In the Warring States period, "Jun" and "Hou" were two common noble titles, and the differences and status between them have always been an important issue for historians to study.

First, we need to clarify the definitions of "Jun" and "Hou". "Jun" generally referred to the monarchs of vassal states, who had their own territories and armies, were autonomous internally, and externally recognized the patriarchal authority of the King of Zhou. On the other hand, "Hou" was a rank granted by the King of Zhou, who enjoyed a certain degree of autonomy within their own territories but still had to obey the rule of the King of Zhou.

From the definition, it seems that the status of "Jun" is higher. Because "Jun" was the monarch of a vassal state, they had greater power and autonomy. Although "Hou" also had some power, they were still subjects of the King of Zhou and had to obey his commands.

However, the actual situation was not so simple. In the Warring States period, with the decline of the Zhou royal family, the power of the vassal states gradually increased, and their monarchs gradually broke away from the control of the King of Zhou, becoming true monarchs in the literal sense. On the other hand, those who were granted the title of "Hou", although nominally still subjects of the King of Zhou, also gained increasing power within their own territories.

Therefore, from the perspective of actual power, there was no absolute hierarchy between "Jun" and "Hou". Their status depended more on the strength of their respective powers, rather than their titles.

Overall, the status of "Jun" and "Hou" in the Warring States period was not determined by their titles, but by their strength. This period was a tumultuous time in Chinese history, and also a period of intensified social conflicts. The struggle for status between "Jun" and "Hou" during this period was a manifestation of these conflicts.

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