Grandeur of the Zhou Dynasty
The Pre-Zhou Period (21st Century BCE-11th Century BCE, Analogous Xia and Shang Dynasties)
The Zhou Period (c. 21st Century BCE-771 BCE)
The Western Zhou Dynasty (11th Century BCE-771 BCE)
The Zhou Period (c. 21st Century BCE-771 BCE)
The Western Zhou Dynasty (11th Century BCE-771 BCE)
The Western Zhou Dynasty stands as the first state formation of early China. Its political system, economic pattern, especially the ethical spirits exerted a profound impact on the later dynasties, just as what Confucius complimented when he wrote “How brilliant the Zhou culture is. I’ll follow it.” As the seat of the capital and political center of the Western Zhou, Shaanxi has plenty of cultural remains and relics from this period.
Grandeur of the Zhou Dynasty
Over 100 years of development, two thirds of the territory of the Shang was under the reign of King Wenwang of the Zhou. In 1046 BCE, King Wuwang of the Zhou, after overthrowing the Shang, established the Western Zhou and set up its capital in Haojing. Based on the political system of the Shang, the Western Zhou set up a more powerful governing system. The Duke of Zhou, younger brother of King Wuwang and a Chinese culture hero credited with writing The Book of Changes, had a set of norms for behaviors and music established which had a strong influence on the people in the coming thousands of years. The Chinese nation is thus reputed as a land of rites and manners.
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