Culture of the Zhou Dynasty


Zhou ruled for more than 800 years from 1028 BC - 256 BC,

People
Most people were poor farmers living in the countryside
Peasants rarely traveled outside of their own village.

Clothing
Peasant women made all the clothing out of a rough fabric.
Wealthy people wore silk.

Homes
Farmers lived in homes of mud and straw.
Wealthy homes were filled with art objects and ornate furniture.

Food
Peasants ate rice and vegetables.  They rarely ate meat.

Farming
All farming lands were owned by nobles, who then gave their land to their serfs, similar to European feudalism.  Fields were divided into 9 sections and the goverment took the middle section or 1/9 of the harvest for taxes.

Metalworking
Zhou created ornate metal statues.
Zhou crafted works of bronze.
Weapons and farming tools.

Ancestor Worship
Zhou had strong family ties.
As many as 100 family members lived together.
The oldest male relative ruled the family,
Males were more valued than females.

Achievements
Zhou introduced irrigation channels to flood rice fields.
Zhou had an orchestra that included flutes, drums, wooden clappers, and chimes.
Achievements: iron plow, flood-control system, new philosophies, new weapons


Confucius
One of the greatest Chinese philosophers.
He believed in a peaceful world and respect for the family.
Confucianism set up a code of ethics still followwed today.
"Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do to you."

TimeLine of Chinese Dynasties