26 Facts About Zhou dynasty

Zhou dynasty was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty.

The Zhou dynasty had formally collapsed only 35 years earlier, although the dynasty had only nominal power at that point.

The latter period of the Zhou dynasty is famous for the beginnings of three major Chinese philosophies: Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism.

The Zhou dynasty emulated extensively Shang cultural practices, perhaps to legitimize their own rule, and became the successors to Shang culture.

Wary of the Duke of Zhou dynasty's increasing power, the "Three Guards", Zhou dynasty princes stationed on the eastern plain, rose in rebellion against his regency.

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Eastern Zhou dynasty was characterized by an accelerating collapse of royal authority, although the king's ritual importance allowed over five more centuries of rule.

In 403 BC, the Zhou dynasty court recognized Han, Zhao, and Wei as fully independent states.

Eastern Zhou dynasty is 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.

Zhou dynasty heartland was the Wei River valley; this remained their primary base of power after conquering the Shang.

Zhou dynasty rulers introduced what was to prove one of East Asia's most enduring political doctrines: the concept of the "Mandate of Heaven".

The Zhou dynasty agreed that since worldly affairs were supposed to align with those of the heavens, the heavens conferred legitimate power on only one person, the Zhou dynasty ruler.

In using this creed, the Zhou dynasty rulers had to acknowledge that any group of rulers, even they themselves, could be ousted if they lost the mandate of heaven because of improper practices.

Early Zhou dynasty kings contended that heaven favored their triumph because the last Shang kings had been evil men whose policies brought pain to the people through waste and corruption.

Since rulers claimed that their authority came from heaven, the Zhou dynasty made great efforts to gain accurate knowledge of the stars and to perfect the astronomical system on which they based their calendar.

Zhou dynasty legitimacy arose indirectly from Shang material culture through the use of bronze ritual vessels, statues, ornaments, and weapons.

Many of its members were Shang, who were sometimes forcibly transported to new Zhou dynasty to produce the bronze ritual objects which were then sold and distributed across the lands, symbolizing Zhou dynasty legitimacy.

In matters of inheritance, the Zhou dynasty recognized only patrilineal primogeniture as legal.

Agriculture in the Zhou dynasty was very intensive and, in many cases, directed by the government.

Early Western Zhou dynasty supported a strong army, split into two major units: "the Six Armies of the west" and "the Eight Armies of Chengzhou".

The military prowess of Zhou dynasty 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.

Zhou dynasty army included "Barbarian" troops such as the Di people.

King Hui of Zhou dynasty married a princess of the Red Di as a sign of appreciation for the importance of the Di troops.

King Xiang of Zhou dynasty married a Di princess after receiving Di military support.

Rulers of the Zhou dynasty were titled Wang, which is normally translated into English as "king" and was the Shang term for their rulers.

In traditional Chinese astrology, Zhou dynasty is represented by two stars, Eta Capricorni and 21 Capricorni, in "Twelve States" asterism.

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Zhou dynasty is represented by the star Beta Serpentis in asterism "Right Wall", Heavenly Market enclosure .