Wei (state)

The Wei (simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese: 魏) was a state during the Warring States Period in China. Its territory lied between the states of Qin and Qi and included modern areas in Henan, Hebei and Shanxi and Shandong. After its capital was moved from Anyi to Daliang (modern Kaifeng) during the reign of King Hui of Wei, Wei was also called the state of Liang.

The state reached its height during the reigns of its first two rulers, Marquis Wen of Wei and Marquis Wu of Wei. King Hui of Wei, the third ruler, concentrated in economical developments including irrigation projects at the Yellow River. Nevertheless its slow decline began with King Hui. Wei's advancement in the east was checked several times in series of battles including the Battle of Maling. In the west it lost the Xihe region (a pastoral and strategic area on the west bank of the Yellow River at the border of today Shanxi and Shaanxi province) to Qin, continuously under invasions from Qin thereafter.

Military prowess of Qin broke the coalition forces of the states of Wei and Han at the Battle of Yique after which both states would no longer muster enough forces to face Qin in any major operation.