2: Zhou Dynasty

After the Shang dynasty was overthrown because its last leader was very cruel, the
next dynasty was the Zhou dynasty (1027 B.C.E. to 771 B.C.E.). This dynasty lasted longer
than any other dynasty in Chinese history.
The Chinese civilization expanded during the time of the Zhou dynasty. The massive
size that the dynasty covered was too much for the Zhou leaders to handle due to the poor means of
communication. Because of this, the leaders decided to appoint people to oversee each of the territories. The
territories started off as walled off cities. The leaders of each of the territories were the lords, each receiving
the title through inheritance.
This new political hierarchy was based on agricultural production. In this political structure, the Zhou
king was at the highest level. He granted plots of land to the lords or people of high rank. Next in the
hierarchy were the fighting men. The land of the lords was granted to the fighting men in return for loyalty,
military support, and other services. Peasants, or farmers with small farms, were at the bottom of the order.
Each peasant family received a small plot of land and had to farm additional land for the noble. Lords paid
taxes to the king and provided warriors to protect his lands. The extent of this type of land distribution was
unclear, but the later dynasties believed that this was the most equitable way of dealing with land distribution
and use.
The religious practice of the Zhou Empire reflected their hierarchical way of life. The kings prayed and
sacrificed to Shang Ti, the Lord on High, now called T'ien (Heaven), and to their ancestors. The lords of the
territories prayed to the local nature gods and to the gods of agriculture in addition to their ancestors. If any
sacrifices or prayers were missed, great ill was predicted to fall on the territory or kingdom of the neglectful
leader.
The Zhou kings believed that they were given a mandate from heaven to rule. According to
this idea, heaven gave power to the king or leader, and no one ruled without heavens permission. If a
king was found to be bad, heaven would support another leader. Early Zhou rulers used the mandate
of heaven to justify their rebellion against the Shang.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EASTERN ZHOU
In 770 BCE, the Zhou kings lost control of the territories they had delegated to their lords. These
territories, along with non-Chinese forces, rebelled and defeated the original Zhou capital. The Zhou then
formed a new capital farther East. From this new capital, the Zhou forfeited their political and military control
over their territories.
The territories now were larger and more powerful than the original Zhou kingdom. Even though the
Zhou were not in control, they still thought they were appointed by the heavens and continued to be the
ceremonial lords of the kingdoms. During this time, there was great economic growth, even among the
constant warfare between the territories. It was also during this time that China entered its Iron Age.
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The Iron Age brought iron-tipped ox drawn plows and improved irrigation techniques which increased
the agricultural yield which in turn increased the population. With the increase in population came greater
wealth, and people started to become merchants and traders. With the explosion of the merchant and trader
class, the improvement of communication was inevitable. The improvement came in the form of expanding
the horseback communication system. This increase in the economic situation allowed the rulers to control
more and more territories. Communication was far better than before, and a ruler could have a larger empire
and still be kept up to date on situations that may arise.
The territories that were located at the edges of the Zhou Empire expanded into non-Chinese
countries. Upon expanding, the kingdoms of the Zhou became more diversified and these kingdoms
selectively chose the aspects of the newly acquired culture to assimilate into their own. One such aspect was
the mounted cavalry. Before, all the Chinese fighting was by foot soldiers. By the 6th century, seven powerful
states arose from the former Zhou territories. With the Zhou dynasty's decline and the rise of power of the
former territories, the situation in China became unstable. Then, by the late 5th century, the Zhou dynasty
fell into a state of interstate anarchy, this period was known as the Period of the Warring States.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Golden Age of Chinese Philosophy (403 BCE - 221 BCE)
Due to the instability of China, an intellectual movement swept through China that shaped China's
state and culture. The most influential of the philosophers was Confucius. Confucius was the representation
of the emerging class of administrators and advisors that were needed to aid rulers and deal with the everpresent need of diplomacy with other states and internal administration. Confucius wanted a return to the
Zhou style of governing. He believed that the rulers of that period had tried to develop a society based on the
example of great personal virtue. By this, Confucius then took to the task of creating a class based on virtue
that would take over the high positions of government and lead the people by their example.
In addition to Confucianism, another school of philosophy was Taoism. The principles of Taosim are
explained in the Tao-te-Ching or "Classic of the Way and Its Virtue." This text is said to have been created by
Lao-tzu and in the works of Chuang-tzu. The Taoist philosophy was based on simplicity. The belief is that the
government should be hands off and let the people deal with the problems of nature and the people should
return to primitive agricultural communities.
Legalism was the third school of philosophy. The philosophers felt that, during their time of great
disorder and chaos, something needed to be done. The legalist philosophers believed that every aspect of life
should be ruled by a set of strict and impersonal laws. To have this system work, the legalists needed to have
a powerful and wealthy state where the ruler had ultimate authority. The wealth and military strength is what
gave the state and ruler power.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fall of the Zhou Dynasty and the Rise of the Ch'in State
During the 4th century BCE, the state of Ch'in, one of the former territories of the Zhou
kingdom, emerged as a power. Based on theories of a leading legalist, the Ch'in kingdom
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reformed its administration, economy, and military and became stronger as the Zhou Empire weakened and
eventually died in 256 BCE. Soon, the Ch'in had conquered the seven other warring states.

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