Introduction
Western Zhou period covered twelve emperors lasting for about 275
years. Wu Wang (1046 BC in power), or King Wu, entered the capital of
Shang without fierce resistance. He opened the prisons and set free the
prisoners. He also opened the granaries and distriduted the things among
the people. The treasures and luxuries found in Zhou Xin's palace were
used in rewarding the officers and soldiers of the Zhou army and also
distributed among the people. Those women assembled in Zhou Xin's harem
were allowed to return to their families.
Personal qualities and great affability assisted him in gaining the sympathy
of his people. Latter he was assisted by his brother Dan, known in literature
as Zhou Gong.
When he died, he was succeeded by his son, known in history as Cheng Wang,
or King Cheng.
Cheng Wang was only thirteen when he came to the throne. His uncle, the
Duke of Zhou, a man of large ability, aprofound statesman and a most conscientious
an upright prince, was appointed regent by Wu Wang before his death. Soon
a serious rebellion took place in the east part of the Empire. This regent
took it upon him self to suppress it and succeeded in doing so in two
years. The enemies circulated rumors that the Duke of Zhou was not loyal
to the Emperor. These got to the ears of Cheng Wang and temporarily estranged
him from his uncle. But soon everything cleared up. The Emperor, reassured
of his uncle's loyalty, reinstated him in all his honors. The Duke proved
himself worthy of the confidence and turned out to be an excellent organizer
of the state machinery.
When Cheng Wang was seventeen, the Duke of Zhou resigned his office as
regent and handed over the government to him. In his reign,Cheng Wang
made a visitation to different parts of his empire. He investigated whether
the unreclaimed parts of the country were being opened for cultivation,
whether persons of good character were being put into office to the exclusion
of the bad. Where these things were being attended to, he rewarded the
chiefs, and where were not, he punished them.
He built a new city at modern Luoyang to serve as an auxiliary Zhou capital.
He died after a happy reign of thirty-seven years.
King Li (878-827 BC) was exceedingly cruel in his treatment of those that
opposed him. A universal terror reigned, and no one dared to express his
opinion to his neighbor and when men walked the streets they could only
greet each other with their eyes, for they were afraid, lest their simplest
actions might be misinterpreted by spies, and they should be put to death.
At lenghth the nobles rose jointly in rebellion, and had the king banished
in 841 BC, leaving the government to the dukes of Zhou and Zhao. 841 BC
is the earliest year which Sima Qian recorded in his Historical Record.
King You (781-770 BC) was a bad and unprincipled man. He made the famous
beauty Baosi his consort, and to whom he became completely enslaved. She
seemed to delight in inciting the Emperor to the wildest acts of folly.
He lit a System of beacons, which were lighted in times of extreme danger,
and the feudal vassals were bound. When they saw these signals, theyhurried
with all speed to the capital to assist the emperor with the collected
forces. He did this simply to make the woman smile. During King You's
reign, the dynasty's power and prestige had declined sharply. The neighboring
peoples made continuous attacks. He lost control of the capital. As a
result, King You was slain and Baosi carried offf by those barbarians,
and the Western Zhou came to an end. Since then, the dynasty is known
as Eastern Zhou.