Zhou dynasty

Lore & Background

The Eastern Zhou period saw accelerating collapse of royal authority, though the king's ritual importance enabled more than five additional centuries of rule. The Spring and Autumn period (c. The Eastern Zhou is remembered as the golden age of Chinese philosophy, with the Hundred Schools of Thought including Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism.

Reader's Guide

It established the political system of fengjian (feudal-like) governance and the doctrine of the Mandate of Heaven, which legitimized rule for centuries. The period is considered the zenith of Chinese bronzeware craftsmanship. Culturally, the later Zhou saw the advent of three major Chinese philosophies: Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism, which shaped East Asian thought. The written language evolved from oracle bone and bronze scripts to seal script, and by the dynasty's end, an immature form of clerical script had emerged. The Zhou's influence persisted even after its fall, as the Qin dynasty that succeeded it unified China in 221 BC, building on Zhou-era political and cultural foundations.

Did You Know?

• The Zhou period is considered the zenith for the craft of Chinese bronzeware.
• Three major Chinese philosophies—Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism—emerged during the later Zhou period.