Z is for Zhou Dynasty (Blogging through the Alphabet)

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One of the ancient civilizations that often seems to get glossed over in American classrooms is that of Ancient China. Perhaps that is why – when I was teaching high school world history – I made sure to spend several weeks talking about the different dynasties of Ancient China, including the Xia, Shang, Zhou, Han, and Qin. The early history of China saw the reign of two main dynasties: Xia and Shang but by the 11th century BC, the Zhou people led an overthrow of the Shang Dynasty.

A leader of the Zhou people, who lived in the western side of Shang controlled territory, put into place a plan to overthrow the Shang dynasty. Tai, the leader, presented a plan where they would achieve their goal over the next three generations. The Zhou people felt they were more deserving of the power and set about to take it. In this post, we will take a look at why the Zhou people believed they had been handed the "mandate of heaven."

Overthrowing the Shang Dynasty 

A number of factors – such as the migration of the Zhou people – increased communication and interaction with other peoples in the Shang dynasty (building up both a political alliance and the development of resources in the process). Around 1045 BC, under King Wu, the Zhou people launched a war against the Shang dynasty. King Wu gave a speech to his army which set out to overthrow the Shang capital.

There is historical evidence of the speech and the description of the violent battle that ensued. Blood supposedly flowed so that blocks of wood floated in it and swords and axes made of bronze caused great wailing and screaming. The Shang king was killed and the Zhou were in charge.

Leading the New Dynasty 

Even though King Wu was the ruler he was only a boy at the time of the conquest. The Duke of Zhou, King Wu's uncle, was probably the most important person in the new dynasty as he acted as a wise adviser to his young nephew.

"Mandate of Heaven" 

One of the reasons why the Zhou felt justified in overthrowing the Shang Dynasty became one of the central doctrines of Chinese political culture. This was the "mandate of heaven." Tian, or heaven, was not so much a place as it was a system that governed all the operations in the universe. There was a proper way for society to be organized and a good ruler was key.

The king had to be a good king – a good ruler. The power to rule was given to a good king by Tian and was passed down from generation to generation to create a dynasty. These rulers were to maintain peace and prosperity according to the mandate or their right to rule would be taken away from them. They had rights as rulers such as taxation but it was not to be oppressive according to Tian belief.

King Wu used this idea – the "mandate of heaven" – to explain why they had the right to overthrow the Shang dynasty. In his speech prior to the battle at the capital, he states the Shang had become cruel and the ruler only indulged in his own past-times.

 

Growth of Zhou Dynasty 

A new capital was established by the Zhou on the Wei River. They created Xian to be a permanent capital, unlike that of the Shang who had shifted the capital city every few decades. They also extended their power south and north as they conquered new lands. But as their empire grew, the problems they had planted with the idea of political justification of overthrowing a bad ruler through the "mandate of heaven" would come to fruition and they would be overthrown themselves.

If you enjoyed this post, please check out these other history-related posts!

  

Image of bamboo and tea by 五玄土 ORIENTO on Unsplash