Dominions 3: The Awakening/Nations/T'ien Ch'i

Spring and Autumn (Early Age)
The Spring and Autumn period ranges from approximately 722 BC to 481 BC -- before the Qin kingdom unified the area and started the first Imperial dynasty over all China.

While details are not clear, one may expect the nation to include both humans and demons. The latter are not evil hellspawn in the Western sense, but fantastic, frequently humanoid entities who may have their own role assigned by the Celestial Bureaucracy. Human masters of this period may aspire to such abilities as flight, alchemy, command over the elements, or even immortality.

Imperial Bureaucracy (Middle Age)
The Imperial Bureacracy period reflects the long period of, well, Imperial bureacracy that followed the unification of China and the construction of the law codes (see the writings of Lord Shang for examples). Much as the Taoist cosmology of the period held the Heavens to be ruled by an Emperor but administered with a vast bureaucracy, the Empire was heavily organized and hiearchical with a civil service.

One difference that between the Game and historical China is that, the Confucism and its disciples gradually increased their influence, and soon it becomed the othodox throughout the whole empire. As a result the Taoists played a much less important role than the one in the game.

While a scholar who passed the civil service examinations would be regarded quite highly, the empire was not unaware of the utility of organized, standing armies. Cavalry and chariots make their appearance here, as do well-trained Imperial footmen and archers. They may lack the heavy steel of Ulm, or the fantasticly powerful giants of Jotunheim, but they are formidable, nonetheless.

Barbarian Kings (Late Age)
While the Chinese traditionally regarded all their neighbors as barbarians, their neighbors to the north can not be discounted. The Mongols and later the Manchus continually threatened and then eventually conquered Imperial China.

By the middle of the 13th century AD, the Mongols had established one of the largest empires the world has ever seen, using large, very mobile, highly organized and well-trained armies commanded by leaders who had earned their place. The Mongols were known for allowing local autonomy and demanding only tribute from those who yielded -- and obliterating cities which resisted.

The Manchu conquest of China began in the 17th century during the Ming Dynasty, and their rule continued into the early 20th century.

Given this background, one can expect a heavy emphasis on cavalry, including mounted archers, and a lower weight on the arcane secrets of the Daoists.

Inspiration
T'ien Chi is based heavily on Chinese legends and history.

One might want to read the classic 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' for a novelization of the Three Kingdoms period from 220-280 AD, starting at the decline of the Han dynasty. The perfect leader will have the strategic genius of Zhūgě Liàng, the ferocity of Zhāng Fēi, and the steadfastness of Guān Yǔ (later addressed as 'Guandi').

For more heroic legends, see the novel variously known as either 'Outlaws of the Marsh' or 'Water Margin', concerning 108 outlaws during the 12th century AD.

And for myth legends there is 'Journey to the West', concerning the storty of Tang Sanzang (Táng Sānzàng, means 'an honorable monk came from Dynasty Tang', or a more formal name 'Tang Xuanzhuang') and his three disciples Sun Wukong (The Monkey King), Zhu Wuneng (more commonly called 'Zhu Bajie' or the Pig Guy, later becomes the Server of Heaven) and Sha Wujing (another name 'Sha Heshang' or Monk Sha).

Both the warfare theory and practical wars of Chinese history place the usage of bows an important place. Shooting as well as ridingThe are two of the 'six skills ('liu yi')', which are considerd essential skills of a noble. A qualified general usually should also be a good bow user. A representative formation of Chinese ancient army should always contains plenty of archers. In many literatures armymen (both officers and soldiers) are even described as 'people who taking bows ('kongxian zhi shi')'.