Battle of Chengpu

Part of the Spring and Autumn period

Date	632 BC
Location	vicinity of Chenliu, Henan or the southwest of Juancheng County, Shandong
Result	Decisive Jin victory

Belligerents

Jin, Qi, Qin, Song

Chu, Chen, Cai, Shen, Xi

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 (simplified Chinese: 城濮之战; traditional Chinese: 城濮之戰) took place in 632 BC between the State of Jin and the State of Chu and its allies during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. It was the first great battle in the protracted conflict between the states of the Yellow River valley, and the states of the Yangtze River valley. The Jin victory confirmed the hegemony of Duke Wen and checked Chu ambitions in the north for at least a generation.

Following the death of Duke Huan of Qi in 643 BC, the state of Chu steadily extended its influence northward, absorbing half a dozen smaller states as its satellites. In 636 BC, Chong'er, a ducal prince of Jin, after spending fifteen years in exile traveling throughout numerous states, came to power as Duke Wen of Jin with the help of Duke Mu of Qin. Duke Wen assumed a position of leadership among the states and instituted numerous domestic reforms.

In the years leading up to 632 BC, conflict between Jin and Chu became increasingly public and was characterised by frequent shifts in alliances between the various small states that lay in a narrow band of land between the two larger states.

King Cheng of Chu struck at the State of Song, the ally of Jin most accessible from the south, in the winter of 633 BCE. In retaliation, an expeditionary force under Duke Wen marched south in the spring of the following year and occupied the States of Wei and Cao, both satellites of Chu. The two sides sought out alliances in the following months. The States of Shen, Xi, Chen and Cai, all immediately contiguous to Chu, sided with King Cheng, as well as the more distant State of Lu.

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