Overview
The Zhou dynasty was founded by King Wen of the Ji family in 1076 BC, after the Shang dynasty came to an end. The dynasty’s east coast borders were to the left of the Pacific Ocean. Zhou Dynasty is defined by a unique social hierarchy, standardized spoken language, and lengthy time of reign. It would prove to be very influential because of the power that it gave to military leaders. The dynasty was also the beginning of China’s Iron Age. The Iron Age influenced future leaders to use military force to introduce the Mandate of Heaven. This created a new standard and expectation of future rulers because people thought that the actions of these rulers were very connected (in success and failure) with the gods. This, although it was important to the structure of the Zhou, was another factor in the downfall of the Zhou.
Social
During the Zhou Dynasty, women were inferior to men and had no use to the society, but to bare baby boys. The lady of the house had to do what the husband and her sons say without complaint. A woman had no respect from her husband, her sons, her in-laws or her parents. There was a woman who stood out during the Zhou dynasty, the Maiden of the Southern Forest. She was not a leader or a political person, but she was a master swordsmen and men came to her for her training and she was a big influence during her time.
During the Western Zhou Dynasty people honored family relationships and stressed social status distinctions. The early Western Kings did not attempt to exert direct control over the entire territory they had conquered. They secured their position by selecting loyal supporters and relatives to rule walled towns and the surrounding territories. Each of these local rulers was generally able to pass his position on to a son, so that in time the domain became a hereditary vassal state. Within each state, there were noble houses holding hereditary titles. The rulers of the states and the members of the nobility were linked to one another and to their ancestors by bonds of obligation based on kinship. Below the nobility were the officers and the peasants, both of which were also hereditary statuses. The relationship between each level and its superiors was conceived as a moral one. Peasants served their superiors, and their superiors looked after the peasants' welfare. Social interaction at the upper levels was governed by a set of complex rules of social etiquette and personal conduct. Those who practiced proper rules were considered civilized; those who did not, such as those outside the Zhou territory, were considered barbarians.
Political
The early leaders of the Zhou Dynasty introduced the idea of the "Mandate of Heaven".This concept taught that the leaders gained their authority to rule from the gods. They believed that when the Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty, this was because the Shang had become tyrants and the gods allowed them fall. The government of the Zhou was based on the feudal system. The emperor divided the land into fiefs that were usually ruled by his relatives. The nobles who ruled the fiefs basically owned the farmers who worked their lands.Regional feudal states similar to Shang Ruled as coordinators rather than as a central govt. military force determined strength of rulers Conflict led to decline into the "Period of the Warring States" (403-221 B.C.). Introduced Mandate of Heaven Mandate of Heaven Principles: right to rule is granted by Heaven. only one Heaven so only one ruler in China. right to rule depends on the virtue of the ruler. Advantages: It gives the ruler supreme power politically and religiously power kept in check by virtue. The Mandate of Heaven justifies rebellion as long as the rebellion is successful.
Interaction
Several technological advances occurred in China during this period. One was the invention of cast iron. This enabled strong and durable iron tools and weapons to be manufactured. Other important innovations included crop rotation which allowed more efficient use of the land and the addition of soybeans as a major crop
Cultural
The Zhou Dynasty reigned for more than 800 years with 37 kings. It was the longest period of all Chinese dynasties. The Zhou reign falls into several sub-periods: the Western Zhou, the Eastern Zhou (which is further divided into the Spring and Autumn Period 770 B.C. – 476 B.C.) and the Warring States Period (475 B.C. – 256 B.C.).
The Kings Wen and Wu were the founders of the this Dynasty. They were renowned as the ideal monarchs by the Confucians, for they reined with morality, humanity and righteousness. The Zhou reign was a turning point in Chinese history for it evolved into the feudal system and witnessed territorial expansion, economic prosperity and cultural flourishing.
The Zhou Dynasty was characterized by great intellectual achievements in terms of the rise of Confucianism, Daoism and the development of Chinese philosophy. Confucius, the founder of Confucianism and Laozi, the founder of Daoism, together with other philosophers and theorists such as Mencius, Mozi and Zhuangzi, Han Feizi, Hunzi, etc., made an unprecedented huge impact on Chinese culture.
The Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods are famous for the cultural prosperity with the “Hundred Schools of Thought”. During this era, many poets voiced their opinions of criticism and emotions – many of which were preserved in the Book of Poetry, the first important book of literature in Chinese history.
The concept of the ruler as the “Son of Heaven”, originated during the Zhou period and the concept of the “mandate of heaven” gained popularity. It was believed that the emperor ruled by divine right and his dethronement would prove that he had lost the mandate. It was thought that Heaven expressed disapproval of evil rulers through natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, plagues and rebellions.
Economic
Economy of Zhou Dynasty was based on agriculture. The lands of the lords were taken care of peasants. (From previous material, we know that peasants are usually at the lower-end of the social class). After the Zhou Dynasty was forced to flee to the East, economy grew rapidly. Iron-tipped oxdrawn plows improved irrigation techniques. Increased irrigation led to increase in the agricultural abundance of food, which in turn increased the population. With the increase in population came greater wealth, and people started to become merchants and traders. With the explosion of the merchant and trader class, their was a huge improvement in communication.
The Spring and Autumn Period
The first part of the Eastern Zhou is called the Spring and Autumn period. During this period the lords of the states became somewhat independent and didn't really follow the king. They did what they wanted and often fought amongst each other. By the end of this period many of the lords had conquered each other to where there were only seven main states.
The Zhou dynasty was founded by King Wen of the Ji family in 1076 BC, after the Shang dynasty came to an end. The dynasty’s east coast borders were to the left of the Pacific Ocean. Zhou Dynasty is defined by a unique social hierarchy, standardized spoken language, and lengthy time of reign. It would prove to be very influential because of the power that it gave to military leaders. The dynasty was also the beginning of China’s Iron Age. The Iron Age influenced future leaders to use military force to introduce the Mandate of Heaven. This created a new standard and expectation of future rulers because people thought that the actions of these rulers were very connected (in success and failure) with the gods. This, although it was important to the structure of the Zhou, was another factor in the downfall of the Zhou.
Social
During the Zhou Dynasty, women were inferior to men and had no use to the society, but to bare baby boys. The lady of the house had to do what the husband and her sons say without complaint. A woman had no respect from her husband, her sons, her in-laws or her parents. There was a woman who stood out during the Zhou dynasty, the Maiden of the Southern Forest. She was not a leader or a political person, but she was a master swordsmen and men came to her for her training and she was a big influence during her time.
During the Western Zhou Dynasty people honored family relationships and stressed social status distinctions. The early Western Kings did not attempt to exert direct control over the entire territory they had conquered. They secured their position by selecting loyal supporters and relatives to rule walled towns and the surrounding territories. Each of these local rulers was generally able to pass his position on to a son, so that in time the domain became a hereditary vassal state. Within each state, there were noble houses holding hereditary titles. The rulers of the states and the members of the nobility were linked to one another and to their ancestors by bonds of obligation based on kinship. Below the nobility were the officers and the peasants, both of which were also hereditary statuses. The relationship between each level and its superiors was conceived as a moral one. Peasants served their superiors, and their superiors looked after the peasants' welfare. Social interaction at the upper levels was governed by a set of complex rules of social etiquette and personal conduct. Those who practiced proper rules were considered civilized; those who did not, such as those outside the Zhou territory, were considered barbarians.
Political
The early leaders of the Zhou Dynasty introduced the idea of the "Mandate of Heaven".This concept taught that the leaders gained their authority to rule from the gods. They believed that when the Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty, this was because the Shang had become tyrants and the gods allowed them fall. The government of the Zhou was based on the feudal system. The emperor divided the land into fiefs that were usually ruled by his relatives. The nobles who ruled the fiefs basically owned the farmers who worked their lands.Regional feudal states similar to Shang Ruled as coordinators rather than as a central govt. military force determined strength of rulers Conflict led to decline into the "Period of the Warring States" (403-221 B.C.). Introduced Mandate of Heaven Mandate of Heaven Principles: right to rule is granted by Heaven. only one Heaven so only one ruler in China. right to rule depends on the virtue of the ruler. Advantages: It gives the ruler supreme power politically and religiously power kept in check by virtue. The Mandate of Heaven justifies rebellion as long as the rebellion is successful.
Interaction
Several technological advances occurred in China during this period. One was the invention of cast iron. This enabled strong and durable iron tools and weapons to be manufactured. Other important innovations included crop rotation which allowed more efficient use of the land and the addition of soybeans as a major crop
Cultural
The Zhou Dynasty reigned for more than 800 years with 37 kings. It was the longest period of all Chinese dynasties. The Zhou reign falls into several sub-periods: the Western Zhou, the Eastern Zhou (which is further divided into the Spring and Autumn Period 770 B.C. – 476 B.C.) and the Warring States Period (475 B.C. – 256 B.C.).
The Kings Wen and Wu were the founders of the this Dynasty. They were renowned as the ideal monarchs by the Confucians, for they reined with morality, humanity and righteousness. The Zhou reign was a turning point in Chinese history for it evolved into the feudal system and witnessed territorial expansion, economic prosperity and cultural flourishing.
The Zhou Dynasty was characterized by great intellectual achievements in terms of the rise of Confucianism, Daoism and the development of Chinese philosophy. Confucius, the founder of Confucianism and Laozi, the founder of Daoism, together with other philosophers and theorists such as Mencius, Mozi and Zhuangzi, Han Feizi, Hunzi, etc., made an unprecedented huge impact on Chinese culture.
The Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods are famous for the cultural prosperity with the “Hundred Schools of Thought”. During this era, many poets voiced their opinions of criticism and emotions – many of which were preserved in the Book of Poetry, the first important book of literature in Chinese history.
The concept of the ruler as the “Son of Heaven”, originated during the Zhou period and the concept of the “mandate of heaven” gained popularity. It was believed that the emperor ruled by divine right and his dethronement would prove that he had lost the mandate. It was thought that Heaven expressed disapproval of evil rulers through natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, plagues and rebellions.
Economic
Economy of Zhou Dynasty was based on agriculture. The lands of the lords were taken care of peasants. (From previous material, we know that peasants are usually at the lower-end of the social class). After the Zhou Dynasty was forced to flee to the East, economy grew rapidly. Iron-tipped oxdrawn plows improved irrigation techniques. Increased irrigation led to increase in the agricultural abundance of food, which in turn increased the population. With the increase in population came greater wealth, and people started to become merchants and traders. With the explosion of the merchant and trader class, their was a huge improvement in communication.
The Spring and Autumn Period
The first part of the Eastern Zhou is called the Spring and Autumn period. During this period the lords of the states became somewhat independent and didn't really follow the king. They did what they wanted and often fought amongst each other. By the end of this period many of the lords had conquered each other to where there were only seven main states.