Zhou Dynasty

The Zhou began as a semi-nomadic tribe that lived to the west of the Shang Kingdom. Due to their nomadic ways, they learned how to work with people of different cultures. After a time, they settled in the Wei River valley, where they became vassals of the Shang. The Zhou eventually became stronger than the Shang, and in about 1040 B.C. They defeated the Shang in warfare. They built their capital in Xi'an. Part of their success was the result of gaining the allegiance of disaffected city-states. The Shang were also weakened due to their constant warfare with people to the north. 

Traditional Chinese history says that the Zhou were able to take over the Shang because the Shang had degenerated morally. Part of this belief may have been caused by the Zhou themselves, who are credited with the idea of the Mandate of Heaven. The Zhou used this idea to validate their takeover and subsequent ruling of the former Shang kingdom. The Mandate of Heaven says that Heaven, or tian, places the mandate, tianming, to rule on any family that is morally worthy of the responsibility. Also, the only way to know if the Mandate of Heaven had been removed from the ruling family was if they were overthrown. If the ruler is overthrown, then the victors had the Mandate of Heaven. 

The Zhou adopted much of the Shang lifestyle and often importing Shang families or communities to new towns they built to utilize the knowledge of the Shang artisans. The bronze vessels of the Zhou are nearly identical with those of the Shang. The Zhou also adopted much of the Shang writing system, rituals, and administration techniques. The Zhou however, began a different form of governing, which was basically feudal. Land was given to people in elaborate ceremonies. The landowners became vassals to the king. Descent became patriarchal, from father to son, rather than from eldest brother to youngest brother as practiced by the Shang. 

The Zhou, despite transporting the Shang to their cities for their skills, did not want to live directly with the Shang. Their capital was divided into two sections, one for the Zhou, which contained the imperial court, and the other half for the transported Shang. Other Zhou cities exhibit this same characteristic. However, this was the only major change in cities from the Shang Dynasty to the Zhou Dynasty. Otherwise, the houses remained the same as in the Shang Dynasty. 

The Zhou also brought their religion with them. They banned human sacrifice. They practiced the cult of Heaven. The worship of sun and stars was the most important thing. Some of the popular Shang gods became incorporated into this system. They were lesser gods, and served as feudal lords to the Heaven-god. 

The Zhou Dynasty is divided into sub periods. The first is the Western Zhou, which occurs from the time of their victory over the Shang until about 771 B.C. when they were forced east by barbarians from the north. The king was killed but his son was saved and moved east where a new capital was formed in Luoyang. This began the period known as the Eastern Zhou. The Eastern Zhou is further divided into two time periods, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. The Spring and Autumn Period occurred from about 770-476 B.C. During this time, the Zhou emperor steadily lost power due to the realization by the feudal lords that he was not powerful and could be beaten, which had been proven by the defeat in the west. The second half, the Warring States Period, is so named because of the power struggle between the large states of China that were trying to gain control over the entire area. It lasted from about 475 - 221 B.C. 

This time period of the Warring States is considered the classical age, it was a time of great philosophers. This cultural flowering is sometimes called the One Hundred Schools Period. Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism developed during this time. Of these three, Legalism had the most immediate effect, as it was the philosophy that the Qin, the next dynasty used as the basis of their rule. Some of the most memorable poetry and prose were also written during this time. Other advances included the writing down of the laws, an increase in market places, and a money economy. The development of iron, and tools made of iron, greatly increased agriculture and thus population exploded.

Kings of the Zhou Dynasty 

The rulers of the Zhou dynasty were titled Wang (王, literally “king”) like the Shang rulers before them. The position is normally translated into English as "king". In addition to these rulers, King Wu's immediate ancestors – Danfu, Jili, and Wen – are also referred to as "Kings of Zhou", despite having been nominal vassals of the Shang kings.

NB: Dates in Chinese history before the first year of the Gonghe Regency in 841 BC are contentious and vary by source. Those below are those published by Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project and Edward L. Shaughnessy's The Absolute Absolute chronology of the Western Zhou Dynasty.

  Personal Name

  Posthumous Name

  Reign Period

Fa

周武王

King Wu of Zhou

1046 BC–1043 BC

1045 BC-1043 BC

Song

周成王

King Cheng of Zhou

1042 BC–1021 BC

1042/1035 BC-1006 BC

Zhao

周康王

King Kang of Zhou

1020 BC–996 BC

1005/1003 BC-978 BC

Xia

周昭王

King Zhao of Zhou

995 BC–977 BC

977/975 BC-957 BC

滿

Man

周穆王

King Mu of Zhou

976 BC–922 BC

956 BC-918 BC

繄扈

Yihu

周共王/周龔王

King Gong of Zhou

922 BC–900 BC

917/915 BC-900 BC

Jian

周懿王

King Yi of Zhou

899 BC–892 BC

899/897 BC-873 BC

辟方

Pifang

周孝王

King Xiao of Zhou

891 BC–886 BC

872 BC?-866 BC

Xie

周夷王

King Yi of Zhou

885 BC–878 BC

865 BC-858 BC

Hu

周厲王/周剌王

King Li of Zhou

877 BC–841 BC

857/853 BC-842/828 BC

共和

Gonghe Regency

841 BC828 BC

Jing

周宣王

King Xuan of Zhou

827 BC782 BC

宮湦

Gongsheng

周幽王

King You of Zhou

781 BC771 BC

  End of Western Zhou / Beginning of Eastern Zhou

宜臼

Yijiu

周平王

King Ping of Zhou

770 BC720 BC

Lin

周桓王

King Huan of Zhou

719 BC697 BC

Lin

周桓王

King Huan of Zhou

719 BC697 BC

Tuo

周莊王

King Zhuang of Zhou

696 BC682 BC

胡齊

Huqi

周釐王

King Xi of Zhou

        681 BC677 BC

Lang

周惠王

King Hui of Zhou

676 BC652 BC

Zheng

周襄王

King Xiang of Zhou

651 BC619 BC

壬臣

Renchen

周頃王

King Qing of Zhou

618 BC613 BC

Ban

周匡王

King Kuang of Zhou

612 BC607 BC

Yu

周定王

King Ding of Zhou

606 BC586 BC

Yi

周簡王

King Jian of Zhou

585 BC572 BC

泄心

Xiexin

周靈王

King Ling of Zhou

571 BC545 BC

Gui

周景王

King Jing of Zhou

544 BC521 BC

Meng

周悼王

King Dao of Zhou

520 BC

Gai

周敬王

King Jing of Zhou

519 BC476 BC

Ren

周元王

King Yuan of Zhou

475 BC469 BC

Jie

周貞定王

King Zhending of Zhou

468 BC442 BC

去疾

Quji

周哀王

King Ai of Zhou

        441 BC

Shu

周思王

King Si of Zhou

        441 BC

Wei

周考王

King Kao of Zhou

440 BC426 BC

Wu

周威烈王

King Weilie of Zhou

425 BC402 BC

Jiao

周安王

 King An of Zhou

401 BC376 BC

Xi

周烈王

 King Lie of Zhou

375 BC369 BC

Bian

周顯王

 King Xian of Zhou

368 BC321 BC

Ding

周慎靚王

King Shenjing of Zhou

320 BC315 BC

Yan

周赧王

 King Nan of Zhou

314 BC256 BC


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