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Zhou Dynasty

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{{dablink|Zhou Dynasty may also refer to Zhou Dynasty from 690 to 705 AD (see Empress Wu Zetian of China), or the Later Zhou Dynasty from 951 BC. to 690 AD.}} {{History_of_China}} The '''Zhou Dynasty''' ({{zh-cpw|c=å‘¨æœ?|p=zhÅ?u chÃ¡o|w=chou c'hao}}; 11th century BC to 256 BC) followed the Shang Dynasty Shang (Yin) Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty in China. The Zhou dynasty lasted longer than any other in China Chinese history, and the Iron Age use of iron was introduced to China during this time. The dynasty also spans the period in which the written script evolved from the ancient stage as seen in early Western Zhou bronze inscriptions, to the beginnings of the modern stage, in the form of the archaic clerical script of the late Warring States period.

Mandate of Heaven
In the Chinese historical tradition, the rulers of the Zhou displaced the Shang and legitimized their rule by invoking the Mandate of Heaven, the notion that the ruler (the "son of heaven") governed by divine right (granted by the Supreme God of Heaven) but that his dethronement would prove that he had lost the mandate. The doctrine explained and justified the demise of the Xia and Shang and at the same time supported the legitimacy of present and future rulers. The Zhou dynasty was founded by the Ji family and had its capital at Hao (near the present-day city of Xi'an). Sharing the language and culture of the Shang (Yin), the early Zhou rulers, through conquest and colonization, gradually sinicized, that is, extended Shang (Yin) culture through much of China Proper north of the Yangtze River. Image:China_2a.jpg left|thumb|Western Zhou civilization. Image:ZhouVase.JPG Zhou dynasty thumb|200px|Western [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou vase with glass inlays, 4th-3rd century BCE, British Museum..html" title="Meaning of Zhou.html" title="Meaning of thumb|200px|Western [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou">thumb|200px|Western [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou vase with glass inlays, 4th-3rd century BCE, British Museum.">Zhou.html" title="Meaning of thumb|200px|Western [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou">thumb|200px|Western [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou vase with glass inlays, 4th-3rd century BCE, British Museum.

FÄ“ngjiÃ n (å°?å»º)
In Western histories, the Zhou period is often described as feudal because the Zhou's early decentralized rule invites comparison with Middle Ages medieval rule in Europe. However, historians debate the meaning of the term ''feudal''; the more appropriate term for the Zhou Dynasty's political arrangement would be from the Chinese language itself: the ''FÄ“ngjiÃ n'' (å°?å»º) system. The Zhou amalgam of city-states became progressively centralized and established increasingly impersonal political and economic institutions. These developments, which probably occurred in the later Zhou period, were manifested in greater central control over local governments and a more routinized agrarian taxation.

Western and Eastern Zhou
Initially the Ji family was able to control the country firmly. In 771 BC, after King You of Zhou King You had replaced his queen with a concubine Baosi, the capital was sacked by the joint force of the queen's father, who was the powerful Marquess of Shen, and a nomadic tribe. The queen's son King Ping of Zhou Ji Yijiu was proclaimed the new king by the nobles from the states of Zheng (state) Zheng, Lu (state) LÃ¼, Qin (state) Qin and the Marquess of Shen. The capital was moved eastward in 722 BC to Luoyang in present-day Henan Province. Because of this shift, historians divide the Zhou era into '''Western Zhou''' (西周, pinyin Xī Zhōu) from late 10th century BC to late 9th century up until 771 BC and '''Eastern Zhou''' (Traditional Chinese: 東周 Simplified Chinese: 东周, pinyin: Dōng Zhōu) from 770 BC 770 up to 221 BC. The beginning year of Western Zhou has been disputed - 1122 BC, 1027 BC and other years within the hundred years from late 12th century BC to late 11th century BC have been proposed. Chinese historians take 841 BC as the first year of consecutive annual dating of the history of China, based on the ''Records of the Grand Historian'' by Sima Qian. Eastern Zhou divides into two subperiods. The first, from 722 BC 722 to 481 BC, is called the Spring and Autumn Period, after a famous historical chronicle of the time; the second is known as the Warring States Period.

Decline
With the royal line broken, the power of the Zhou court gradually diminished; the fragmentation of the kingdom accelerated. From Ping Wang onwards, the Zhou kings ruled in name only, with true power lying in the hands of powerful nobles. Towards the end of the Zhou Dynasty, the nobles did not even bother to acknowledge the Ji family symbolically and declared themselves to be kings. They wanted to be the king of the kings. Finally, the dynasty was obliterated by Qin Shi Huang's unification of China in 221 BC.

Agriculture
Agriculture in Zhou Dynasty was very intensive and in many cases directed by the government. All farming lands were owned by nobles, who then gave their land to their serfs, similar to European feudalism. For example, a piece of land was divided into nine squares in the shape of the character for "water well," jing (井), with the grain from the middle square taken by the government and that of surrounding squares kept by individual farmers. This way, the government was able to store surplus food and distribute them in times of famine or bad harvest. Some important manufacturing sectors during this period include bronze making, which was integral in making weapons and farming tools. Again, these industries were dominated by the nobility who direct the production of such materials.

Zhou dynasty kings
{| class="wikitable" !Personal name !Posthumous name !Reign years¹ !Name by which
most commonly known |- |Ji Chang
姬昌 |Wenwang
文王 |''?-1043 BC''¹ |Zhou Wenwang
(King Wen of Zhou) |- |Ji Fa
姬發 |Wuwang
武王 |''1046 BC-1043 BC''¹ |Zhou Wuwang
(King Wu of Zhou) |- |Ji Song
姬誦 |Chengwang
成王 |''1042 BC-1021 BC''¹ |Zhou Chengwang
(King Cheng of Zhou) |- |Ji Zhao
姬釗 |Kangwang
康王 |''1020 BC-996 BC''¹ |Zhou Kangwang
(King Kang of Zhou) |- |Ji Xia
姬瑕 |Zhaowang
昭王 |''995 BC-977 BC''¹ |Zhou Zhaowang
(King Zhao of Zhou) |- |Ji Man
姬滿 |Muwang
穆王 |''976 BC-922 BC''¹ |Zhou Muwang
(King Mu of Zhou) |- |Ji Yihu
姬繄扈 |Gongwang
共王 |''922 BC-900 BC''¹ |Zhou Gongwang
(King Gong of Zhou) |- |Ji Jian
姬囏 |Yiwang
懿王 |''899 BC-892 BC''¹ |Zhou Yiwang
(King Yi of Zhou (Ji Jian) King Yi of Zhou) |- |Ji Pifang
姬辟方 |Xiaowang
孝王 |''891 BC-886 BC''¹ |Zhou Xiaowang
(King Xiao of Zhou) |- |Ji Xie
姬燮 |Yiwang
夷王 |''885 BC-878 BC''¹ |Zhou Yiwang
(King Yi of Zhou (Ji Xie) King Yi of Zhou) |- |Ji Hu
姬胡 |Liwang
厲王 |''877 BC-841 BC''¹ |Zhou Liwang
(King Li of Zhou) |- |　 |Gonghe (''regency'')
共和 |841 BC-828 BC |Gonghe |- |Ji Jing
姬靜 |Xuanwang
宣王 |827 BC-782 BC |Zhou Xuanwang
(King Xuan of Zhou) |- |Ji Gongsheng
姬宮湦 |Youwang
幽王 |781 BC-771 BC |Zhou Youwang
(King You of Zhou) |- ! colspan="4" | End of Western Zhou / Beginning of Eastern Zhou |- |Ji Yijiu
姬宜臼 |Pingwang
平王 |770 BC-720 BC |Zhou Pingwang
(King Ping of Zhou) |- |Ji Lin
姬林 |Huanwang
桓王 |719 BC-697 BC |Zhou Huanwang
(King Huan of Zhou) |- |Ji Tuo
姬佗 |Zhuangwang
莊王 |696 BC-682 BC |Zhou Zhuangwang
(King Zhuang of Zhou) |- |Ji Huqi
姬胡齊 |Xiwang
釐王 |681 BC-677 BC |Zhou Xiwang
(King Xi of Zhou) |- |Ji Lang
姬閬 |Huiwang
惠王 |676 BC-652 BC |Zhou Huiwang
(King Hui of Zhou) |- |Ji Zheng
姬鄭 |Xiangwang
襄王 |651 BC-619 BC |Zhou Xiangwang
(King Xiang of Zhou) |- |Ji Renchen
姬壬臣 |Qingwang
頃王 |618 BC-613 BC |Zhou Qingwang
(King Qing of Zhou) |- |Ji Ban
姬班 |Kuangwang
匡王 |612 BC-607 BC |Zhou Kuangwang
(King Kuang of Zhou) |- |Ji Yu
姬瑜 |Dingwang
定王 |606 BC-586 BC |Zhou Dingwang
(King Ding of Zhou) |- |Ji Yi
姬夷 |Jianwang
簡王 |585 BC-572 BC |Zhou Jianwang
(King Jian of Zhou) |- |Ji Xiexin
姬泄心 |Lingwang
靈王 |571 BC-545 BC |Zhou Lingwang
(King Ling of Zhou) |- |Ji Gui
姬貴 |Jingwang
景王 |544 BC-521 BC |Zhou Jingwang
(King Jing of Zhou (Ji Gui) King Jing of Zhou) |- |Ji Meng
姬猛 |Daowang
悼王 |520 BC |Zhou Daowang
(King Dao of Zhou) |- |Ji Gai
姬丐 |Jingwang
敬王 |519 BC-476 BC |Zhou Jingwang
(King Jing of Zhou (Ji Gai) King Jing of Zhou) |- |Ji Ren
姬仁 |Yuanwang
元王 |475 BC-469 BC |Zhou Yuanwang
(King Yuan of Zhou) |- |Ji Jie
姬介 |Zhendingwang
貞定王 |468 BC-442 BC |Zhou Zhendingwang
(King Zhending of Zhou) |- |Ji Quji
姬去疾 |Aiwang
哀王 |441 BC |Zhou Aiwang
(King Ai of Zhou) |- |Ji Shu
姬叔 |Siwang
思王 |441 BC |Zhou Siwang
(King Si of Zhou) |- |Ji Wei
姬嵬 |Kaowang
考王 |440 BC-426 BC |Zhou Kaowang
(King Kao of Zhou) |- |Ji Wu
姬午 |Weiliewang
威烈王 |425 BC-402 BC |Zhou Weiliewang
(King Weilie of Zhou) |- |Ji Jiao
姬驕 |Anwang
安王 |401 BC-376 BC |Zhou Anwang
(King An of Zhou) |- |Ji Xi
姬喜 |Liewang
烈王 |375 BC-369 BC |Zhou Liewang
(King Lie of Zhou) |- |Ji Bian
姬扁 |Xianwang
顯王 |368 BC-321 BC |Zhou Xianwang
(King Xian of Zhou) |- |Ji Ding
姬定 |Shenjingwang
慎靚王 |320 BC-315 BC |Zhou Shenjingwang
(King Shenjing of Zhou) |- |Ji Yan
姬延 |Nanwang
赧王 |314 BC-256 BC |Zhou Nanwang
(King Nan of Zhou) |- |　 |Huiwang
惠王 |255 BC-249 BC |Zhou Huiwang²
(King Hui of Eastern Zhou) |- | colspan="4" style="background-color: #EFEFEF"| '''1''' The first generally accepted date in Chinese history is 841 BC, the beginning of the Gonghe
regency. All dates prior to this are the subject of often vigorous dispute. The dates provided here
are those put forward by ''The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project'', the work of scholars
sponsored by the Chinese government which reported in 2000. They are given only as a guide. |- | colspan="4" style="background-color: #EFEFEF"| '''2''' Nobles of the Ji family proclaimed King Hui as King Nan's successor after their capital, Luoyang,
fell to Qin forces in 256 BC. However Zhou resistance did not last long in the face of the Qin
advance and so King Nan is widely considered to have been the last emperor of the Zhou dynasty. |}

See also
*Chinese sovereign *Huns *Tribes in Chinese history

External links
{{Commons|Zhou Dynasty}} Category:Zhou Dynasty {{Link FA|no}} de:Zhou-Dynastie es:DinastÃa Zhou eo:Dinastio Zhou fr:Dynastie Zhou ko:ì£¼ë‚˜ë?¼ nl:Zhou-dynastie ja:å‘¨ lt:DÅ¾ou dinastija no:Zhou-dynastiet pt:Dinastia Zhou fi:Zhou-dynastia sv:Zhoudynastin vi:NhÃ Chu zh:å‘¨æœ? see Zhou Dynasty Category:History of China Category:Royal families Category:Iron Age ko:ë¶„ë¥˜:ì£¼ë‚˜ë?¼ zh:Category:å‘¨æœ?

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