What is zhou dynasty known for

According to Legalism, the state was far more important than the individual. While Legalism held that laws should be clear and public and that everyone should be subject to them, it also contended that rulers had supreme power and must use stealth and secrecy to remain in power. Legalists also believed that society must strive to dominate other societies. Legalists could be divided into three types. The first was concerned with shi , or the investment of the position of ruler with power rather than the person and the necessity of obtaining facts to rule well.

The second was concerned with fa , or laws, regulations, and standards. This meant all were equal under the ruler, and the state was run by law, not a ruler. The third was the concept of shu , or tactics to keep the state safe. Legalism was generally in competition with Confucianism, which advocated a just and reciprocal relationship between the state and its subjects.

Mohism Mohism emerged around the same time as the other philosophies discussed here, under the philosopher Mozi c. This opposed the ideas of Confucianism, which said that love should be greater for close relationships. Mohism also stressed the ideas of self-restraint, reflection and authenticity.

Depiction of Mozi: The Chinese philosopher who began Mohism is shown here. Mohism also stated that all people should be equal in their material benefit and in their protection from harm.

Society could be improved by having it function like an organism, with a uniform moral compass. Those who were qualified should receive jobs, and thus the ruler would be surrounded by people of talent and skill. An unrighteous ruler would result in seven disasters for the state, including neglect of military defense, repression, illusions about strength, distrust, famine, and more.

Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. Early Chinese Dynasties. Search for:. The Zhou Dynasty. The Zhou created the Mandate of Heaven: the idea that there could be only one legitimate ruler of China at a time, and that this ruler had the blessing of the gods. They used this Mandate to justify their overthrow of the Shang, and their subsequent rule. Some scholars think the earlier Xia Dynasty never existed—that it was invented by the Zhou to support their claim under the Mandate that there had always been only one ruler of China.

Key Terms Battle of Muye : The battle that resulted with the Zhou, a subject people living in the western part of the kingdom, overthrew the Shang Dynasty. Mandate of Heaven : The Chinese philosophical concept of the circumstances under which a ruler is allowed to rule.

Good rulers were allowed to rule under the Mandate of Heaven, while despotic, unjust rulers had the Mandate revoked. Learning Objectives Describe the main accomplishments of the Western Zhou period. Under the feudal system, the monarchy would reward loyal nobles with large pieces of land.

Over time, the king grew weaker, and the lords of the feudal system grew stronger, until finally, in BCE, one lord joined forces with an invading group of barbarians and killed the king. Defining characteristics include direct ownership of resources, personal loyalty, and a hierarchical social structure reinforced by religion.

Duke of Zhou : A regent to the king who established the feudal system, and held a lot of power during the Western Zhou period. Learning Objectives Identify some of the art forms prevelant under the Zhou Dynasty. Few paintings have survived from this period, but we know that they were representations of the real world. The production of lacquerware expanded during this period. Key Terms lacquer : A natural varnish, originating in China or Japan, and extracted from the sap of a sumac tree.

Learning Objectives Explain the main political and military developments during the Eastern Zhou period. Key Takeaways Key Points During the first part of the Eastern Zhou period, called the Spring and Autumn period, the king became less powerful and the regional feudal became lords more so, until only seven consolidated powerful feudal states were left.

During the second part of the period, called the Warring States period, strong states vied for power until the Qin conquered them all and created a unified dynasty. Developments during the period included increasing use of infantry, a trend toward bureaucracy and large-scale projects, the use of iron over bronze, and intellectual and philosophical developments.

Among them Confucius — BC was the most celebrated. He is considered the originator of Chinese humanism. He established moral codes to guide human conduct, and a set of proper relations among different members of a society, between emperor and subjects, parents and children, older and younger brothers, and husband and wife. Besides Confucius, there were many other prominent philosophers.

There was Han Fei-tze who taught almost the opposite by emphasizing the importance of the legal system. There was Guan Zhong who understood much economics including the incentives of different forms of government taxation. There were a hundred schools of thought contending, like a hundred flowers blooming and a hundred birds singing. The writings of that period are available today for us to read and enjoy. Bell Zhong.

Knotted dragon pendant. Ritual Food Container with Cover Dui. Citation Department of Asian Art. Art in China. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Sullivan, Michael. The Arts of China. Berkeley: University of California Press, Second Century B. Second—First Century B. Introduction to Prehistoric Art, 20,— B. Jiahu ca. Chronology China, B. China, — B.

New casting techniques, such as the lost-wax method method of metal casting in which a molten metal is poured into a mold that has been created by means of a wax model. Once the mold is made, the wax model is melted and drained away. The jade objects of the Zhou were larger in number compared to those of the Shang and made in a wider variety of styles. Like bronzes of the period, jades were used less often as ritual objects and more as ornaments and symbols shapes or designs that are recognizable and have a meaning associated with them of status and wealth.

The arts and humanities also flourished during the Eastern Zhou dynasty. New ideas of all kinds emerged, including the schools of Confucianism a system of ethical and philosophical teaching associated with the Chinese philosopher Confucius — BCE. He developed a system of thought that stressed the importance of good government, social order, and harmonious and moral living.

They addressed the most important question of the time: how to create a stable and harmonious society. These competing philosophies and systems of thought continued to influence Chinese beliefs in later eras, and many of them are still in active use today.

Students will develop an understanding of the bronze bell as an indispensable part of the ancient Chinese court and ritual events. Students will learn about music as a virtue-promoting characteristic of Confucianism.