China 31A. Chou dynasty (1122-249 BCE)
Let us now move on to the firmly historical Chou dynasty of China. According to legend the Shang dynasty degenerated into tyranny, at which point the Chou state overthrew them and established Chinas longest dynasty. Not only was it the longest, it was also considered the classic time of Chinese culture.
Western & Eastern Chou
Recapsulation of the Shang
What was going on in China as we enter into the classic Chou Dynasty? The Shang imperial dynasty with roots in the Siberian hunter/fisher culture from the north had established a military aristocracy on top of a peasant agri-culture with roots in Neolithic fertility cultures. During the period of the Shang dynasty, Chinese culture was influenced by the nomadic bronze military cultures of Central Asia, the craft oriented cultures of Southeast Asia, the indigenous agri-cultures and also the Siberian hunter cultures. Many of the features of classic Chinese culture had been established including ancestor worship, a reverence for writing, warrior training for the aristocracy, and an emphasis upon ritual as a way of appeasing the gods. Clan and state had been differentiated as well the cults of power and fertility. The centralization of power under the Shang had been a successful political technology in organizing a collective defense against the aggressive nomadic cultures on their borders as well as controlling the erratic floodwaters of the powerful Yellow River.
Degeneration of the Shang
According to legend the later Emperors of the Shang became even more cruel and violent. More importantly they began to neglect the welfare of their subjects. Instead of providing protection they were suppressing the peasantry. Instead of providing a stable political structure for the free flow of trade and control of the Yellow River they were exploiting the peasantry. Enter Stage Left. Accustomed to battling the nomads from the north the Chou from a western province overthrew the Shang in 1122 BC. The righteous save the day. They seize the Mandate of Heaven and the 9 Imperial ting.
Chou based upon location of capital
From the boundaries of China – always from the boundaries, the state of Chou invaded and overthrew the Shang dynasty. During the last years of the Shang, King Wn of the Chou was in control of over two thirds of the Shang territories.[1] It was his son, King Wu, who finished the job. The Chou, probably cultural cousins of the Shang, had been toughened fighting barbarians to their north and west. Their capital of Hao in Shensi was in the west. For over 300 years the Chou ruled China from their western capital. This period is called the Western Chou.
Chou forced east
In 771 BCE, barbarians, i.e. non-Chinese, sacked the traditional capital of Chou in the west and the Chou king was killed. They regrouped and moved their capital east. This period is called the Eastern Chou. Hence the long Chou dynasty is divided into two main parts: the Western Chou and the Eastern Chou, based upon the location of their capitals.
Western is Classic Chou
The first part is classic Chou because the Chinese empire of the day was strong. During the second part of the Chou dynasty their leaders were only figureheads, similar perhaps to the Holy Roman Empire in Europe. Not only is the Western Chou Period classic Chou it is also considered the consummate era for the Chinese imperial government.
Chou a continuation of the Shang culture
Standard transition from agricultural Neolithic to military Bronze
Weve seen that China made the standard cultural transition from the egalitarian craft and trade oriented Neolithic culture to the hierarchical military oriented Bronze Age culture, as did the rest of the Eurasian continent. The inevitable transition occurred much earlier on the rest of the Eurasiafrican land mass. This was primarily because the Bronze Age military technology based upon the chariot took some time to spread eastward to China. As in the rest of the world the agricultural Neolithic culture went underground and became a counter culture to the military aristocracy that ruled the country. This was especially true in China.
Chou a continuation of imperial tradition
An ancient war-based Bronze Age culture was overlaid on the agricultural Neolithic culture that preceded it. Then the Chou dynasty replaced this patriarchal culture of the Shang dynasty. However the Chou dynasty was only a continuation of the same culture under a new name. Hence the Imperial Chinese tradition continued uninterrupted by the change of dynasty.[2]