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The
West Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC ¨C771BC)
After defeating the Shang, King Wu founded the Zhou Dynasty, making Haojing
(near today¡¯s Xian) as capital. Historians call this period Western Zhou
Dynasty
Like the Shang kings, the Zhou kings worshipped their ancestors, but they
also worshipped Heaven. The Zhou Kings were called "the Son of Heaven."
They alleged they were mandated by heaven to rule the people.
In order to reassure and pacify the people of Shang and consolidate the
new regime, the Western Zhou introduced a feudal system to distribute
both land and the people on it to nobles, meritorious ministers and generals.
Thus many vassal states were found. These vassal states had to comply
with the orders issued by Zhou Kings, provide an army for the Zhou Kings,
and pay tributes to Zhou Kings.
Zhou Etiquette was formed to stipulate the norms of etiquette in the social
life. Epigraphy on bronze ware widely appeared to record the events in
social life.
The Western Zhou made a further achievement in social economy. Slaves
were popularly exploited in farming. Bronze industry was well developed
to enhance the productivity. Market became flourished where silk, weapons,
cattle as well as slaves were traded.
The Zhou kings maintained control over their vassals for more than two
centuries. With the development of vassal states, the tie between them
and Zhou Kings became loose. King You's neglect of duty finally led to
the fall of the dynasty. In 771 BC when several of the vassal states rebelled,
the army of the Quanrong ethnic group took its chance, captured Haojing
and killed King You. The Western Zhou Dynasty collapsed.
