Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty, which lasted from approximately 1066 to 256 BCE, is a significant period in ancient Chinese history, characterized by its division into two main parts: the Western Zhou and the Eastern Zhou. The Western Zhou era began when the Zhou tribe, a seminomadic group from the Wei Valley, overthrew the last ruler of the Shang Dynasty, establishing their capital in Hao, near present-day Xi'an. This period was marked by a feudal monarchy where power relied heavily on familial connections, and the Zhou kings expanded their territory through conquest and colonization.
In 771 BCE, the Zhou court faced a significant crisis when invading forces and rebellious lords sacked Hao, leading to the establishment of the Eastern Zhou, with its capital relocated to Luoyi, modern-day Luoyang. The Eastern Zhou is further divided into the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, reflecting a time of political fragmentation and intense conflict among various states. Notably, this era saw the emergence of foundational Chinese philosophies, including Confucianism and Daoism, alongside a rich development of recorded history through literary and historical documents. The Zhou Dynasty's legacy continues to influence Chinese culture and thought.
Zhou Dynasty
Related civilization: Late Neolithic China.
Also known as: Chou Dynasty (Wade-Giles).
Date: c. 1066-256 b.c.e.
Locale: China
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou (JOH) Dynasty is divided into two parts, the Western Zhou (1066-771 b.c.e.) and the Eastern Zhou (770-256 b.c.e.). The Western Zhou began when the last Shang Dynasty ruler was overthrown by a chieftain of the Zhou tribe, a seminomadic clan from the Wei Valley in modern Shaanxi Province. The Zhou established a capital in Hao, near modern Xi’an. The Western Zhou shared the language and culture of the Shang, and their government was a feudal monarchy in which effective control depended primarily on familial ties. Through conquest and colonization, the early Zhou kings gradually united and ruled over much of the region north of the Yangtze River.
In 771 b.c.e. invading barbarians and rebel lords sacked the Zhou court and killed its king. Hao was ruined and no longer habitable. The new ruler moved the capital to Luoyi, near modern Luoyang, Henan Province, starting the Eastern Zhou period. Because of the fragmentation of the kingdom and the diminished power of the Zhou court, Chinese historians divide the Eastern Zhou into two periods: the Spring and Autumn (770-476 b.c.e.) and the Warring States (475-221 b.c.e.). It was during the Eastern Zhou period that China’s recorded history took on its characteristic form, with the collections of documents and historical romances. It was also during this time that the decline of the ancient forms of religion and the transformation into Confucianism and Daoism took place.
Bibliography
Franke, Herbert, and Denis Twitchett. Alien Regimes and Border States. Vol. 6 in The Cambridge History of China. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
A Journey into China’s Antiquity: National Museum of Chinese History. Vol. 1. Beijing, China: Morning Glory, 1997.
Shaughnessy, Edward. Sources of Western Zhou History: Inscribed Bronze Vessels. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991.