The reign of King Tai of the early Zhou dynasty was a time of marvelous change for the Chinese. After overthrowing the tyrannical Shang Dynasty, King Tai and his court, who were from the western steppe, established the first Chinese dynasty. This ushered in the era known as the Zhou dynasty civilizations.
The dynasty was established primarily to emphasize the rule of law and moral codes, rather than the rule of one man. This resulted in the beginning of the Feudal System, in which the various levels of society held different degrees of power and resources. In addition, the Zhou Dynasty promoted the idea of self-governance among the people.
One of the most significant accomplishments of the early Zhou kings and court was the success in uniting the Zhou people and the surrounding vassal states. This unity allowed them to create a strong military force that could protect the people from external threats. During the later Zhou Dynasty, this strong military became powerful enough to extend its power to the other states in the region.
In addition to the establishment of a unified military force, the early Zhou dynasty saw the development of a series of cultural achievements. One of the most influential was the growth of Chinese philosophy, consisting of Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism. These various schools of thought each focused on different aspects of life, but all aided in creating a unified worldview and world view.
Another major part of the early Zhou Dynasty was the introduction of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements of Chinese philosophy. These two elements represented the two sides of life —the dark and the light—and the five elements of Chinese philosophy, which covered topics from religions to ethics.
Perhaps the most critical aspect of the early Zhou Dynasty was the success in unifying China’s vast populace under one set of laws. This was accomplished by bringing together the various Feudal states by means of imperial rule. With this process in place, the people of the various states were allotted land and resources, thus creating a system of social hierarchy.
In terms of the political and economic systems of the Zhou dynasty, the central government oversaw the production, distribution and taxation of land and resources. In order to ensure fairness, a system of Confucian bureaucracy was implemented and a legal code was created. This code, which became known as the Legalist code, served as the basis for the various branches of government, as well as the court system.
The era of the early Zhou Dynasty was a time of massive social, economic and cultural reform, and of political and military conquest. The accomplishments of this era, along with the introduction of Confucianism and the establishment of a unified legal system, left a lasting impression on Chinese society. Over time, the influences of this period spread to neighboring states and eventually, to the rest of the world.
