There was a time in ancient China when people lived in a certain level of peace. There was no bloodshed, and empires did not go to war with each other. This lasted only a short period of time. Though the concept of war was not glorified, it did bring the empires more land and fortune. This concept of taking over land helped empires have a more legitimized form of existence. During the Han dynasty, kingdoms were consistently at war with each other, and if somehow they were not at war with each other, soldiers were sent out to capture more land and invade different regions for more fortune.
Their armies mostly did not consist of trained individuals and mostly had citizens who dedicated their time and lives to their king. It was common for every citizen to serve in the army for at least two years. During the Han dynasty, it was obligatory for citizens between the age of 23 and 56 to serve in the army. If the empire went under a state of emergency, men were called to devote their services to the army. They were provided a uniform but were not given a high salary or any equipment. Soldiers at this time were given a low status and had certain duties which were essential for them to perform.
Some of the highest-status men of war were the generals that were appointed by the Emperors. One of these was General Yuan Chonghuan of the Ming Dynasty. He was an intellectual part of the Dynasty and had a great character everyone admired. His account is interestingly explained in the fictional novel Shanghai Sun: The Curse Of The General by Andrew J Parker. This is an excellent book for historical fiction lovers and is sure to keep you busy for a good amount of time. Get your copies from Amazon and dive deep into ancient and modern Chinese culture.
Ancient China did not lack when it came to weaponry and resources used in war. They were always equipped with some of the best techniques to overcome any hurdles in war. The terracotta army is one of the biggest displays of soldiers anywhere in the world. This army is made out of clay but with great perfection. This display also shows the weapons and transportation modes that were used during that time. They had access to chariots and arrows and bows. They did not use wooden spears and mostly had bronze weapons. They were also the ones who introduced the crossbow in war. They could reach up to 200 meters and very easily pierced through armor. At this point, bronze was not in use, and mental working was established.
To protect their soldiers, the army needed something that was sturdy enough to make it through war but also maintained the soldier’s flexibility. This was when the combination of metal and leather was established. They overlapped metal and leather in small pieces and attached them to cloth. Individual leather armors were lacquered in order to maintain a sturdy exterior.
The Chinese dynasties lasted for a great amount of time and were able to conquer vast pieces of land for a long period of time.