The Zhou Dynasty

· Emergence of central ruling house & system of Chinese feudalism.

· New political institutions to curb the ruler’s limitless authority.

· Defining the interior and exterior of Chinese “civilization.”

• The long, violent birth of the Chinese empire.

WESTERN ZHOU (c. 1027-771 BC)

Feudalism (OED definition): “the system of polity… based on the relation of superior and vassal arising out of the holding of lands in feud.” Feud implies property granted through patronage.

*Please note that European feudalism and Chinese feudalism were not entirely the same (and Japanese feudalism was different still!)

“Mandate of Heaven” (tianming): the Confucian notion that Heaven has granted a ruler’s authority to govern, and that this right may be withdrawn if that ruler proves to be incompetent or cruel.

“Son of Heaven” (tianzi): title for the supreme leader of the Chou ruling house, beginning in the early Chou period

"Central States" (zhongguo): a loose term for the separate kingdoms on the North China plain. All kingdoms and people outside of this area were considered peripheral to the “civilized” core. From this ancient term we get the modern name for China (zhongguo).

EASTERN ZHOU (770-256 BC)

Spring and Autumn Period (722-481 BC): period in which the smaller vassal states around the Zhou ruling house began to compete for regional supremacy.

Warring States Period (403-221 BC): period in which the larger vassal states conquered and consolidated the smaller, weaker states. At the end of this period the Qin kingdom would emerge victorious to unify the entire region.