Zhou Dynasty

The Zhou Dynasty is a part of Chinese ancient culture. It came between the years 1045 and 256 B.C.E. It began when the Zhous defeated the Shang Dynasty in 1045 B.C.E. Even though it was a different dynasty, the similitudes with the Shangs were very remarkable. The only clear difference between dynasties Shang and Zhou was the slavery, which was implemented during the Zhou Dynasty.

GOVERNMENT: The Zhou Dynasty ruled over what nowadays is the northern part of China. The realm was divided into different states, with a governor for each state, who was named by the Emperor. The Dynasty grew weaker with time, when the states got more strength and started to rebel against the central government.

ECONOMY: The Zhou Dynasty’s economy was mainly based on agriculture. They divided the sowing land in perfect squares, which were divided in nine smaller squares. The eight outer squares were divided to the families that worked on it. The central square was meant for the government.

RELIGION: They believed that heaven gave the governors the divine right to rule on earth. The Zhou kings performed sacrifices to Shang Di (The lord of Highness), and the state governors made sacrifices to honor the nature and the god of agriculture. They also venerated their ancestors. This was a particular cult for each family, which had its own home-temple to venerate their ancestors.

ART: The Zhou Dynasty took place in the late Bronze Age, therefore, almost all of their handcraft and art pieces are made of bronze. They were very detailed with their forms of art; they made bronze pots with hundreds of symbols inscriptions on them, they made amazing bronze bells planned for feasts and battles, and very detailed sculptures made in bronze, with dressings of silver, jade, and gold.

References:

“La Dinastía Zhou” (2013) ArteHistoria, Junta de Castilla y León, Madrid, España. Link: http://www.artehistoria.jcyl.es/v2/contextos/2828.htm

“Dinastía Zhou” (2014) EcuRed, Cuba. Link: http://www.ecured.cu/index.php/Dinast%C3%ADa_Zhou

“Dinastías Chinas” (2014) Discovery Channel, Estados Unidos. Link: http://www.tudiscovery.com/guia_china/china_dinastias/china_zhou/index.shtml