中英雙語話史記 第30期:戰國時期
The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period
春秋戰國時期
Warring States Period
戰國時期
After long-term wars, seven kingdoms, namely Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei and Qin, appeared as the most powerful states in this period, known as the “Seven Overlords” in history.
經過長期的戰爭，齊，楚，燕，韓，趙，魏、秦，戰國時期內最強大的國家，史稱“戰國七雄”。
To expand their forces and territories, the seven overlords, on the one hand, carried out reforms in their own states to strengthen themselves and,
爲了擴大自己的勢力範圍和領土，這七大國一方面對內實行改革，使自己更大強大，
on the other, were warring against each other and scheming to annex other states, which gave rise to the situation of seven powerful states existing side by side and struggling against each other.
另一方面對外交戰，意圖兼併他國，這導致了戰國七雄相互歌劇混戰的局面。
Qin, situated in the remote west, used to be a vassal state enfeoffed by King Ping for Qin Xianggong’s contribution of escorting the king on his move east.
秦，位於西部偏遠，曾經是周平王因秦襄公護送東遷有功而冊封給他的諸侯國。
During the Spring and Autumn Period, Qin Mugong annexed twelve states, largely expanding his territory, making himself an overlord.
在春秋戰國時期，秦穆公吞併十二個國家，極大地擴大了自己的領土，使其成爲一代霸主。
During the Warring States Period, Qin, because of its outlying position, was more backward than the states in the Central Plains.
在戰國時期，由於秦國偏遠的地形，其相較於中原諸國落後的多。
When Qin Xiaogong was in power, Shangyang, an aristocratic descendant of the Wei kingdom, was entrusted by the monarch to carry out a series of reforms in 359 BC and 350 BC to strengthen the power of Qin.
秦孝公當政時，商鞅，衛國的貴族後裔，在公元前359年至公元前350年奉命開展了一系列的改革，以加強秦國的實力。
Shangyang’s reforms include abolishing the outdated well-field system, legalizing the private ownership of land, canceling the hereditary system of rank and initiating a county system.
商鞅變法包括廢除過時的井田制，使土地私有制合法化，取消職級的世襲制，改用縣制。
In addition, Qin also paid attention to the development of agriculture.
此外，秦還重視農業的發展。
Around 250 BC, Libing, a governor of Shu prefecture (present Sichuan Province), together with his son, directed the construction of Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, which not only controlled flooding but also irrigated the whole Chengdu Plain.
大約在公元前250年，李冰，蜀地的省長（現四川省），與其兒子一道，領導了都江堰水利工程的建造，它不僅控制了洪水的泛濫，同時還灌溉了整個成都平原。
Qin, based on the reforms and improvements, quickly became a powerful state, laying a solid foundation for the future unification of China by Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
秦在改革進步的基礎上迅速成爲一個實力強大的國家，爲日後秦始皇統一中國奠定了堅實的基礎。
At the end of Warring States, the royal house of Eastern Zhou existed in name only. In 256 BC, Qin dispatched army and defeated the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.
在戰國末期，東周王室名存實亡。公元前256年，秦出動軍隊，打敗東周。
Before long, after King Yingzheng succeeded to the throne, he expedited his project of annexation and finally in 221 BC united China and established a unified, multinational, autocratic and power-centralized state, putting an end to the Waning States Period.
沒過多久，嬴政繼承王位後，他加快吞的步伐並最終在公元前221年統一中國，建立起一個統一的多民族的專制集權的國家，結束了戰國時期。
At the end of Western Han Dynasty (206 BC—24 AD), Liu Xiang, based on the information about this period, compiled a book and named it the History of Warring States according to the character of this period. Later generations then named this chaotic era the Warring States Period.
在西漢末期（公元前206年至公元24年），劉向在有關這一時期的資料的基礎上，根據這一時期的特點，將史料編撰成書《戰國策敘錄》。後人遂將這個混亂的時代命名爲戰國時期。
