During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, "a hundred schools of thought contend" appeared in military art, and thinkers and politicians of various schools expressed their opinions on the issue of war: Confucianism's thoughts of benevolence and righteousness, having enough food, raising enough soldiers and attaching importance to training; Mohist thought of rest and attention to weapons and military engineering; Legalists attach importance to cultivation, strength, politics and punishment; Taoist goodness is brave, weakness is stronger than strength, if you retreat.
During the Warring States period, the military theoretical system established by Sun Tzu's Art of War was further enriched and improved. For example, Woods' analysis of a general's qualities, Liu Tao's exposition of the organization of the army, the selection of generals and the cooperation between infantry and cavalry, and Sun Bin's exposition of the methods of offensive and defensive warfare on the city wall further filled the gaps in previous military theories.
These military works mark the maturity of the feudal landlord class's military thought, and many viewpoints expounded reveal the basic laws of war, which still have important enlightenment and guiding significance for contemporary military activities.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period from 770 BC to 22 1 BC, the society was in turmoil and change from slavery to feudalism, wars for hegemony, mergers and unification occurred frequently, and ancient military thoughts became mature.
During this period, iron weapons gradually became the main battle weapons, and the military structure changed greatly. Infantry has replaced chariots as the main arms, and cavalry has also become an important combat force in the Central Plains. The scale of the war has expanded, the methods of warfare have increased, and strategies and tactics have developed. War guidance pays more attention to the strategic application of combining military, politics and diplomacy.