Zhou Dynasty

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Zhou : 周朝
←      → 1122 BC – 256 BC
天命在周，天子在姬，千國來朝，德昭天下，武王萬歲，周邦萬年！！
General Information
Aliases:	Ji Zhou Zhou Empire Zhou Kingdom House of Ji
Time of Exist:	1122 BC - 256 BC
Government:	Monarchy (1122 BC-771 BC) Ceremonial Monarchy (771 BC-256 BC, de facto)
Languages:	Old Chinese
Religions:	Chinese Folk Religion Rites of Zhou
Relations and Opinions
Enemies:	Shang Dynasty Quanrong Guifang Xirong
Likes:	Philosophies, inventions, rites, Feudalism (until it backfired), rice, millet cakes, brassica greens, chariots
Historical Information
Preceded By:	Shang Dynasty Predynastic Zhou
Succeeded By:	Qin Dynasty

Zhou Dynasty was the third dynasty of China, ruled by the House of Ji. He has the longest lifetime of any dynasty in Chinese history. However, de-facto control only lasted until 771 BC, since the Zhou was ruled by a feudal system and Zhou lost central authority over the feudal states in the second half of his life, making the Zhou only ceremonial from 771 BC to 256 BC. The period with central authority is named Western Zhou, while the period with only ceremonial authority is named Eastern Zhou.

The official colour of the Zhou dynasty is red. He likes to eat rice, millet cake, and brassica greens. The dynasty is recognized for his significant cultural and political developments, including the promotion of philosophical thought, which laid the groundwork for future Chinese civilization.

History

Western Zhou

The Zhou dynasty, led by Wu of Zhou, defeated the Shang in 1122 BC, succeeding in the Mandate of Heaven. Wu's early death left a young and inexperienced heir, Cheng. But Dan, Duke of Zhou assisted Cheng in consolidating royal power, wary that Shang loyalists might rise again under the possible weak rule. Fearing Dan Duke's growing power, the "Three Guards", Zhou princes stationed on the eastern plain, rose in rebellion against his regency in around 1115 BC. Even though the Guards garnered the support of independent-minded nobles, Shang partisans, and several Dongyi tribes, Dan Duke quelled the rebellion in 1112 BC, and further expanded the Zhou Kingdom into the east. Cheng stabilized Zhou's borders by defeating several barbarian tribes.

In order to maintain his authority over his greatly expanded territory, also to prevent other revolts, Zhou set up the fengjian system. Furthermore, Zhou countered his crisis of legitimacy by expanding the doctrine of the Mandate of Heaven while accommodating important Shang rituals at Wangcheng and Chengzhou.

King Kang, son of Cheng, ascended in 1079 BC, and followed his father's policy and expanded the Zhou territory in the North and in the West. He also repressed a rebellion in the east. Life prospered in the Zhou Dynasty under Kang's rule.

The corrupt king Li of Zhou (reigning 879 BC-841 BC) was extremely unpoplar, to pay for his pleasures and vices, King Li raised taxes and caused misery among his subjects. It is said that he barred the commoners from profiting from communal forests and lakes, and instated a new law which allowed him to punish anyone, by death, who dared to speak against him. So, the people revolted against him, causing the Gonghe Regency in 841 BC. Li was exiled, the regency ended when Li died and his son Xuan became king in 828 BC.

King You of Zhou tried to amuse his favourite cocubine Bao Si, who never laughed, by lighting the emergency warning beacons of Mount Li usually used to summon armies from the surrounding vassal states in times of danger. The armies came but there was no danger. Bao Si saw the confusion of so many men and laughed. King You would continue to abuse this system multiple times to make Bao Si laugh, until there was actual danger, but no armies came since no one trusted You. So the Quanrong came and sacked the Zhou in 771 BC, killed King You, marking the end of Western Zhou.

Eastern Zhou

The Eastern Zhou period (771–256 BC) was characterized by an accelerating collapse of royal authority, although the king's ritual importance enabled more than five additional centuries of rule. The king is now only ceremonial. The Spring and Autumn Annals, the Confucian chronicle of the early years of this process, gave the first half of Eastern Zhou the name "Spring and Autumn Period".

The thousands of feudal Zhou states have now all got varying degrees of independence. The stronger states puppeted the smaller states around, and there were five major hegemons. There have been different kings listed as the Five Hegemons across various sources, but they all point to a period were central authority is none and regional lords dominate.

After king Ping (reigned 771 BC-720 BC) moved the capital eastward, the Zhou court had to rely on states such as Zheng, Wei, and Jin to supply food. The ruler of Zheng State held actual control over royal administration and repeatedly challenged the prestige of the Zhou court.

More WIP

Society

During the Zhou dynasty, the population was divided into three classes based on their place of residence: "Guoren" (國人) who lived in cities, "Yeren" (野人) who lived in the surrounding rural areas, and slaves who were forced into labor. The Guoren were Zhou people or members of allied states, while the Yeren were the indigenous inhabitants of the local regions.

At that time, the influence of the traditional clan-based system was still very strong. Guoren had the right to participate in politics and education, while Yeren did not possess such rights. The Guoren operated under the patriarchal clan system (宗法制度), which was based on kinship ties and ancestral lineage, whereas the Yeren only followed a nuclear family system based on personal relationships.

Relationships

Frenemies

• Dongyi - Still a barbarian, but if Shang wasn't occupied with invading yuo I would have never been able to defeat him.
• Chu - Hmm, yes, you were one of the states that decided to help me depose Shang… But you are still doing your barbarian way of life, so I will not give you any titles or respect, nor shall I invite you to my meetings.

Enemies

• Shang Dynasty - Corrupt, immoral, the Mandate of Heaven has sent me to depose of you. Be gone, and I will be your sacrificial victims no longer!
• Quanrong - Demonic and horrifying barbarians that made be collapse into a thousand different states!
  • Damn, I almost succeeded in becoming another you, but I simply can't understand your hypocrite game.

How to draw

周 (Zhou) in bronze script

Zhou Dynasty has a drawing rating of intermediate.

1. Draw a ball
2. Fill it with red
3. Write the Chinese 周 (bronze script) in the middle of the ball, in dark red
4. Add eyes (maybe Chinese eyes) and you're done.

Color Name		HEX
	Red	#D1372E
	Dark Red	#A10C00