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Polity

Zhou dynasty

Chinese Dynasties

The Zhou dynasty ruled China from about 1046 to 256 BC, the longest span of any Chinese dynasty, founded by King Wu of Zhou after his victory over the Shang at the Battle of Muye. The Western Zhou period, from 1046 to 771 BC, was governed from Fenghao, also called Haojing, in the Wei River valley; the Eastern Zhou period, from 771 to 256 BC, was governed from Wangcheng and is itself subdivided into the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period. The dynasty is remembered as the zenith of Chinese bronzeware craftsmanship and as the birthplace of Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism, the three major philosophical traditions that shaped later Chinese thought. The state of Qin formally extinguished the Zhou dynasty in 256 BC, deposing King Nan and capturing Wangcheng, and Qin went on to found the succeeding Qin dynasty after completing its wars of unification in 221 BC.

Facts
Government Type
Monarchy (decentralised, feudal under the Western Zhou; ceremonial kingship under the Eastern Zhou) 1
The Western Zhou (c. 1046-771 BC) held direct military control and decentralised feudal authority over its territories; the Eastern Zhou that followed retained ceremonial kingship while real power passed to regional states.
Start Year
1046 BCE 1
End Year
256 BCE 1
Government type (class)
Monarchy 1
Classification
Status (Extant or Former)
Former / Dissolved 1
FAQs

What was the Mandate of Heaven, and how did the Zhou dynasty use it?

The belief that a ruling house is divinely appointed, which the Zhou invoked to replace the Shang.

The Mandate of Heaven was the belief that a monarch and ruling house are divinely appointed. The Zhou developed the idea from earlier Shang concepts and invoked it to justify deposing and replacing the Shang. It went on to inform Chinese politics for centuries afterwards.
Connections

Associated With

The Spring and Autumn Period, Eras

Eastern Zhou polity that the period covers

In Era

Classical Antiquity, Eras
Source Wikipedia: Zhou dynasty

Preceded By

Shang dynasty, Polities
Source Wikipedia: Shang dynasty

Succeeded By

Qin dynasty, Polities
Source Wikipedia: Zhou dynasty
In the Other Atlases

Government Type

Monarchy

Also in Society and Culture Atlas: the government type of this subject.

Nationals Include

Duke of Zhou

Also in Divinity Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Duke of Zhou (Wikipedia)Lead
Quote, Lead
Ji Dan, Duke Wen of Zhou, commonly known as the Duke of Zhou, was a member of the royal family of the early Zhou dynasty who played a major role in consolidating the kingdom established by his elder brother King Wu.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Zhou dynasty
Wikipedia
  • Introduction
    was a royal dynasty of China that existed for 790 years from c. 1046 BC until 256 BC
  • Western Zhou section
    the royal house, surnamed Ji, had military control over territories
  • Zhou dynasty: Status
    The Western Zhou period, from 1046 to 771 BC, was governed from Fenghao, also called Haojing, in the Wei River valley; the Eastern Zhou period, from 771 to 256 BC, was governed from Wangcheng and is itself subdivided into the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period.
  • Succeeded By: Qin dynasty
  • In Era: Classical Antiquity, lead paragraph and infobox, existence dates
    The Zhou dynasty ( JOH; Chinese: 周; pinyin: Zhōu, pronunciation: [ʈʂóʊ]) was a royal dynasty of China that existed for 790 years from c. 1046 BC until 256 BC, the longest span of any dynasty in Chinese history.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Shang dynasty
WikipediaPreceded By: Shang dynastyView the Source
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