Yan (state)

Yan (state)

Yān (simplified Chinese: 燕国; traditional Chinese: 燕國; pinyin: Yān'guó) was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji (nowadays Beijing, also known as Yanjing, "capital of Yan"). During the Warring States period, the capital was also moved to its lower capital at Xiadu at times, which was the largest city in terms of area at the time.

The history of Yan began in the Western Zhou (1046–771 BC). After the authority of the Zhou king declined during the Spring and Autumn Period (771 to 403 BC), Yan survived and became one of the strongest states in China. During the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), Yan was one of the last states to be conquered by the armies of Qin Shihuang: Yan fell in 222 BC, immediately before the founding of the Qin dynasty (221-207 BC). Yan experienced a brief period of independence after the collapse of the Qin dynasty, but was eventually absorbed by the victorious Western Han Dynasty (202 BC – 9 AD).