“THIS WAS THE TIME WHEN SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHINESE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT SUCH AS DAOISM, CONFUCIANISM AND LEGALISM WERE BORN.”
Shang Dynasty art.
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Origins of Zhou DynastyThe people were Chinese-speaking descendants from the Longshan Neolithic culture. The people migrated to the westernmost agricultural valley of North China, the lower Wei River alley (modern day Shaanxi province) as they shifted away from barbarian pressures.
The Shang style of agriculture was then developed. They also built a city called the ‘Plain of Zhou’ where the dynasty’s name originated from. The Shang dynasty saw the Zhou as “semi-barbarous country cousins” and for many years, the two coexisted together. |
King Wen of Zhou
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The fist important historical figure is King Wen. King Wen became the king in 1099 BC. He was regarded as the epitome of benevolence and wisdom as he masterminded an ambitious plan to undermine the authority of the Shang - developed alliances with neighbouring chiefs that helped the Zhou military conquest. The Shang dynasty often saw King Wen as a threat and imprisoned him in the city of Youli but was released through ransom. |
King Wu of Zhou
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After his death in 1056 BC, King Wu (Wen’s second son) accomplished Wen’s unfinished task of overthrowing the Shang dynasty and built a capital named Haojing. He led an army of 50,000 to battle against the Shang’s 700,000, which is known as the Battle of Muye. King Wu’s defeat led to the Shang King’s suicide which ended the Shang dynasty and began the Zhou Dynasty, with King Wu as the first king.
The Mandate of Heaven
The “Mandate of Heaven”is the ancient Chinese philosophical concept used by the Zhou dynasty to justify their authority over the deceased Shang dynasty. They advocated the concept that the leaders gained their authority to rule from the gods.
The Mandate of Heaven
The “Mandate of Heaven”is the ancient Chinese philosophical concept used by the Zhou dynasty to justify their authority over the deceased Shang dynasty. They advocated the concept that the leaders gained their authority to rule from the gods.
Western Zhou Dynasty
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The period of the Zhou dynasty is separated into two periods: the Western Zhou dynasty (c. 1046-771 BC) and the Eastern Zhou (770-256 BC). The Western Zhou was the first period of the Zhou dynasty. The Zhou dynasty was never a united kingdom: military and political control spreaded over the surrounding farming villages. Any local leader who defied the Zhou system was punished by the army and the regional representatives were closely monitored.
The Western Zhou dynasty ended in 771 BC with the death of King You. There were a few corruptions with King You which eventually led to his death. Also, during this period, the kings’ power was starting to weaken. King Ping, who was King You’s son moved to eastern Zhou, from Hoaxing to Luoyang where the period of Eastern Zhou began. Fengjian Fengjian is the feudalistic system of the Zhou dynasty. It resembles medieval Europe’s feudalism with the difference that the rulers were unified by kinship ties. Emperors divided land into “fiefs” (fiefdom: a piece of land owned by a lord who allowed a vassal to use it according to their feudal contract). The divided land was ruled in a feudalistic manner by the nobles under the authority of the king. The nobles who ruled their own fiefs became increasingly independent as these fiefs turned into small states. The Eastern Zhou dynasty is also divided into two periods: the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). During this period, there was a visible growing warfare between the small Chinese states. |
Spring and Autumn Period
During the Spring and Autumn Period, many of the state lords acted on their own as the King was not as influential. They often quarrelled amongst themselves, many of the lords seized each other’s states which eventually left the nation with only seven main states. It was a time of violence and social conflicts: military conflict escalated, civil wars and assassinations of rulers. The trading market expanded, money and goods circulated and rich merchants were benefitted. It was also during this time that arts and philosophy flourished in China like never before. The most important Chinese schools of thought such as Daoism, Confucianism and Legalism were born. Warring States Period The Warring States Period began around 475 BC which stayed until the decline of the Zhou dynasty. The Seven Warring States of Qin, Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao and Wei. During this period, there were many conflicts between the states as it was definite that they would compete against one another until there was only one dominant state. |
Battle of Chengpu, 632 BC. It was a battle between the State of Jin and the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period.
The 7 States of Qin, Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao and Wei.during the period
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King Qin Shi Huang, first emperor of the Qin Dynasty.
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Last Days of Zhou
The Warring States period ended when the state army of Qin, led by Qin Shi Huang occupied the city of Chengzhou in 256 BCE and the last emperor of Zhou, King Nan, was also killed. By this period, Shi Huang had already seized the other 6 states. This led to the establishment of the Qin dynasty with Qin Shi Huang being the emperor of united China. Qin Shi Huang's famous Terracotta Warriors.
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