why did the zhou dynasty last so longwhy did the zhou dynasty last so long

But these centuries were not only marked by the growth of states and accelerating warfare between them. Fengjian - Wikipedia Later kings' campaigns were less effective. Pottery continued Shang traditions and expanded greatly in variety of shapes and finishes during the Warring States period. In the context of his time, Confucius was a dynamic individual who believed he was mandated by Heaven to return the world to a more socially and politically harmonious time. The armies campaigned in the northern Loess Plateau, modern Ningxia and the Yellow River floodplain. Literature flourished with Confucius and other great Chinese philosophers. It is divided into two periods: Western Zhou (1046-771 BCE) and Eastern Zhou (771-256 BCE). [51] Other possible cultural influences resulting from Indo-European contact in this period may include fighting styles, head-and-hooves burials, art motifs and myths. The Wuwang emperor continued his father's work and formed a coalition with eight other border states, which defeated the evil last ruler of the Shang. King Xuan fought the Quanrong nomads in vain. Mandate of Heaven - World History Encyclopedia The Eastern Zhou Period | World Civilization If those who lead do so by virtue and conduct themselves according to rules of propriety, people will learn from them and develop a sense of honor and shame. One of Emperor Wen's most prominent achievements was to create the imperial examination system to select talented individuals for bureaucratic positions. But this goal wont be accomplished through more seeking and more knowledge. Yet, although hegemons maintained a semblance of order, warfare remained constant because it was a way of life for the illustrious lineages of the Zhou realm. The final battles were said to have been extremely bloody, and Shang survivors may well have served as Chinese culture bearers to places as far removed as Korea. During this time, some of Chinas greatest military treatises were written, most notably the Art of War by Master Sun [sue-in]. Attending lords cemented their agreements by swearing oaths and drinking the blood of sacrificed animals. They did this by asserting that their moral superiority justified taking over Shang wealth and territories, and that heaven had imposed a moral mandate on them to replace the Shang and return good governance to the people.[38]. It is therefore not surprising that during this time some of Chinas greatest military treatises were written, most notably the Art of War by Master Sun [sue-in]. Duke Hui of Wei, in 344 BC, was the first to claim the royal title of king (Chinese: ) for himself. Soldiers were equipped with armor, crossbows, halberds, dagger-axes, and swords manufactured from bronze, iron, leather, and wood in royal workshops located at capital cities. [41][42] According to Tao (1934: 1731), "the Tsung-fa or descent line system has the following characteristics: patrilineal descent, patrilineal succession, patriarchate, sib-exogamy, and primogeniture"[43]. We return to that topic after reviewing the ideas put forward by philosophers in the context of these centuries of turmoil. The military control of China by the royal house, surnamed Ji, lasted initially from 1046 until 771 BC for a period known as the Western Zhou, and the political sphere of influence it created continued well into the Eastern Zhou period for another 500 years. The first qualification for a ruler or one who serves is moral rectitude. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). To his mind, he was living at a time when civilization was collapsing and society was decaying. Rather, the mind must be emptied out, calmed, and purified, until desires are absent and a primordial, natural condition is restored. [31][32][33] To maintain Zhou authority over its greatly expanded territory and prevent other revolts, he set up the fengjian system. Feudalism generally describes a political and economic system characterized by fragmented authority, a set of obligations (usually of a military nature) between lords and vassals, and grants of land (fiefs) by rulers in exchange for some type of service (see Chapters Three and Twelve). The Zhou Dynasty era consisted of three periods: Western Zhou (1046-771 BC), the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), and the Warring States Period. They killed the Zhou king and took control of the whole Wei River Valley. Two major philosophical traditions emerged to address these issues: Confucianism and Daoism. Qin Emperor Hanwu, Tang Zong and Song Zu. Prior to the Warring States Period, it was the norm for nobility to hand out land in their states to kinsmen, just as it had been for the king during the Western Zhou. In discussions that demarcate between trunk and collateral lines, the former is called a zong and the latter a zu, whereas the whole lineage is dubbed the shi. Yet, it would be wrong to conclude that he wasnt religious in any sense, because he frequently spoke of Heaven. But over time, Zhou kings lost their ability to control these lords, and the lords became increasingly independent. The Shang dynasty was conquered by the people of Zhou, who came from farther up the Yellow River in the area of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province. [] On one hand, every son who is not the eldest and hence not heir to the lineage territory has the potential of becoming a progenitor and fostering a new trunk lineage (Ideally he would strike out to cultivate new lineage territory). According to the Duke of Zhou, Heaven had decreed that Shang kings must fall and Zhou rulers should replace them. Consequently, society will become more orderly. Confucianism and Daoism were both responses to the crisis presented by the breakdown of the Zhou feudal order and escalating warfare in China. After the move, the Zhou dynasty was weakened even more by a threat from within. ), the ruling house of Zhou exercised a certain degree of "imperial" power over most of central China. At that point, when the individual is in accord with the ineffable Way, life becomes spontaneous, natural, and effortless. Why did the zhou dynasty last so long? - Answers These hegemons periodically convened interstate meetings to manage such matters as misbehaving states or foreign invasions. Again, these industries were dominated by the nobility who directed the production of such materials. In 651 BCE, he convened an interstate meeting with other lords to discuss matters of order and security. Over the next 250 years, during what is referred to as the Warring States Period (475 221 BCE), these states averaged one major battle per year until, at the very end, only the state of Qin [cheen] remained. The capital was sacked, and he was killed. The most famous of these was Confucius, who taught a system of mutual duty between superiors and inferiors. The noble person, filial piety, humaneness, etiquette, Heaven, and government by men of virtue are just some of the ideas Confucius discussed as he traveled the feudal states seeking to advise their lords. It followed the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE), whose cultural contributions it developed, and . With the decline of the feudal kings power, de facto power fluctuated among various of the feudal chiefs as they were able to make themselves overlords. However, their enemies' rule did not last long. One of the duties and privileges of the king was to create a royal calendar. After announcing the impending campaign at the ancestral temple, a lord and his kinsmen, accompanied by farmer foot soldiers, would proceed in their chariots to a prearranged location and engage in a skirmish. NB: Dates in Chinese history before the first year of the Gonghe Regency in 841 BC are contentious and vary by source. As opposed to serving a lesson to and resolving some dispute with another lord, these selfdeclared kings waged war to destroy them and take their land. Omissions? The Warring States Period started from 475 BC and ended in 221 BC. During the turmoil of the Warring States period, however, other individuals developed a philosophy very different from Confucianism called Daoism. He saw the practice of morality in the family as the root. The two most important early books belonging to this tradition are named after their putative authors: the Laozi (Old Master) and Zhuangzi (Master Zhuang). At this point, the many lords had no intention of toppling the king; rather, seeing his military weakness, the most powerful ones stepped in to enforce order. Over the long course of this half millennium, Zhou nobility engaged in escalating warfare with each other over matters small and large. Legal. The noble person, filial piety, humaneness, etiquette, Heaven, and government by men of virtue are just some of the ideas Confucius discussed as he traveled the feudal states seeking to advise their lords. [56] [39] As the Zhou emulated the Shang's large scale production of ceremonial bronzes, they developed an extensive system of bronze metalworking that required a large force of tribute labor. Burgeoning turmoil also inspired much thinking about what was needful to restore order and create a good society, as well as what defined the good life. When the Qin dynasty fell and was replaced by the Han dynasty, many Chinese were relieved to return to the more humane virtues of Confucius. The military prowess of Zhou peaked during the 19th year of King Zhao's reign, when the six armies were wiped out along with King Zhao on a campaign around the Han River. But it was his son King Wu (Martial King) who brought down the Shang Dynasty. Major philosophies and religions emerged that were the basis of Chinese belief in later eras, such as Confucianism and Daoism. The state theology of the Zhou dynasty used concepts from the Shang dynasty and mostly referred to the Shang god, Di, as Tian, a more distant and unknowable concept, yet one that anyone could utilize, the opposite view of the Shang's spirituality. Zhou dynasty - Wikipedia Nobles of the Ji family proclaimed Duke Hui of Eastern Zhou as King Nan's successor after their capital, Chengzhou, fell to Qin forces in 256 BC. Decorum was important to Confucius. These kinsmen took their families, contingents of soldiers, and emblems of nobility to the granted territory and set up palaces and ancestral temples in walled towns. Those below are those published by XiaShangZhou Chronology Project and Edward L. Shaughnessy's The Absolute Chronology of the Western Zhou Dynasty. The decline of Zhou Dynasty was mainly caused by the corruption of the government. The glue that held the Zhou feudal order together was deference to the king and his Mandate and reverence for their shared historyincluding, most importantly, the deceased spirits of their related ancestors. This Heaven, however, is less a deity than a higher moral order, a kind of beneficent presence. Iron, ox-drawn plows, crossbows, and horseback riding were all introduced; large-scale irrigation and water-control projects were also instituted for the first time, greatly increasing the crop yield of the North China Plain. The original Zhou capital had been located near present-day Xian in Shaanxi on the Wei River above its confluence with the Huang He (Yellow River). In 1059, upon witnessing five planets align, the Zhou ruler declared himself king and proceeded to engage in military conquests that made his kingdom a regional power to be reckoned with. Over the next two centuries, this title changed hands several times. The king and his regent did so by implementing three policies. These Daoists largely rejected Confucian ideas about human moral development and social order as artificial constructs. The communication system was also greatly improved through the construction of new roads and canals. [46] At times, a vigorous duke would take power from his nobles and centralize the state. 4. Prior to the Warring States Period, Zhou kings were still accorded a level of respect, at least as symbols of unity and nominal heads of the Zhou feudal order. Over time, Zhou kings ability to control the noble lords diminished over time, and their prestige suffered accordingly. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zhou-dynasty, World History Encyclopedia - Zhou Dynasty, Ancient Origins - The Zhou Dynasty: The Longest-Lasting Dynasty in Chinese History, Social Science LibreTexts Library - The Long Zhou Dynasty (1046- 256 BCE), Zhou dynasty - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). 1: From Earliest Times to the Present, 44-63. All warfare is deception, Master Sun states. Ji Zhao, a son of King Nan, led a resistance against Qin for five years. The Shang Dynasty is the earliest ruling dynasty of China to be established in recorded history, though other dynasties predated it. The last Zhou king is traditionally taken to be Nan, who was killed when Qin captured the capital Wangcheng[1] in 256 BC. The army of the state of Qin captures the city of Chengzhou and the last Zhou ruler, King Nan, is killed. Confucius chose to become learned and seek office. In 771 BCE, in what became a telling sign of weakness, the Zhou king was murdered and his young successor was compelled to relocate farther east, to a capital closer to the heart of the North China Plain. There were many similarities between the decentralized systems. The first two had their origins in the later centuries of the Eastern Zhou, while Buddhism only began to arrive from South Asia in the first century C.E. 5. The dust and sand fell like a drizzle, but it did not last long. The fighting went on for three years before the rebellion was put down, and finally the Zhou solidified their reign over all of China. All warfare is deception, Master Sun states. [17][e] The Zhou emulated extensively Shang cultural practices, perhaps to legitimize their own rule,[20] and became the successors to Shang culture. Accessibility StatementFor more information contact us atinfo@libretexts.orgor check out our status page at https://status.libretexts.org. Burgeoning turmoil also inspired much thinking about what was needful to restore order and create a good society, as well as what defined the good life. The king and his regent did so by implementing three policies. During the last centuries of the Zhou, women's roles became increasingly formalized and idealized. (View the image of a Warring States Period soldier at the following link: http://brandonqindynasty.weebly.com/9/8580061.jpeg. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. King Li led 14 armies against barbarians in the south, but failed to achieve any victory. [citation needed], Agriculture in the Zhou dynasty was very intensive and, in many cases, directed by the government. The duke passed over his two elder sons Taibo and Zhongyong to favor the younger Jili, a warrior in his own right. By so doing, it was believed, ones health would be preserved and life prolonged. [37], Zhou rulers introduced what was to prove one of East Asia's most enduring political doctrines: the concept of the "Mandate of Heaven". Brashier writes in his book "Ancestral Memory in Early China" about the tsung-fa system of patrilineal primogeniture: "The greater lineage, if it has survived, is the direct succession from father to eldest son and is not defined via the collateral shifts of the lesser lineages. His young son took the throne, but was placed under the regency of Wus capable brother, the Duke of Zhou. To mobilize large numbers of men for war and supply them with weapons and grain, kings devised ways to make their realms more productive and compliant with their will. Rather, they pointed to a natural condition that both individuals and society can recover, one that existed before desires trapped people in a world of strife. Other philosophers, theorists, and schools of thought in this era were Mozi, founder of Mohism; Mencius, a famous Confucian who expanded upon Confucius' legacy; Shang Yang and Han Fei, responsible for the development of ancient Chinese Legalism (the core philosophy of the Qin dynasty); and Xun Zi, who was arguably the center of ancient Chinese intellectual life during his time, even more so than iconic intellectual figures such as Mencius.[54]. Thus, the dynasty had lost this sanction. and heralded . During the Qing Dynasty, the Qing army calmed down the Western Regions again, but set the capital of Xinjiang to Yili. The third policy the Zhou court adopted was to dispatch royal kinsmen to strategically critical locations for the purpose of establishing colonies. This separation became tied into Confucian moral values. During the Zhou dynasty, China underwent quite dramatic changes. The capital was sacked, and he was killed. He held this title (duke) and fief (Qi) because his distant ancestor had served as a commander under King Wu during the Zhou founding. His father died about the time Confucius was born, and he was raised by his mother, who also passed away when Confucius was young. Second, they issued proclamations explaining to conquered peoples why they should accept Zhou rule. Under this system, it was the prerogative of spiritual authority to withdraw support from any wayward ruler and to find another, more worthy one. This move marked the beginning of the Eastern Zhou (770 256 BCE). The noble person is concerned with rightness, the small person is concerned with profit. (4.16) Confucius redefined the meaning of nobility. secondlyexegesis in the Han dynasty was denied at lastthey denied deifying Confucius.These sequential denials were completed at last in the May Fourth cultural movementwhich was seen as the turning point of the modern period.AsOn New Democracy[by Mao Zedong]puts itthe May Fourth Movement was the source of the revolutionary energy . After he died, they passed on his teachings, and a school of thought emerged from his teachings known as Confucianism. The line of Zhou kings had, however, already been extinguished in 256 BCE, so that date marks the end of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. In brief, Zhou kings ability to control the noble lords diminished over time, and their prestige suffered accordingly. [52] King Xiang of Zhou also married a Di princess after receiving Di military support. Indeed, Zhou kings granted land and noble titles to kinsmen in exchange for obedience, periodic visits to the kings palace, tribute, and military support. Therefore, they devised better ways to control land in their realms. King Wu then returned to his capital in the Wei River Valley, where he passed away in 1043 BCE. During the third century BCE, the Zhou Kingdom was destroyed and one of these warring states, the Qin [Cheen] Dynasty, prevailed over the rest. Those who belonged to it are Confuciansindividuals distinguished by their commitment to the ideas articulated by Confucius, classical learning, and the value they place on character and conduct as the key to a good society and political order. Legal. However, a rebellion broke out before the whole Shang territory could be consolidated by the Zhou. ), known as the Western Zhou (1046-771 B.C. Shang Dynasty - HISTORY Corrections? bc, Chinadied 1046 bc, China), last sovereign ( c. 1075-46 bc) of the Shang dynasty ( c. 1600-1046 bc ), who, according to legend, lost his empire because of his extreme debauchery. These hereditary classes were similar to Western knights in status and breeding, but unlike the European equivalent, they were expected to be something of a scholar instead of a warrior. Two major philosophical traditions emerged to address these issues: Confucianism and Daoism. Here are a few of the important statements Confucius made, and what they meant: 1. Eventually, a Daoist church developed, with its own ordained priesthood, temples, and monasteries. After the Xia and Shang, the next major dynasty in Chinese history is the Zhou Dynasty (1045 256 BCE). When King Ping was relocated to Luoyang, he ruled from a much smaller royal domain surrounded by approximately 150 feudal states and their lords. A person of humanity is, for instance, one who is capable of empathy and unselfish concern for the welfare of others. Why did the Zhou dynasty last so long? - Quora Peripheral territories developed local power and prestige on par with that of the Zhou. Confucius lived just prior to the Warring States Period (551-479 BCE). The later Wei statesman Ximen Bao, who served Marquis Wen of Wei (445396 BC), was the first hydraulic engineer of China to have created a large irrigation canal system. To achieve these goals, techniques were developed, including special dietary regimens, yoga, Chinese boxing, meditation, and alchemy. Historians call this method of governing Zhou kinship feudalism. During Confucius's lifetime in the Spring and Autumn Period, Zhou kings had little power, and much administrative responsibility and de-facto political strength was wielded by rulers of smaller domains and local community leaders. Later, Confucius asked him, Why did you not say: As a man, when agitated in thought he forgets to eat, joyfully forgetting his cares, not realizing that old age is near at hand?. The Zhou Dynasty (1045-221 BC) saw China grow, fracture into states, then unite in imperialism. The Zhou Dynasty succeeded the Shang Dynasty. The Eastern Zhou, however, is also remembered as the golden age of Chinese philosophy: the Hundred Schools of Thought which flourished as rival lords patronized itinerant shi scholars is led by the example of Qi's Jixia Academy. In return, the ruler was duty-bound to uphold heaven's principles of harmony and honor. The Great Wall of China's history began in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), was first completed in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), and was last rebuilt as a defense in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Second, Zhou kings were unable to impose their will on feuding feudal lords and were even defeated by them in several military campaigns. Prior to the Warring States Period, it was the norm for nobility to hand out land in their states to kinsmen, just as it had been for the king during the Western Zhou. Master Sun was a military commander and strategist who served the lords of the state of Wu just prior to the onset of the Warring States period (c. fifth century BCE). During the Western Zhou (1046 771 BCE), Zhou kings dispatched kinsmen to territories he granted to them (see Map \(\PageIndex{1}\)). There were also two-story buildings and observation towers, and Laozi mentions a nine-story tower. Zhou kings remained there for the next five hundred years, during the period called the Eastern Zhou. The stability of that arrangement lasted some 200 years before it began to collapse with the increasing local interests of the 20 or more feudal lords. The Nine Schools of Thought which came to dominate the others were Confucianism (as interpreted by Mencius and others), Legalism, Taoism, Mohism, the utopian communalist Agriculturalism, two strains of Diplomatists, the sophistic Logicians, Sun-tzu's Militarists, and the Naturalists. 3.8: The Long Zhou Dynasty (1046- 256 BCE) - Social Sci LibreTexts But it was his son King Wu (Martial King) who brought down the Shang Dynasty. It lasted for over 800 years and included the reigns of 37 emperors. Over time, this decentralized system became strained as the familial relationships between the Zhou kings and the regional dynasties thinned over the generations. [d] The Zhou enfeoffed a member of the defeated Shang royal family as the Duke of Song, which was held by descendants of the Shang royal family until its end. Both the purpose and conduct of warfare changed. The range of applied decoration for the first time included pictorial subjectsfor example, hunting scenes and chariots and horsemen. The Mandate determines whether an emperor of China is sufficiently virtuous to rule. If you lead the people by being rectified yourself, who will dare not be rectified? (12.17) Confucius believed that good governing flows from good men. However, aside from the presence of royal overseers, a hereditary lord enjoyed relative sovereignty in his own domain. 15 Facts about Warring States Period in China - China Highlights So Han Dynasty abolished the Qin legal system and advocate Confucianism to make the government friendly to its people and make the people obey the rules of government. During the Zhou dynasty, centralized power decreased throughout the Spring and Autumn period until the Warring States period in the last two centuries of the dynasty. Stratagem is critical. Relocated to Luoyang, King Ping ruled from a much smaller royal domain surrounded by approximately 150 feudal states and their lords. 4: China and East Asia to the Ming Dynasty, Book: World History - Cultures, States, and Societies to 1500 (Berger et al. All farming lands were owned by nobles, who then gave their land to their serfs, a situation similar to European feudalism. By the end of this period, largely owing to the demands of warfare, the Zhou feudal order had been supplanted by a small number of powerful territorial states with centralized monarchies. For more than 800 years (9-17 centuries), the Central Plains dynasty failed to effectively control Xinjiang (the Xinjiang was directly under the jurisdiction of Chahe Tai Khan during the Yuan Dynasty). Over the next 250 years, during what is referred to as the Warring States Period (475 221 BCE), these states averaged one major battle per year until, at the very end, only one remained standing. Lords of the seven most powerful states lost respect for the Zhou kings and even assumed the same title, thus claiming the right to unify all of China under their rule.
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