariot horses in tiger skins. This was meant to scare the Chu horses. He then launched a strong and quick attack on the Chu right wing. The attack worked very fast. It completely broke apart and scattered the enemy's right wing.

Tricking the Enemy

After this, the Jin left wing held its position. It kept the Chu center busy. This stopped the Chu center from attacking the Jin center or helping its own left wing. If the Chu center had moved, the Jin left would have attacked it from the side and rear.

Meanwhile, Hu Mao's Jin right wing fought briefly with the enemy. Then, they pretended to retreat. They even carried away the two large flags of the Jin commander. The Chu left wing, made up of soldiers from Shen and Xi, thought the Jin right wing had lost. Ziyue, the Chu commander, ordered his troops to chase them.

A group of chariots led by Luan Zhi quickly moved in front. They dragged tree branches to create a big dust cloud. This cloud hid what Hu Mao's men were doing. They were actually circling around and getting back into formation.

The Final Blow

The Jin left wing, helped by the Jin center, kept fighting the Chu center. Even though the Jin center was briefly disorganized by a strong whirlwind, it still stopped the Chu center from helping its left wing.

As the Chu left wing advanced, Duke Wen's personal guards attacked it from the side. These guards were made up of sons of noble families and close followers. Soldiers from Song also joined this attack. At the same time, the entire Jin right wing finished its circling move. Luan Zhi's chariots supported them from the right. They all joined the attack. The Chu left wing was completely destroyed.

Seeing both sides of his army surrounded, Ziyu ordered a general retreat. But this retreat quickly turned into a full rout. This happened when Chu soldiers discovered that their camp and supplies in the back had been captured. The Qi and Qin soldiers had taken them by marching around the side during the battle.

What Happened After

The Battle of Chengpu was one of the biggest battles of the Spring and Autumn period. It is also one of the most detailed battles described in the ancient text Zuo Zhuan. However, the exact place where the battle happened is still not certain. Two possible locations are near Chenliu, Henan, or in the southwest part of Juancheng County, Shandong.

After returning north, Duke Wen was recognized by the King of Zhou as the most important leader among the feudal lords. In 631 BC, Duke Wen led a meeting of many states at Jiantu. At this meeting, they all promised to support the Zhou royal family and made an alliance. Even though Jin won this big battle, it did not stop Chu's power for a very long time.